At the onset of the global pandemic of COVID-19, it was widely touted that the virus would be an equalizer, affecting the rich and poor alike. A pandemic of this magnitude should have been an equalizer. COVID-19 has only served to reveal our inequalities, at least in the East Africa region, where perennial unemployment had already been a problem.
The UNDP Accelerator Lab in Kenya has recently been exploring different themes related to the impact of COVID-19 on livelihoods in Kenya, such as advocating for a focus on digital inclusion as a response and analysing the impact on informal traders. The government of Kenya working in conjunction with UNDP and other partners launched the Great COVID-19 Innovation Challenge. They identified several key themes as the most pertinent disruptive influences. Amongst them are:
Contactless payments and transactions
Cashless payments such as online banking and Mpesa has been one of the government’s responses to the pandemic to reduce the risk of transmission. One Innovation Challenge finalist developed LipaFare a mobile app that allows payment of bus, Matatu and train fares through mobile money by use of QR codes thus reducing contact with physical money.
GS1 introduced a seamless business transaction known as Thamani, a Cashless system of buying goods and Realtime Settlement and data capture along the supply chain.
Rise of the on-demand economy
Many businesses have now introduced delivery services to their customers, greatly accelerating an existing trend to the ‘on-demand economy’. Service companies, however, whose offerings are dependent on customer-client interaction, have been greatly impacted by a loss of customers. One Innovation Challenge finalist is looking to address this by facilitating a shift to an on-demand platform. Nywele Nyumbani is a web and mobile app that links clients to hair and beauty stylists who will visit them at home.
“This innovation provides clients with a safer way, health-wise, of doing their hair by eliminating interaction with other customers, as would be found in salons.”
“This innovation provides clients with a safer way, health-wise, of doing their hair by eliminating interaction with other customers, as would be found in salons.”
Mercy Kiptanu: Founder, Nywele Nyumbani pp.
Big data and user insights
Contact tracing has emerged as a key component in managing the risk of transmission of COVID-19, with local innovations coming up to address this gap. Broadly, the shift to more and more digital platforms means that more people are generating a digital footprint, leaving behind a wealth of data in their path.
Until everyone has access to testing, treatment, and the things that keep us safe, we are far from equal.
www.path.com
In a world of growing data, GS1 standards help you single out what matters. They give you a common language to identify, capture, and share supply chain data– ensuring important information is accessible, accurate, and easy to understand.
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