Technology for impact: empowering agriculture through digital innovation

In 2020, a promising partnership emerged between Carnegie Mellon University Africa and TechnoServe, a nonprofit focused on reducing poverty. This collaboration took root with the establishment of the TechnoServe Labs at the nonprofit. Subsequent developments stemming from this partnership have made a substantial impact on CMU-Africa students and alumni. Through the robust relationship with CMU-Africa Career Services, TechnoServe Labs has provided seven internship opportunities, engaged in two practicum projects, and a permanent job position. The CMU-Africa internship program provides students with a 10–12-week opportunity, running from May to August, to engage with professionals with diverse practical work experiences and gain insights into the global business environment.

Sildio Mbonyumuhire (MSIT ’14), senior manager of engineering & product management at TechnoServe Labs, offered insights on the partnership, saying, "Our collaboration with CMU-Africa has been transformative. The expertise of their students in geospatial technologies and software development, coupled with their unwavering dedication to innovation, has significantly strengthened our initiatives. I am privileged to have had the opportunity to work alongside such committed and skilled individuals from CMU-Africa at Technoserve Labs."

Mbonyumuhire refers to a collaboration that focused on exploring geospatial technology to address agricultural challenges. Abdul-Kazim Shamba (MS ECE ’21), with support from Ph.D. students from the University of Minnesota, designed and developed a geospatial web dashboard powered by advanced machine learning algorithms to identify cashew-growing areas in Benin. The TechnoServe Labs team is currently expanding the dashboard to map smallholder cashew plantations across West Africa. Stakeholders in Benin’s agricultural sector are now equipped with the knowledge needed to advance the cashew sector and promote economic growth.

"The work that CMU-Africa interns have done for us has been invaluable. Their contributions have enabled us to work more efficiently and effectively, thereby allowing us to have a more significant impact on the communities we serve," says Dave Hale, director of TechnoServe Labs.

As this successful collaboration continues to thrive, more regions will benefit from digital innovation, paving the way to a brighter and more prosperous future for Africa and beyond.