From Malaria to Energy: Why South-Based Innovations Are Overlooked
From malaria to energy – Despite their potential to tackle critical global issues, innovators from the Global South frequently face barriers in accessing financial resources and developmental opportunities, often leaving their solutions underutilized. From combating diseases like malaria to revolutionizing energy access, these creators are developing impactful technologies, yet their reach is limited by systemic exclusion from funding and international collaboration. This disconnect between innovation and implementation is a growing concern, as countries in the Global South grapple with shrinking budgets and the need for efficient, locally relevant solutions.
Masaki Umeda’s Drone Solution
When Masaki Umeda founded SORA Technology in 2020, his initial goal was to transport medical supplies to remote regions of Africa. However, during conversations with health officials, he realized the true potential of his AI-driven tools lay in addressing the specific challenges of malaria, a disease that claims over half a million lives annually across the continent. The company’s approach now focuses on deploying drones to gather raw data from targeted areas, which is then analyzed using advanced algorithms to pinpoint breeding sites for mosquitoes.
“We fly drones in targeted areas and collect raw data,” explains Mr. Umeda. “Then the AI tools identify the location and characteristics of bodies of water such as turbidity (cloudiness due to the presence of particles like algae or micro-organisms), temperature ranges and nearby vegetation, all of which allow us to classify the risk of breeding sites.”
This data-driven method enables government agencies to direct ground spraying operations with precision, rather than applying broad, less effective measures across vast regions. For countries struggling with limited resources, such targeted strategies are crucial in maximizing impact while minimizing waste. Yet, Umeda’s journey highlights a broader issue: many South-based innovations are not scaled due to a lack of initial investment and institutional support.
Cost-Effective Innovations in a Shrunken Budget Landscape
As international aid budgets decline, cost-effectiveness has become a key concern for developing nations. Start-ups and local innovators, often operating with minimal funding, are now pivotal in addressing these challenges. Their solutions, tailored to regional needs, offer scalable and sustainable alternatives to traditional approaches. For instance, SORA Technology’s drone-based system not only reduces the cost of malaria prevention but also demonstrates how technology can be adapted to serve communities directly.
Similarly, other South-based initiatives are making waves in diverse fields. In Zambia, startups are pioneering e-waste recycling programs to address environmental and economic challenges, while in Argentina, solar energy innovations are helping to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s community-driven renewable energy hubs are empowering local populations with sustainable power sources. These examples underscore the importance of supporting grassroots innovation to bridge the gap between technological potential and real-world application.
The UN’s Featured Innovator Programme
Recognizing the underrepresentation of South-based talent in global innovation ecosystems, the United Nations launched the Featured Innovator Programme. This initiative aims to spotlight early-stage developers from diverse backgrounds who are tackling real-world challenges with creative, localized solutions. Mr. Umeda’s participation in the 2026 Science and Technology Forum as a featured innovator exemplifies this effort, alongside other startups that are redefining problem-solving in their respective regions.
The programme emphasizes that the issue is not a lack of innovation but a lack of inclusion. As Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), stated at the forum’s opening: “Too many innovators remain disconnected from finance and markets. Too many solutions do not reach the communities that need them most.” This sentiment reflects a growing awareness of the need to connect local talent with global opportunities, ensuring that their ideas are not only recognized but also implemented.
Rita Orji’s Perspective on AI and Local Ownership
Rita Orji, a professor of computer science and Canada Research Chair in Persuasive Technology at Dalhousie University, shared her personal journey as a powerful example of this exclusion. Growing up in a remote village in southeastern Nigeria without electricity or running water, she had never seen a computer until her university years. “I chose this field in the hope that it could help me change things for my community and people like me,” she said during the STI Forum. “I spent my undergraduate years learning how to code, how to build systems and think computationally without owning a computer.” Despite these challenges, she graduated with first-class honors, proving that determination and resourcefulness can overcome institutional limitations.
Orji’s experience underscores a critical point: the Global South is home to countless extraordinary talents who are often sidelined due to a lack of access to funding, technology, and markets. “Digital tools designed in the Global South, by talented individuals living and working in those countries, would ensure they are actually effective,” she argues. This local-first approach contrasts with the prevailing model of “design it in the north, deploy it in the south,” which Orji criticizes as outdated and inefficient.
Reimagining AI for Global South Needs
Current AI systems often assume users are literate, English-speaking, and digitally fluent—criteria that exclude the majority of the world’s population. Orji points out that this narrow design framework renders many tools “technically brilliant but developmentally useless for those who need them most.” Her critique highlights the urgency of creating AI solutions that align with the lived realities of South-based communities, where language, literacy, and infrastructure may differ significantly from the models developed in the Global North.
Orji’s vision is that the Global South should not merely be a recipient of technological advancements but a leader in shaping the future of intelligent design. “The Global South should not be treated as a late adopter of intelligent design elsewhere. It should help lead in shaping what intelligence becomes,” she says. This call to action challenges the status quo and advocates for a more inclusive approach to innovation that values local expertise and contextual relevance.
Lessons from the Frontlines
Stories like Umeda’s and Orji’s illustrate the broader implications of systemic exclusion. While Umeda’s drone technology addresses health challenges, Orji’s work highlights the need for equitable access to digital tools. Together, they demonstrate that solutions from the Global South are not only viable but essential in combating global issues. The UN’s Featured Innovator Programme is a step toward rectifying this, but more sustained efforts are required to bridge the gap between innovation and implementation.
As the world grapples with the dual crises of climate change and public health, the importance of South-based innovations cannot be overstated. By fostering collaboration, ensuring local ownership, and creating clear pathways for scaling solutions, the Global South can take center stage in driving sustainable progress. The question now is whether global institutions will prioritize inclusion over exclusion, allowing these innovators to lead the way in shaping a more equitable future.
