The African Drone and Data Academy in Malawi

Background: UNICEF and the Government of Malawi are spearheading the use of drones and data for development and humanitarian purposes. In June 2017, they opened the first drone testing corridor worldwide as a technology-friendly environment for local and international drone companies to test their solutions.

Since then, UNICEF, with its partners, has been using drones for a wide range of different applications in Malawi – from delivering medical commodities to collecting aerial imagery for predictive analytics. Aerial drone imagery can potentially be used to identify mosquito breeding sites and help to combat malaria. Processed drone images can help identify flood-prone areas and prevent cholera outbreaks by creating vulnerability maps of areas that lack basic hygiene infrastructure. Artificial intelligence can also classify aerial photographs of crops to improve food security and help to prevent malnutrition. Drones and data are also used to support real-time emergency response for children and their communities.

Drones, data and artificial intelligence are leapfrog technologies that allow more informed and agile development response and potentially accelerate economic growth in the region. However, to achieve this, Malawi and neighbouring countries lack qualified and skilled personnel needed to seize the opportunities offered by drone and data technology. To respond to the skills deficit, UNICEF established the first in January 2020. 

The African Drone and Data Academy: The African Drone and Data Academy (ADDA) aims to be a centre of excellence to equip young people in Malawi and the African region with necessary 21st-century skills while strengthening the drone ecosystem for more effective humanitarian and development response.

The ADDA course, developed by the international project lead Virginia Tech, combines theoretical and practical methodologies in making, testing and flying drones. The curriculum allows young people to learn how to construct and pilot drones, to integrate them into a supply chain system and to analyse drone data. It follows UNICEF’s ‘Drones and Data for Good’ vision, focusing on the potential of technology to deliver positive results for every child.

The Certificate of Drone & Data Technology (CDDT) is one of the distinctive programs offered at ADDA. Initially, the CDDT was structured as a 10-week, in-person program, with four cohorts planned for 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program was restructured into two levels: CDDT Level 1, a 5-week, fully online course, and CDDT Level 2, a 4-week in-person course. Completion of CDDT 1 is required before progressing to CDDT 2. Since January 2020, 719 students from 31 African countries have graduated from the CDDT programs, earning the Certificate of Drone and Data Technology from Virginia Tech, Furman University, and MUST, as well as the Trusted Operator Program (TOP) Certificate from the Association of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI).

Virginia Tech is partnering with the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST). International “flying faculty” travels to Malawi from international partner universities throughout the year and are supported by ADDA local instructors during the lectures. Through this co-teaching approach, the local instructors learned the curriculum on-the-job, and subsequently, be able to deliver the training themselves. Virginia Tech has the responsibility to ensure that the accreditation of the certificate and Master’s degree is of international standards and approved and recognised by the Government of Malawi and the Malawi Department of Civil Aviation.

The first cohort of the ADDA: The first cohort of students in the ADDA is from Malawi and other African countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Botswana, Nigeria and Tanzania. At least half of them are female.

The ADDA students are learning these 21st-century skills to enable them to formulate a new response to the most pressing challenges:  like Annie from Kenya who hopes to combat cholera with a health NGO; Hafsatu from Sierra Leone who wants to improve emergency preparedness; Karen who wants to take back her expertise to help communities in Uganda; and, Deborah from Malawi who wants to address environmental challenges to improve living standards and health of people in Malawi. Other students want to use drones and data to battle hunger, e.g. by using social entrepreneurship and land surveying.

The ADDA has been restructured into three distinct units. The first focuses on educational programs aimed at building capacity in drones and data technology. It offers certificate programs for youth aged 18-25 and STEM programs for young people aged 12-17. The second unit is dedicated to the Rapid Geospatial Response for Emergency Scenarios, collaborating with the Department of Disaster Management Affairs to support emergencies requiring drones and data. Lastly, the third unit is the ADDA Incubation Center, which fosters technological and frugal innovations, positioning itself as a hub for entrepreneurship and climate-smart technologies.

[Box] Acknowledgement: The launch of the African Drone and Data Academy (ADDA) was initially supported by Arm technology, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), UNICEF Scotland, UNICEF Ireland and One Foundation, UNICEF Sweden, and the Global Fund.