KijaniSpace has reached an important milestone by completing the key results of Work Package 2, which focused on understanding real user needs for climate-smart agriculture and aquaculture in the Lake Victoria Basin.
The main outcome is a validated, user-driven innovation framework that translates local challenges into practical Space-IoT solutions. This result provides a strong foundation for the KijaniBox platform, future pilot applications, training activities, policy recommendations and new business opportunities.
From stakeholder needs to exploitable results
Through stakeholder consultations, workshops and ideation activities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, KijaniSpace engaged farmers, fish farmers, SMEs, researchers, innovation hubs, public authorities and local communities.
The work confirmed that farmers and aquaculture actors do not need raw satellite or sensor data. They need simple, reliable and actionable information to support everyday decisions, such as when to irrigate, how to monitor water quality, how to detect crop disease risks and how to access better market information.
Key exploitable results from WP2
WP2 produced several results that can be reused and exploited beyond the project:
- a validated user requirements framework for climate-smart agriculture and aquaculture
- a portfolio of priority Space-IoT use cases
- technical requirements for the KijaniBox platform and APIs
- a regional stakeholder and innovation network
- a digital readiness and adoption-barrier assessment
- training needs for the Space-IoT Talent Programme
- innovation challenges for hackathons and startup development
- evidence for future policy and investment recommendations
- a co-creation model that can be replicated in other African regions
Together, these results form a reusable model for developing Copernicus- and IoT-based services that are locally relevant, affordable and scalable.
Five priority innovation opportunities
The WP2 activities identified five priority areas for future development:
- Climate and weather advisory services
- Smart aquaculture and water quality monitoring
- Soil, water and crop health monitoring
- Crop disease detection and early warning
- Market information and traceability solutions
These use cases will guide the next phases of KijaniSpace, especially KijaniBox development, Talent and Innovation Programmes, pilot demonstrations and exploitation planning.
A foundation for long-term impact
The most important exploitable result of WP2 is the Validated User Requirements and Innovation Framework for Space-IoT Climate-Smart Agriculture in the Lake Victoria Basin.
This framework is not only a project deliverable. It is a practical tool that can support new digital services, startup innovation, Digital Innovation Hub activities, regional policy development and future EU–AU cooperation.
By turning local voices into structured innovation requirements, KijaniSpace is helping ensure that Earth Observation, IoT and AI technologies are developed around real needs — and can deliver real impact for farmers, fish farmers and communities across East Africa.
WP2 shows that successful digital innovation starts with listening, co-creation and trust. These results now provide the basis for transforming research into practical solutions that can continue beyond the lifetime of the project.
Sources
This article is based on KijaniSpace Work Package 2 results, including:
- D2.1 – Requirements for Space-IoT centric regional development strategy
- D2.2 – Reporting Ideation Workshop Outcomes
- KijaniSpace Periodic Report 1, WP2 progress summary
- KijaniSpace Grant Agreement / Description of Action, WP2 deliverables and work package structure
- Cordis results including D2.1 and D2.2
