THE GRASSROOTS INNOVATION SCOUTING: AN INCLUSIVE INNOVATION APPROACH FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY

Authors

  • Michael Adusei-Nsowah Dr., PHG Foundation Africa, Community Innovation Project Dev. Centre, Kumasi, Ghana
  • Fred Adusei Nsowah Dr., PHG Foundation Africa, Community Innovation Project Dev. Centre, Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0729-7006
  • Anie Allen UNDP Accelerator Lab, Head of Experimentation, Accra, Ghana
  • Samuel Andy Afari PHG Foundation Africa, Community Innovation Project Dev. Centre, Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1149-1215
  • Samuel Ofori Agyeman PHG Foundation Africa, Community Innovation Project Dev. Centre, Kumasi, Ghana
  • Enock Yeboah PhD Student, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejse.v11i3.6052

Keywords:

grassroots, innovation, scouting, persons with disabilities

Abstract

African countries are far behind their Asian counterparts who gained independence during the same period in terms of development, industrialization and economic growth due to the innovation started by the Asian countries. Innovation has been identified as a potential economic growth and development with new discoveries in developing new products using new ways to increase productivity. In Ghana, persons with disability (PWD) are not actively involved in the innovation program. However, the Young Africa Innovates program has included a large number of PWD innovators with different solutions and challenges using a sequential explanatory approach, where questionnaires were answered by 39 PWDs drawn from the four Regions of Ghana, followed by interviews for 15 PWDs. The finding shows a percentage of 12.7 % participation of PWDs in different solution areas of agriculture, technology, manufacturing, processing energy and training. The study identified financial difficulties, further training, product development, and the Food and Drugs Board certification process as major challenges facing the PWD innovators. The study recommended workstations and mentorship support in the communities for PWDs to explore their potential in society.

 

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Author Biographies

  • Michael Adusei-Nsowah, Dr., PHG Foundation Africa, Community Innovation Project Dev. Centre, Kumasi, Ghana

    Dr. Michael Adusei-Nsowah is a Doctor of Optometry and Vision Scientist the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST ), Ghana. He has short course training certificate in Global Innovation & Entrepreneurship by Arizona University, sponsored by the UNDP Ghana and trained in Human–Centred Innovation Designs (HCID) also sponsored by the UNDP–Ghana, through Ashesi University, in YISD Challenge & Amref Health Africa, Innovate for life, Accelerator & Digital Startups Programme, Kenya towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) implementation in Ghana & Africa. His work also focuses on developing solutions and leading a team of Artificial Intelligence researchers and innovators, for African communities. He has a certificate in "Introduction to Artificial Intelligence by IBM, Coursera". Currently, Michael Adusei-Nsowah is the Managing Director/Programmes Innovation Consultant-Policies and Strategies for Innovation & Enterprise Development (Youth, Women, PwDs, Rural & Grassroot Communities), at PHG Health Foundation Africa (PHG Foundation & Partners), a Community Innovation & Research Development Project Centre, in Ghana, Africa, with active work across 4 regions in Ghana. Michael Adusei-Nsowah has served as Technical Lead/Consultant for PHG Foundation's Partnership Projects with Developmental Partners, including UNDP Ghana and GIZ Ghana, on the Young Africa Innovates (YAI) Program and Eskills4Girls Rural Digital Inclusivity Program, respectively. Michael is part of the Technical Lead/Innovation Scouting Consultants, who designed the concept of "Innovation Scouting in Ghana, using local languages, community engagement approaches and learning models" with the UNDP Ghana and piloted the implementation of the Grassroot Innovation Scouting (GrIS) model project, across the four Regions of Ghana-Ashanti, Bono-East, Bono & Ahafo as part of the Young Africa Innovates (YAI) Program implemented by UNDP Ghana and the Mastercard Foundation from 2023 to date. Michael Adusei-Nsowah has over ten years experience in Community Development Service creating innovative sustainable programmes and projects in Africa especially for rural and urban communities in Ghana/Africa, targeting Youth Development, Women & Persons with Disability (PwD) Empowerment and Urban/Rural Communities Impact receiving a number of award recognitions for their impact on Lives and Communities.

  • Fred Adusei Nsowah, Dr., PHG Foundation Africa, Community Innovation Project Dev. Centre, Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0729-7006

    Fred Adusei Nsowah (PhD) from the University of Tasmania, Australia, specializing in Mathematics Teachers’ Assessment for Learning (AfL) practices to support students’ learning, STEM-based knowledge assessment and research in the learning circles focusing on teacher-students learning impact, youth, girls & PWDs employability development and community behaviour learning within the Ghanaian Communities. Fred Adusei Nsowah has 20 years of teaching experience at both Ghana (7 years at the basic school, 10 years at senior high school and 3 years at the University College) and a casual academic staff at the University of Tasmanian, Australia. Fred Adusei Nsowah has worked with PHG Foundation Africa on the Young Africa Innovates Programme funded by MasterCard Foundation and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where he scouted and mentored innovators in the rural areas of Ghana for grants to develop their innovations and to create employment with their innovations for the people in their areas. He worked as a Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Behaviour Researcher Lead for PHG Foundation Africa in the four regions of Ghana. He has a number of publications in the area of teachers’ assessment for learning practices, STEM education, inclusive education, PWD and grassroots innovation scouting.

  • Anie Allen, UNDP Accelerator Lab, Head of Experimentation, Accra, Ghana

    Allen Anie (PhD) is the Chief Technical Advisor & Head of Experimentation, UNDP Ghana /Accelerator Lab.  He also served as the Policy evaluation specialist at the UK's Department of International Trade, Home Office and Foreign/Commonwealth Office. He is also an agribusiness entrepreneur with a commercial pineapple farm. Allen Anie serves as the Chief Technical Advisor for the UNDP Young Africa Innovates (YAI) Program, which aims to identify Youth across Ghanaian Communities who are creating innovative, impactful and scalable enterprises. The Young Africa Innovates (YAI ) Program, being implemented by UNDP Ghana with the partnership support of the Mastercard Foundation, targets Youth, Women and Persons with Disability(PwD) towards inclusive innovation support and sustainable enterprise development. This is aimed at achieving the UNDP Inclusivity mantra of 'Leaving No One Behind".

  • Samuel Andy Afari, PHG Foundation Africa, Community Innovation Project Dev. Centre, Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1149-1215

    Samuel Andy Afari is currently a 5th-year Doctor of Optometry Candidate at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology in the Department of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Ghana. Samuel Andy Afari works as a Data Scientist & Responsible Artificial Intelligence Engineer at the PHG Foundation Africa during the Grassroot Innovation Scouting of the Young Africa Innovates Program. This was a collaboration programme between UNDP and the Mastercard Foundation, and Samuel was the Head of Data Collection and Analysis for PHG Foundation, a sub-partner in the project, and responsible for ensuring effective data management and extracting actionable insights to guide field officers in their work.

  • Samuel Ofori Agyeman, PHG Foundation Africa, Community Innovation Project Dev. Centre, Kumasi, Ghana

    Samuel Ofori Agyeman is an M.Phil. student at C. K. Tedam University of Science and Technology in Ghana. Samuel Ofori has 12 years of teaching experience in mathematics at the basic level and senior high school level in Ghana. He is currently a Mathematics tutor at Konadu Yiadom Catholic Senior High School in Ghana. Samuel’s classroom experience has contributed to curriculum development and students’ mentorship in both elective and core Mathematics at the senior high school level in Ghana. Samuel also  worked with PHG Foundation Africa on the Young Africa Innovates Programme funded by MasterCard Foundation and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Behaviour Researcher Assistant Lead in the four regions of Ghana.

  • Enock Yeboah, PhD Student, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

    Enock Yeboah is a PhD student in the Curriculum and Instruction Department, concentrating in Mathematics Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Enock Yeboah has experience teaching mathematics in Ghana at the elementary, high school, and college levels. He currently serves as a teaching assistant in the Curriculum and Instruction Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he co-teaches Math Methods and Advanced ESL Methods courses. Additionally, Enock Yeboah serves as a field supervisor for UW-Madison's preservice math and ESL teachers as part of his teaching assistantship duties. Enock Yeboah’s research focuses on Postcolonial STEM education, technology integration in math education, assessment, and comparative and international education. He is deeply committed to creating an equitable learning environment where students can succeed in STEM education, regardless of their backgrounds or socioeconomic status. Enock aims to influence postcolonial STEM education by advocating for policies and curricula that ensure equity and inclusivity in STEM fields. Enock Yeboah is committed to assisting students. He currently volunteers with Achievement Connections, where he helps in the classroom and provides individualized tutoring services.

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2025-06-03

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Vol. 11 No. 3 (2025)

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