“We are extremely delighted to have won the call for proposals to establish the Green Digital Innovation Hub. The vision of the hub resonates and aligns very well with the aspirations of the individual member organizations of the consortium” – Prof. Tom Ogada, ACTS Executive Director

A consortium led by ACTS has won a competitive bid to establish and operate a Green Digital Innovation Hub (gDIH) in Kenya. The hub will support Kenya’s digital transformation while promoting sustainable development, the circular economy, environmental protection, and climate change mitigation.

While making the announcement on 30th June, 2023, the GIZ Digital Transformation Centre (GIZ-DTC-SKIIVE) team in Kenya revealed that the ACTS Consortium emerged winner mainly due to their ‘exceptional capabilities and dedication to driving sustainable innovation’.

The GIZ-DTC-SKIIVE project team and the ACTS consortium will spearhead the development of the hub, ushering in a new era of sustainable technological advancements. Together, they aim to drive meaningful change, promote environmental consciousness, and foster innovation that paves the way for a brighter future.

The consortium will collaborate closely with the GIZ-DTCSKIIVE project team to embark on a transformative journey. Through support of the GIZ/GFA, nine delegates - including three members of the consortium - visited four digital innovation hubs in Slovenia, Netherlands and German to have first-hand experience on the management and operations of the hubs.

Currently, the ACTS-led consortium is developing a business plan which will outline the strategic framework for the Green Digital Innovation Hub, ensuring its long-term success and impactful contributions to the sustainable technology landscape.The hub will be launched in December, 2023.

ACTS Executive Director, Prof. Tom Ogada, said the consortium has what it takes to achieve the objectives of the hub.

“As a consortium, we are extremely delighted to have won the call for proposals to establish the Green Digital Innovation Hub. The vision of the hub resonates and aligns very well with the aspirations of the individual member organizations of the consortium. We are therefore committed to using our expertise and resources to deliver effectively on the mandate of the Hub and to ensure it significantly contribute to the growth of the innovation ecosystem in Kenya,” he said.

The ACTS consortium will also oversee the incorporation of a non-profit entity, solidifying the commitment to a purposedriven approach and fostering a collaborative environment within the hub. Additionally, an implementation plan will be meticulously devised, ensuring the seamless execution of initiatives, and maximizing the potential for transformative outcomes.

Sylvia Mukasa, the Digital Innovation Hub Expert of the GIZ-DTC-SKIIVE project team congratulated the ACTS Consortium for emerging the winner.

“We extend our warmest congratulations to the ACTS Consortium for their outstanding achievement as the winning consortium of the Green Digital Innovation Hub. Their selection exemplifies their remarkable accomplishments and perfectly aligns with our shared vision of building a sustainable and connected world” - Sylvia Mukasa, GIZ-DTC-SKIIVE.

Other members of the consortium are Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA), Konza Technopolis, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI), and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO). It also includes Vilgro Africa and AMSCO Development Solutions Limited.