Post-Harvest Loss Solutions Hackathon: Climate-Smart, Gender-Responsive Solutions in Eastern and Southern Africa

In the heart of Eastern and Southern Africa, where agricultural abundance meets persistent challenges, a pioneering hackathon took place on the 8-9th of November 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya. The event aimed to address urgent issues faced by smallholder farmers and agribusinesses, emphasizing the preservation, and maximizing the value of harvested crops and livestock. The hackathon brought together a diverse group of participants, including farmers, the development sector, researchers, and policymakers. The event facilitated the exchange of ideas, expertise, and creative solutions. As the hackathon unfolded, key learnings included transformational levers of change in data, digital technology and finance, rules of design, thinking, and problem framing when it comes to business, paving the way for future activities.

The primary objective of this hackathon was to explore innovations and solution refinement at the intersection of climate, gender, and post-harvest loss in agribusiness. The pressing challenges faced by smallholder farmers, including inadequate storage facilities, poor transportation infrastructure, limited access to markets, and insufficient knowledge of proper post-harvest handling techniques, served as the backdrop for this innovative initiative.