Drone technology is undoubtedly a stronger tool to help emerging continents deal with socioeconomic and environmental challenges. According to CNBC Africa, the drone industry in Africa could reach $2 billion by 2025.
Our story about William Elon, a pioneer entrepreneur who launched Cameroon's first civic drone company, Drone Africa (Algodrone), in 2015, says the sector benefits from sustained advances in unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
Drones have gradually revolutionised sectors such as agriculture, including climate change, healthcare through blood and medical equipment delivery, and food security, which challenges the delivery of medical equipment, especially in remote and inland areas without road infrastructure.
Companies such as Drone Africa Service have embodied the efficient use of drones to provide essential supplies to these communities.
Since 2019, Zipline, the drone logistics company that operates the world's largest drone delivery service, has saved the lives of thousands of children through timely delivery of vaccines and drugs.
Zipline's autonomous drone logistics system is not only life-saving and preventing illness, but also the most cost-effective public health intervention aimed at increasing vaccinations. In countries such as Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda, their fully electric, battery-powered drones fly with zero carbon emissions.
Statistics show that in Rwanda and Ghana, partnership with Zipline has enabled a 51% reduction in deaths from postpartum bleeding through timely blood delivery. This is a major cause of maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. In Rwanda, drones provide about 75% of the blood supply of the country outside of Kigali and arrive remotely within 15 minutes.
Recent research in Ghana highlights the effectiveness of medical drones to move medical supplies into communities where medical supplies were previously near impossible to reach using traditional means of transport.
Ghana, the Ivory Coast and the Congo use Terraphaptix shooter drones locally made in Nigeria. Co-founded by 21-year-old Nigerians Nathan Nwachukw and Maxwell Maduka in Abuja, Terraptix is a leading African drone manufacturer. Nwachukwu recently announced that the company has received 300 orders for Archer X and is reaching international markets like the US.
With increasing awareness of the critical role of drones across Africa, governments are increasing partnerships and investing in the sector. The Burkina Faso Flying, the Burkina Faso Franchise for Werobotics 'Flying Labs of Drones network is teaming up with the Burkinabe government in the latter effort to promote agricultural irrigation.
The West African country is heavily dependent on agriculture and is estimated to employ around 80% of its labor force. However, with climate change shortening the rainy season, the government is turning its eyes to irrigation to complement agricultural efforts and ensure food security.
Therefore, Burkina Faso Flying Labs is lending its help by launching a pilot project to develop irrigation systems.
The Drone Company is awarding grants for humanitarian operations. The Resilient Futures Grant program supports four organizations: Halo Trust, Sheffield, Rotherham Wildlife Trust, Help.Ngo and the Cryosphere Society of Nepal.
In an extensive analysis, GSD Global, a mission-driven consulting firm dedicated to the introduction and expansion of transformative innovations in emerging markets, said “Africa is becoming a hotspot for drone innovation.” With its growing market and vast possibilities, drone technology has highlighted that it can unlock its solutions and face the continent's most pressing challenges.
The future of African drone technology is highly promising for AI innovation, machine learning integration for automated crop monitoring, and predictive analytics in healthcare logistics.
World Bank estimates that the drone sector could generate more than 200,000 jobs across Africa by 2030. It will contribute significantly to economic development and will acquire valuable technical skills across the continent.
