Open Letter from Community
As we all adjust to living with the new realities that COVID-19 has brought, we are reminded how fragile our world can be.
For years, global health experts have been saying that another pandemic with the speed and severity to rival those of the 1918 influenza epidemic was a matter not of if but of when.
We plan to make tools to fight COVID-19 more accessible, deployable, and interoperable.
The difference between being in the containment or mitigation phase of an outbreak relies on the ability to make tools accessible for policy and decision makers.
Who rely on scientific information to make evidence-based decisions to control the current outbreak and prevent any future one.
When informed about scientific facts, citizens act more responsibly and are able to debunk misinformation.
For years, global health experts have been saying that another pandemic with the speed and severity to rival those of the 1918 influenza epidemic was a matter not of if but of when.
We plan to make tools to fight COVID-19 more accessible, deployable, and interoperable.
The difference between being in the containment or mitigation phase of an outbreak relies on the ability to make tools accessible for policy and decision makers.
Who rely on scientific information to make evidence-based decisions to control the current outbreak and prevent any future one.
When informed about scientific facts, citizens act more responsibly and are able to debunk misinformation.
How You Can Join
1
Step 1
Click the button below and
tell us how cool you are and how we can make great things together.
Someone from our team will get back to you ASAP.
tell us how cool you are and how we can make great things together.
Someone from our team will get back to you ASAP.
2
Step 2
Pledge to play nice and not to eat all the cookies.
Read the members declaration here.
Read the members declaration here.
WE ARE AMASSING AN ARMY OF SUPERHEROES đŚ¸đż TO JOIN THIS TEAM AND WE COULD USE YOUR HELP!
Objective of the Network
The core objective of the Network is to collectively leverage Kenyaâs talent, 3D printing, engineering, manufacturing, data infrastructure, artificial intelligence, machine learning and software engineering capacity to support efforts to fight COVID19 in the most strategic and adapted manner by filling the gaps in the PPE and respiratory assistance supply chain where possible.
The guiding principle of the Network is to support design and production of the best fit-for-purpose products, in relevant quantities, at the highest possible standards and at the lowest possible cost.
The Network seeks to create prototypes to help local manufacturing and play its part by bringing together local skill sets and expertise from all aspects of product design and manufacturing to address the COVID19 gap.
The Network focuses on Kenya and East Africa.
The guiding principle of the Network is to support design and production of the best fit-for-purpose products, in relevant quantities, at the highest possible standards and at the lowest possible cost.
The Network seeks to create prototypes to help local manufacturing and play its part by bringing together local skill sets and expertise from all aspects of product design and manufacturing to address the COVID19 gap.
The Network focuses on Kenya and East Africa.
Collaboration & Transparency
We are coming together to fight COVID-19 because we believe that separate and single-headed initiatives will not be enough.
This is not a single-team challenge. Together, we are stronger.
We believe that in these difficult times more than ever, being transparent, sharing supporting documents, and accounting for funds is even more critical.
This is not a single-team challenge. Together, we are stronger.
We believe that in these difficult times more than ever, being transparent, sharing supporting documents, and accounting for funds is even more critical.
Regulatory Standards And International Best Practices Ethics
Products supported and delivered through this platform are addressing urgent needs that have emerged with COVID19.
Nevertheless, health equipment and devices are regulated by the highest standards because they put the lives of the patients first.
We are endorsing this position and will rely on regulatory standards approved in other countries with robust processes and promote international best practices ethics.
Nevertheless, health equipment and devices are regulated by the highest standards because they put the lives of the patients first.
We are endorsing this position and will rely on regulatory standards approved in other countries with robust processes and promote international best practices ethics.
Social/Impact business approach
We believe that this is not the time to make huge profit but rather to share the burden.
Structures are coming together fast, everyone should make an effort, costs will need to be covered and business needs to be sustainable.
Every contributor will sign a declaration stating that these principles are applied and will provide the supporting documentation.
Structures are coming together fast, everyone should make an effort, costs will need to be covered and business needs to be sustainable.
Every contributor will sign a declaration stating that these principles are applied and will provide the supporting documentation.
Saving Lives & Economies
We are coming together because nothing else matters.
We believe that separate and single-headed initiatives will not be enough. This is not a single-team challenge.
Together, we are stronger.
We believe that separate and single-headed initiatives will not be enough. This is not a single-team challenge.
Together, we are stronger.
Honesty & Reciprocity
We believe that every member should be transparent and trustworthy in their efforts and work with the Network.
Adding value to other members of the group will enhance the effectiveness and enable us to reduce the time spent on acquiring knowledge and market individually.
Adding value to other members of the group will enhance the effectiveness and enable us to reduce the time spent on acquiring knowledge and market individually.
Credibility & Visibility
We believe that each member of this Network should make his/her best effort to check information being shared, check sources and specify when this cannot be done.
We believe that every member can and should enjoy full visibility and should benefit from being part of the Network, to the benefit of his/her brand and his/her person.
We believe that every member can and should enjoy full visibility and should benefit from being part of the Network, to the benefit of his/her brand and his/her person.
Intellectual Property
We are coming together to fight COVID19 Most innovators are using designs under the Open COVID pledge, which is temporary.
When using a more permanent version of the creative commons licence, makers commit not to violate the underlying Licences.
While always respecting the intellectual property rights of inventors and innovators, we encourage liberal licensing rights to ensure that as many devices and solutions are offered during the period of this pandemic.
When using a more permanent version of the creative commons licence, makers commit not to violate the underlying Licences.
While always respecting the intellectual property rights of inventors and innovators, we encourage liberal licensing rights to ensure that as many devices and solutions are offered during the period of this pandemic.
Coordinating And Supporting Local Response
In parallel, Kenya needs to urgently develop domestically produced medical equipment to mitigate the rapid spread of COVID19 and provide early treatments. These products may be less sophisticated but nevertheless lifesaving.
Volunteers, businesses and NGOs have jointly come together under a network known as KENYA EMERGENCY NETWORK FOR INNOVATION (KENI) to fight COVID19, hereinafter referred to as âthe Networkâ. The âCore Groupâ will act as a secretariat to the âNetworkâ.
Volunteers, businesses and NGOs have jointly come together under a network known as KENYA EMERGENCY NETWORK FOR INNOVATION (KENI) to fight COVID19, hereinafter referred to as âthe Networkâ. The âCore Groupâ will act as a secretariat to the âNetworkâ.
Adressing Equipment Shortage
Kenya is looking to face acute shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory assistance devices.
The central government and businesses are stepping up to fast-track imports of highly reliable equipment, however, despite these efforts, Kenya might face shortages that might be catastrophic, due to demand competition, extended lead time, prices, obstacles along the supply chain, persistent bureaucracy, lack of suppliersâ transparency and âreal politicsâ raise significant challenges.
The central government and businesses are stepping up to fast-track imports of highly reliable equipment, however, despite these efforts, Kenya might face shortages that might be catastrophic, due to demand competition, extended lead time, prices, obstacles along the supply chain, persistent bureaucracy, lack of suppliersâ transparency and âreal politicsâ raise significant challenges.
Non Compromise on Ethical Competence And Integrity
While the Network appreciates that innovation thrives on taking risk and trying, and improving things as trials continue, and that originators of ideas do not have a duty of care if their ideas are inaccurate, in medical care, errors may very well cost lives.
Thus, each volunteer undertakes to create prototypes with the highest standards of professional and ethical competence and integrity, and shall perform all duties in good faith.
We need to share tools â both hardware and software â openly and understand that short term gains in one area of the world are meaningless if not shared with other areas that are battling this virus.
Thus, each volunteer undertakes to create prototypes with the highest standards of professional and ethical competence and integrity, and shall perform all duties in good faith.
We need to share tools â both hardware and software â openly and understand that short term gains in one area of the world are meaningless if not shared with other areas that are battling this virus.
