<\/p>\n
The concern was highlighted during the UN Science and Technology Forum 2026, where early\u2011stage innovators showcased practical solutions ranging from healthcare delivery to renewable energy.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
SORA Technology Co-founder Masaki Umeda said the company shifted focus after recognising urgent needs in Africa\u2019s fight against malaria. \u201cWe fly drones in targeted areas and collect raw data, then artificial intelligence (AI) tools identify the location and characteristics of breeding sites,\u201d Umeda said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Umeda explained that the technology helps governments target mosquito breeding areas more precisely, improving efficiency and reducing costs.
\nThe initiative reflects broader innovation trends emerging from collaboration with local institutions and governments, particularly in resource\u2011constrained environments.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
UN Under\u2011Secretary\u2011General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua said such innovations demonstrate the importance of partnerships and scalability. \u201cInnovation is most effective when paired with collaboration, local ownership and clear pathways to scale,\u201d Junhua said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Despite these successes, UN officials warn that many innovators remain excluded from global markets and financing systems.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
President of the UN Economic and Social Council Lok Bahadur Thapa highlighted a widening gap between innovation and access. \u201cThis is not a gap in innovation. It is a gap in inclusion,\u201d Thapa said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Thapa said many innovators lack access to investment and distribution channels, limiting the reach of potentially life\u2011saving technologies. \u201cToo many innovators remain disconnected from finance and markets,\u201d Thapa said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The issue is particularly acute in the Global South, where structural barriers such as limited infrastructure, funding constraints and digital divides persist.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Computer Science Professor and researcher Rita Orji said talent in developing regions is often overlooked despite strong capabilities. \u201cExtraordinary talents are locked out not because they lack ability but because they lack access,\u201d Orji said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Orji said current models of technology development often exclude local perspectives, reducing the effectiveness of solutions. \u201cThat model is backwards the Global South should help lead in shaping what intelligence becomes,\u201d Orji said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Orji also warned that many AI systems are not designed with diverse users in mind, limiting their real-world impact. \u201cMost AI tools assume users are literate, English-speaking and digitally fluent,\u201d Orji said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Orji said this creates solutions that are \u201ctechnically brilliant but developmentally useless\u201d for many communities.<\/p>\n
–UN\/ChannelAfrica–<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":37631,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"news-type":[26],"class_list":["post-37630","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-type-general_news","entry"],"acf":{"short_description":"The United Nations (UN) officials warn that innovators in the Global South face systemic barriers to funding and opportunity despite developing solutions to major global challenges.","published_date":"","news_description":"The United Nations (UN) officials warn that innovators in the Global South face systemic barriers to funding and opportunity despite developing solutions to major global challenges.","form_embed":"","author":"","image_caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/37630","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/37630\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37632,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/37630\/revisions\/37632"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37631"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37630"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-type?post=37630"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}