Fighting Malaria Sustainably: An Investigation of the Innovation System for Biobased Malaria Repellents in East Africa

Martina Ayoub; Ivar Virgin; Tatien Masharabu; Ginette Karirekinyana

doi:10.51867/ajernet.5.4.16

Autores

Martina Ayoub University of Edinburgh Business School, 17 Buccleuch Pl, Edinburgh EH8 9LN, Edinburgh https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1711-2135
Ivar Virgin Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Linnégatan 87D, 115 23 Stockholm, Sweden
Tatien Masharabu University of Burundi, Research Centre in Natural and Environmental Sciences (CRSNE), 02 Avenue de l'Unesco, P.0. Box 2700 Bujumbura, Burundi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2035-0772
Ginette Karirekinyana ACECI/Karire Products, Ecovillage of Ruvumvu/Bubanza, Rohero Av. Mugamba no 11, Bujumbura, Burundi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.5.4.16

Palavras-chave:

Biobased Innovation, TIS, Malaria, Regional Co-operation, East Africa

Resumo

This paper investigates a biobased innovation system producing a catnip plant-based mosquito repellent developed to fight malaria in East Africa. We adopt a technological innovation system (TIS) methodology. Previous studies on TIS in the global south emphasized innovation diffusion, rather than development. In contrast, we study the catnip-based mosquito repellents in East Africa, a R&D and innovation driven TIS. Our results highlight the potential of innovation development in East Africa by demonstrating strong TIS functions such as entrepreneurial activity, knowledge sharing, and legitimacy building. However, the TIS functions, market creation, resource mobilisation and policy guidance were relatively weak. This suggests that the innovation challenges in East Africa are not always related to a lack of knowledge generation or entrepreneurial capabilities, but more due to a structural feature such as lack of finance, resources, and supportive policies. Our study also demonstrates how local bio-entrepreneurs benefit from business incubation through regional cooperation.

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