Announcing the Winners of 2024

The WSA celebrates annually a variety of projects that are helping achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs); and creating a better world for their local communities in the process. The winners are selected through a filtering system. This begins with WSAs diverse network of National Experts in 182 countries nominating solutions from their local communities. These solutions are then passed through an Online Jury which determines the shortlist, and then the Grand Jury which selects the final winners.

These final 40 winners, from 29 countries, were chosen for their exceptional ingenuity in using the latest technology to improve people's lives and create a sustainable business model. So, without further ado, here are the winners of 2024!

WSA Winners of 2024

 

Business & Commerce | Culture & Heritage | Environment & Green Energy | Government & Citizen Engagement | Health & Well-Being | Inclusion & Empowerment | Learning & Education | Smart Settlements & Urbanization

 

Business & Commerce

Business & Commerce

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LendforGood | Australia

LendForGood bridges the "Missing Middle" in impact finance, connecting vetted social enterprises with purpose-driven investors. Since 2022, it has facilitated $3M AUD in loans, advancing global sustainable development and UN SDGs.

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NaPorta | Brazil

The naPorta project empowers underserved Brazilian communities with access to e-commerce through Logistics as a Service (LaaS). Operating across 500 locations, it delivers social, economic, and environmental impact via sustainable, tech-driven logistics, creating jobs, boosting local economies, and enabling real-time delivery tracking.

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Achieve Investment App | Ghana

Achieve revolutionizes financial services in Ghana by simplifying investments for middle-class users. Supported by Petra, it offers secure, goal-driven mutual funds, attracting 74,000 active users and transforming financial habits.

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TrollWall AI | Slovakia

TrollWall AI, an award-winning SaaS platform, uses AI to detect and hide hateful social media comments in real-time. This protects reputations, fosters respectful discussions, and mitigates risks for businesses and users.

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GoBarakah | Malaysia

GoBarakah is a fintech app revolutionizing social assistance in Malaysia by ensuring transparency and efficiency in aid distribution. Using Islamic principles like Zakat, it allows donors to personalize aid, track usage, and ensure funds reach verified beneficiaries for their specific needs. Inclusive and multi-ethnic, it bridges gaps in traditional aid systems.

Culture & Heritage

Culture & Heritage

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Tasteit | Georgia

Tasteit combats urban isolation by fostering genuine connections through shared dining experiences. The app promotes meaningful interactions, simplifies food discovery, and supports local gastronomy by connecting users with like-minded diners and restaurants.

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socialbnb | Germany

Socialbnb transforms travel by connecting adventurers with unique stays that support education, conservation, and social justice projects. With over 2,500 bookings in 45+ countries, it fosters sustainable tourism, uplifts communities, and protects the planet.

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Khaya AI | Ghana

Khaya AI, developed by Ghana NLP, is a translation app that supports low-resource African languages. It enhances communication for business, education, and government access. With features like text-to-speech and an API, it impacts sectors like healthcare and agriculture, revitalizing languages and fostering cultural development.

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Nusuk | Saudi Arabia

Nusuk improves the Hajj and Umrah experience by using technology to manage crowds, provide real-time navigation, offer health services, and support local vendors. It ensures safety, accessibility, and preserves Islamic cultural heritage while modernizing the pilgrimage experience.

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freeziana | Egypt

By blending traditional crafts with modern skills like digital marketing, freeziana creates sustainable businesses, fosters economic growth, and promotes cultural sustainability, aligning with global SDGs.

Environment & Green Energy

Environment & Green Energy

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TraceX | Australia

TraceX addresses challenges in the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) market by using blockchain for transparency, reducing barriers, and combating greenwashing. It automates processes, saving operational costs, and empowers businesses to meet ESG goals. By enhancing market accessibility and trust, it supports the global clean energy transition and SDGs.

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Waterly | Poland

Waterly is an innovative water quality monitoring system that uses IoT and AI-powered buoys for real-time, autonomous water monitoring. It provides continuous, frequent data, enabling rapid response to water threats, ensuring safer water for communities, and enhancing environmental protection. Waterly’s scalable technology offers predictive analytics to prevent ecological damage.

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Crowdsorsa | Finland

The mobile game engages young people in combating invasive plant species like lupine and Himalayan balsam by incentivizing them to search and destroy sightings during the summer. It educates players on the environmental impact of these species while providing cities with the workforce needed for effective removal.

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Global Cerah | Malaysia

Global Cerah transforms agri-waste into organic fertilizers and feed, improving small-scale farmers' yields and livelihoods by offering affordable, eco-friendly solutions and educating them on sustainable practices.

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Ciclogreen | Spain

Ciclogreen incentivizes sustainable commuting by rewarding eco-friendly travel, tracking CO₂ savings, and supporting green initiatives. Its gamified approach fosters positive environmental behaviour and community engagement for green mobility.

Government & Citizen Engagement

Government & Citizen Engagement

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Buzzly | New Zealand

This project engages youth in decision-making with support from local councils, AWS, Datacom, and training providers, showcasing successful collaboration and partnership, with the potential for scaling globally.

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Kyiv Digital City app | Ukraine

Kyiv Digital addresses the critical need for safety, information, and connectivity in a city facing the challenges of war, while also serving as a comprehensive digital platform for everyday services.

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Local TT | Trinidad And Tobago

Local TT is a digital platform designed to address inefficiencies in public infrastructure management across Trinidad and Tobago by enabling citizens to report issues like potholes, broken streetlights, and drainage problems in real-time.

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Chango | Ghana

Chango is Africa’s leading group contribution and crowdfunding platform, designed by Africans for Africans. Unlike other platforms, Chango offers a unique twist with its private group feature, allowing extended families, alumni, religious groups, and others to support each other.

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SACH AI | India

SACH AI Chatbot by Factly Media combats misinformation in India by providing real-time verification of text and image-based content. It supports multiple vernacular languages and offers fact-checking with a database of over 400,000 sources.

Health & Wellbeing

Health & Wellbeing

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Consultmed | Australia

Consultmed’s AI-powered platform addresses the critical challenge of delayed access to specialist healthcare, especially in Australia’s rural and remote areas where patients can wait up to 36 months for services, by replacing inefficient paper-based referrals with a streamlined digital system.

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Duniya Healthcare | Zambia

Duniya Healthcare transforms healthcare access in rural Zambia through mobile clinics and telemedicine, improving health outcomes, creating jobs, and empowering communities with proactive health education for sustainable, long-term impact.

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Flash Health | Sri Lanka

Flash Health is a comprehensive app designed for caregivers of elderly parents in Sri Lanka. It integrates services like medicine delivery, home lab services, wellness programs, and telemedicine, providing an efficient, user-friendly experience.

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Mamibabi | Vietnam

Mamibabi empowers parents in Vietnam with AI-powered, multilingual resources on childcare, development, and health. The app promotes well-being, and quality education, and reduces inequalities, contributing to SDGs 3, 4, and 10.

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Ontol | Korea

Tesser's Ontol is an AI-powered mobile app designed to help patients, particularly in South Korea, understand medical terminologies and diagnoses, especially related to cancer. It provides patients, clinics, and hospitals with an intuitive platform to access medical insights, reducing physicians' burden to explain every detail. Available in six countries, Ontol has over 30,000 users and 2 million medical reports uploaded.

Inclusion & Empowerment

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SafeBangle | Uganda

SafeBangle Technologies tackles gender-based violence in Uganda with a wearable safety device that uses SMS technology for affordable, quick emergency response. Reducing response times from over 45 minutes to 8 in urban areas, it’s 70% more affordable than alternatives, impacting over 100 users in Kampala. SafeBangle promotes safety, social change, and economic empowerment.

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Cérge | Australia

Cérge addresses accessibility challenges for people with disabilities by offering a comprehensive platform with pre-visit info, real-time communication, and customized guides. Used in over 200 venues, it enhances independence and social engagement, empowering users to navigate spaces confidently. Cérge fosters inclusivity without requiring significant physical modifications and promotes a more accessible, inclusive society.

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YYSystem | Japan

YYSystem is an innovative app that provides real-time transcription, environmental sound recognition, and AI-powered features to help individuals with hearing impairments communicate and engage more independently in daily life.

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The Poverty Stoplight | Paraguay

The Poverty Stoplight addresses multidimensional poverty through a comprehensive approach, integrating big data and AI for personalized interventions, and fostering dignity and sustainability to improve millions of lives globally.

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Podeo | Lebanon

Podeo is an AI-powered platform empowering podcast creators from emerging regions like the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia. By simplifying podcast creation, distribution, and monetization, Podeo supports SDGs 9, 10, and 8, enabling underrepresented voices to share their stories. With over 100,000 creators and 50 million listeners, Podeo fosters innovation, reduces inequalities, and provides sustainable livelihoods.

Learning & Education

Learning & Education

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Jade Autism | Brazil

Jade Autism develops gamified, evidence-based software that supports individualized education for neurodiverse children, enhancing cognitive development and aiding educators in providing tailored learning experiences.

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ExamHUB | Sri Lanka

ExamHUB is an affordable educational platform for Sri Lankan students offering a gamified exam preparation tool with an extensive question bank, helping students from Grades 6 to 13 prepare for exams.

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Dalza | Luxembourg

Dalza is a platform that unites parents, carers, teachers, and therapists to support children with SEND, offering real-time tracking, communication, and seamless integration of educational and therapeutic goals.

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Rakoono | France

Rakoono is a transformative educational tool that leverages Machine Learning and GenAI to offer personalized, affordable, 24/7 virtual coaching, making high-quality learning support accessible to all students.

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Tecsify | Guatemala

Tecsify bridges the digital divide in Guatemala by providing free training in programming, AI, and entrepreneurship, empowering vulnerable communities with skills for better employability and economic opportunities.

Smart Settlements & Urbanization

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Locum Apps | Malaysia

Locum Apps is a gig platform addressing Malaysia's healthcare worker shortage by offering flexible, higher-paying opportunities for clinical professionals. It enhances work-life balance and retention while helping meet growing healthcare demand in urban areas.

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Karya | India

Karya empowers rural women in India by offering job opportunities in AI data processing. With over 35,000 workers, it ensures fair pay, data ownership, and ethical practices, boosting skills and economic growth.

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Cataki | Brazil

Cataki is a Brazilian app that connects waste generators with recyclable material collectors, driving social and environmental impact. It educates users on recycling and boosts collectors' income, promoting sustainable practices.

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Kataho Digital Address System | Nepal

Kataho Digital Address System provides precise, accessible digital addresses for unaddressed and marginalized areas in Nepal, improving access to services like healthcare, deliveries, and social welfare, fostering inclusion and equity.

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Weego | Morocco

The app addresses the mobility challenges faced by 400 million Africans using public transport daily, providing seamless trip planning, real-time arrivals, and easy payment solutions across the continent.

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Acknowledging excellence beyond the Winners

This list is the final list of WSA winners for 2024. This doesn't mean that the projects on the shortlist were without merit. While these projects didn't make it through the final round, this doesn't mean that they weren't instrumental in making the lives of their local communities easier. If you are interested in more examples of using ingenuity to make the world a better place, take a look at the shortlist!

Check out the Shortlist