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Top 5 Teams for the 2024 Social Logistics Challenge Announced!

Out of 104 teams, we had 64 completed submissions from 30 schools, including 19 member schools, across 21 countries who submitted their comprehensive two-part solution package, showcasing their innovative approaches to social logistics.

The Top 5 teams have been invited to present their live pitches to our panel of international judges.

Deliverables

Each team prepared a two-part Solutions Package that incorporated both written and visual elements.

The Top 5 Teams in no particular order are as follows:

Team Invictus

University of Nairobi – Kenya

Team Members: Matilda Munyoroku, Herine Shikuku, Rahab Gikaru

  • Topic: Sustainable Transport
  • Category: Transport/Mobility

Team Invictus has developed an innovative strategy to tackle the sustainable transport challenges in Nairobi, Kenya, where heavy reliance on privately-operated matatus has resulted in significant congestion, pollution, and safety concerns. The team’s proposal focuses on retrofitting existing matatu fleets to establish a more efficient Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, avoiding the costs associated with a completely new fleet. By integrating matatu routes with the BRT, the plan optimizes public transportation while utilizing existing infrastructure.

Additionally, the proposal incorporates smart traffic management technologies powered by AI and IoT to enhance operational efficiency and safety. A comprehensive mobile app is also envisioned, offering features such as smart parking, cashless payments, and real-time updates to improve the user experience. To promote environmental sustainability, the team proposes electrifying the matatu fleet, supported by incentives and expanded charging infrastructure.

This multifaceted approach aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including sustainable cities and communities, industry and infrastructure, and climate action. By leveraging technology and fostering public-private partnerships, Team Invictus aims to create a more inclusive and environmentally friendly transport system in Nairobi.

WU Team 3

Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (WU) – Austria

Team Members: Femke Krap, Thijs Pieterse

  • Topic: Supply Distribution
  • Category: Food Supply Crisis

WUTeam3 addresses the pressing humanitarian crisis in Burkina Faso, where over 1 million people are cut off from aid due to armed group control of key transportation routes. Traditional helicopter deliveries are both costly and hazardous for aid workers. The team proposes utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to deliver essential supplies like food and medical goods to hard-to-reach areas. With UAV technology having advanced significantly, it offers a cost-effective and flexible alternative to traditional methods, with unit costs between $20,000 and $150,000.

The report outlines a practical operation model where UAVs, launched from a secure location such as Ouagadougou, can reach affected towns within a 200 km radius, enabling multiple daily deliveries. This approach effectively addresses critical issues: funding shortages for air services, safety risks for aid workers, and the inaccessibility of certain areas. Furthermore, the UAV solution aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to ending hunger and promoting health. The report concludes by urging aid organizations to consider UAVs as a viable means to deliver urgent supplies in Burkina Faso’s humanitarian crisis.

Abyssinia

Bahir Dar University – Ethiopia

Team Members: Abreham Tafese, Yonas Tilahun, Abraham Kasahun, Yoseph Muluken, Abera Gude

  • Topic: Crop Sales/Distribution
  • Category: Food Supply Crisis Transport

Team Abyssinia introduces FITS (Farmers Integrated Trading System), an innovative platform designed to empower Ethiopian farmers facing numerous challenges. By leveraging blockchain and AI technologies, FITS creates a transparent marketplace that enables farmers to sell directly to consumers, bypassing exploitative middlemen and ensuring fair pricing.

Key features include a “Harvest Hub” for safe storage of excess produce, which reduces food waste and enhances food security. The platform also addresses limited fertilizer access by negotiating bulk deals with suppliers, ensuring competitive pricing for farmers. Additionally, FITS connects farmers with local transporters, fostering job creation and improving delivery efficiency.

The system is designed to overcome barriers such as infrastructure limitations and low literacy rates through AI-driven support. FITS aims to reach individuals in conflict-affected regions by collaborating with humanitarian organizations. Revenue is generated through membership and transaction fees, ensuring sustainability while focusing on empowering farmers and advancing key UN Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty reduction, hunger alleviation, and responsible consumption.

The Guardians

Goa Institute of Management – India

Team Members: Shashank Jain, Sri Janani, Ankit Mishra, Avani Pandey, Shrutika Patkar

  • Topic: Predictive Analytics, Maternal Care
  • Category: Healthcare

Team The Guardians presents maternaCARE, a comprehensive solution to combat high-risk pregnancies in rural India, where nearly half of all pregnancies face significant health risks. The program employs predictive analytics and mobile technology to enhance antenatal and postnatal care delivered by local healthcare workers, such as ASHA, Anganwadi, and ANM.

Operating on a hub-and-spoke model, community health workers gather data that feeds into an AI platform, which analyzes predictors of high-risk pregnancies. This includes clinical and non-clinical factors, enabling timely alerts for healthcare workers to intervene. maternaCARE also includes offline capabilities and support for local languages, ensuring accessibility in underserved regions.

The program envisions incorporating wearable technologies and drones for medical supply delivery. These additions enhance monitoring and response capabilities, addressing the maternal health specialist shortage in remote areas. Overall, maternaCARE aims to significantly improve maternal health outcomes while contributing to various Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in health and well-being.

Bulaksumur Consulting

Universitas Gadjah Mada – Indonesia

Team Members: Gustav Susanto, Nikita Dinda Azizah, Risang Mar’atun Sholihah, Magnesia Putri Azalia, Najwa Waqiah

  • Topic: Disaster Alert and Recovery
  • Category: Food Supply Crisis

Bulaksumur Consulting introduces Resilient360, an innovative solution designed to enhance Indonesia’s disaster management capabilities, particularly in response to its frequent natural disasters. With thousands of earthquakes recorded from 2000 to 2020, the need for a robust response system is critical. Resilient360 utilizes IoT sensors and AI-powered predictive analytics to create a proactive early warning system, delivering location-based alerts to governments and communities before disasters occur.

The platform emphasizes public education through materials that raise awareness of disaster preparedness. Key features include GPS tracking for real-time monitoring and a centralized intervention module for coordinated responses. The use of drone technology for post-disaster logistics—conducting aerial assessments and delivering essential supplies—sets Resilient360 apart.

This comprehensive approach aims to save lives, minimize damage, and foster community resilience. The platform targets local and national governments, NGOs, and community organizations, generating revenue through contracts and subscriptions. By aligning with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, including sustainable cities, climate action, and health, Resilient360 aspires to transform Indonesia’s disaster management landscape.