We discover and advance what works to improve the lives of people across Africa
2012
The Foundation is Laid
November 8th: ResilientAfrica Network (RAN) established at Makerere University, part of USAID's Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN).
2013
Official Launch
November 8th: ResilientAfrica Network (RAN) established at Makerere University, part of USAID's Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN).
2014
Innovation Takes Center Stage
Released the inaugural "RAN State of Resilience Report for Sub-Saharan Africa."
March 14th: Hosted the first crowdsourcing exhibition for innovation via the RAN Innovation Acceleration Program (RIAP).
Launched first Design Thinking-based ideation (RICs) and Call for Proposals for Eastern Africa Resilience Innovation Lab.
Introduced the Modular Knowledge Information and Teaching Systems (MKITs) Strategy for capacity building.
Successfully conducted the first Deliberative Poll (DP) in Sub-Saharan Africa, translating findings into policy.
September 19th: Launched the first Innovation grant call RIC4ACE, officially opening RAN Innovation Labs.
2015
Expanding Reach and Sharing Knowledge
Conducted the first Collaborative Resilience Innovation Design (CRID) workshop in Ethiopia.
March 11th: Launched the groundbreaking first "State of African Resilience" Report.
June 26th: Fostered collaboration with the first Innovation Garage in Kampala.
November 17th: Launched the Youth Spark Innovation Grant (YSiG) to harness student and youth innovation.
2016
National Challenges & Climate Action
Hosted a Resilience Community of Practice (CoP) convening on 'Deepening our Collective Knowledge of Resilience Measurement'.
February 9th: Launched the 2016 National Technovation Challenge for young women.
March 5th: Horn of Africa RI Lab convened its first Innovation Advisory Board Engagement Workshop.
March 31st: Initiated a Deliberative Poll in Senegal.
October 31st: Eastern Africa RILab launched the second phase of RIAP & RIC4ACE, focusing on high-impact agricultural innovations.
September 19th: Eastern Africa RILab launched RIC4CONF (Chronic Conflict) in Uganda and Tanzania.
November 28th: Actively participated in the first-ever Climate Challenge Hackathon in Nairobi.
Implemented Off-Grid Electric Refrigeration User Centered Research.
2017
Global Engagement and Strategic Partnerships
March 14th: Joined the first Global Social Innovation Summit in Colombia.
April 19th: West Africa RILab launched RIAP Innovation grants.
April 20th: Southern Africa RILab launched the second round of RIC4FIG (Food Security and Improved Income Generation).
June 20th: RAN Eastern Africa RILab rolled out RIAP-2 grant calls.
August 1st: RAN Southern Africa RILab launched YSIG-S (Youth Spark Innovation - Social innovation chapter) grant calls.
August 14th: RAN Eastern Africa RILab launched YSIG-S grant calls.
August 31st: Launched CRID4RED (Recurrent Effects of Drought) in Southern Ethiopia.
November 28th: Aligned with regional efforts by joining the first COMESA Resilience Academy in Zambia.
December 12th: Partnered with Uganda Development Bank Limited (UDBL) to launch the UDB i-Growth Accelerator 2017.
December: Disseminated a report on Micro-Analysis of Underlying Drivers of Livelihoods Resilience in Uganda.
2018
Global Engagement and Strategic Partnerships
March 22nd: Launched its second State of African Resilience report in Kampala.
Launched Applied Innovation HESN project activities, supporting innovators like Akorion and M-omulimisa.
2019
Expanding Innovation Ecosystems
June 20th: Launched a scaling support program for ICT-focused start-up innovations in collaboration with the Ministry of ICT.
November: Launched the "Strengthening scaling ecosystems for transformative development solutions" project.
December 20th: Launched the Innovation Scaling Program (RISP) for proven, scalable innovations.
Disseminated results of the Digital Identity Double-bottomline Impact Study.
Disseminated Market scoping report on solar e-waste and battery waste management in Africa.
Launched two innovation projects focused on strengthening household solar workforce capacity.
2020
Digital Resilience
April 20th: Demonstrated resilience by launching the Innovation Fireplace Digital Series in response to the COVID-19 lockdown.
2021
Nurturing Tech Talent
May: Opened applications for a cutting-edge student training program, fostering skills in identity management, database administration, and LoRaWAN sensor networks in partnership with RENU and Marconi Society.
2022
Continued Impact
Continued ongoing projects and partnerships, building on previous years' initiatives in innovation and community resilience.
2023
Highlighting Progress
December: RAN Bulletin highlighted key activities including leveraging indigenous peoples' voices, documenting sustainable pathways, and scaling the Safe Bangle Technology.
2024
Knowledge Dissemination
July: Participated in the HEIGHTS Study Dissemination alongside the University of Nairobi.
August: Delivered the Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning Short Course through MakSPH.
2025
Shaping Education Resilience
February 25th: Launched the Africa Regional Education System Resilience Observatory (ARESRO) Project, a groundbreaking initiative to strengthen education systems across sub-Saharan Africa.
March 3rd: Awarded a CAD $1.5M grant to further strengthen the resilience of education systems in Africa.
