Public Funding for De Graft Management Ltd

**Internet of Things (IoT) Smart Waste Management Technology to remotely monitor and maximise efficient waste collection in Kenya.** Increasing the rate of recycling, a key component of circular waste management, is central to addressing the global environmental crisis. The World Bank (What a Waste 2.0 - A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050) projects that the 2.01bn tonnes of waste generated annually will rise to 3.40bn tonnes by 2050\. Developing countries such as Kenya are particularly adversely affected by the serious health and environmental consequences of inefficiently managed waste, which is either openly incinerated or illegally dumped. Nairobi County Government in Kenya reports that only 38% waste is collected, of which just 10% is recycled. In response to the increasing amount of waste generated by a growing population, the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) has launched an initiative to improve sanitation in the county with plans to build waste storage stations across the county. Other Kenyan initiatives include the 2019 Sustainable Waste Management Bill and Ministry of Environment 2021 circular economy awareness campaign. De Graft Management (DGM) is a Property and Waste tech specialist. We work with stakeholders in Kenya who are yet to use technology to manage their buildings and related services. With this proposal, in response to stakeholder requirements, we will develop and demo Internet of Things (IoT) enabled waste technology to efficiently manage the solid waste generated from their buildings. Our project will build on the progress we have already made confirming the feasibility of the tech development (in a previous IUK competition). We will confirm the requirements and develop a new prototype to track Nairobi's waste schedules, collections and disposals. We will develop affordable, user-centred and locally supported waste management technology specifically developed for Kenya with long-term plans to scale the DGM technology across Africa. The tech will: \*Map collection agents' journeys to drop-off and collection points (buildings) \*Enable waste generators to locate nearest drop-offs and collection centres; scan and upload data; and arrange collections \*Monitor waste bin capacity to optimise schedules

Increasing the rate of recycling, a key component of circular waste management, is central to addressing the global environmental crisis. The World Bank (**What a Waste 2.0 - A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050**) projects that the 2.01bn tonnes of waste generated annually will rise to 3.40bn tonnes by 2050\. Developing countries such as Kenya are particularly adversely affected by the serious health and environmental consequences of inefficiently managed waste, which is either openly incinerated or illegally dumped. Nairobi County Government in Kenya reports that only 38% waste is collected, of which just 10% is recycled. In response to the increasing amount of waste generated by a growing population, the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) has launched an initiative to improve sanitation in the county. NMS plans to build waste storage stations across the country. Other Kenyan initiatives include the 2019 Sustainable Waste Management Bill and Ministry of Environment 2021 circular economy awareness campaign. De Graft Management (DGM) is a Property and Asset Management software specialist. We work with stakeholders in Kenya who are yet to use technology to manage their buildings and related services. This year, in response to stakeholder requirements, we have started to develop AI-enabled waste technology to efficiently manage the solid waste generated from their buildings. Our study builds on the progress we have already made by investigating the feasibility of incorporating additional functionality into the DGM waste management modules to track Nairobi's waste schedules, collections and disposals by: \*Mapping collection agents' journeys to drop-off and collection points (buildings) \*Enabling waste generators to locate nearest drop-offs and collection centres; scan and upload data; and arrange collections \*Monitoring waste bin capacity to optimise schedules Our idea is innovative because we are developing affordable, user-centred and locally supported waste management technology specifically developed for Kenya with long-term plans to scale the DGM technology across Africa.

McKinsey & Co (April 2020) report that COVID-19 has precipitated permanent changes in the property industry globally. Knight Frank's Africa Market Pulse Survey 2020 predicts a 70% post COVID-19 increase in remote working and social distancing in the sector which will become the norm, reducing density in commercial spaces. De Graft Management (DGM) is a UK-based software specialist. DGM has developed a Property & Asset Management (PAM) system for banks, insurance companies and property managers in Kenya who want to start using technology to manage buildings and related services efficiently. COVID-19 has changed the way our clients work and has accelerated their need for secure and centralised cloud technology. Our project will focus on extending our core property & asset management technology and automating the key workflows of waste collectors and recyclers and reporting on waste collections, issues, types, amounts and location. There will some support for government in the form of standard documentation. We will aim to: • Automate the collection and recycling of waste for service providers • Track waste collections, issues, complaints and feedback • Create government standard licensing templates • Incorporate an AI enabled Chatbot • Produce reporting based on the amount and type of waste generated, collected and recycled • Provide waste and recycling segregation training with local partners To deliver the project, DGM will develop strategic and mutually beneficial long-term relationships with Kenyan subcontractors Jakharris Africa and Green Health and Safe Environs. Wider project benefits and long-term growth strategy. The project addresses SDGs 8 and 11 via technological upgrading and innovation, new employment and entrepreneurship opportunities and environmental sustainability. To sustain growth after the Kenyan launch, we have identified potential for future long-term viability, expansion and commercialisation across Africa

McKinsey & Co (April 2020) report that COVID-19 has precipitated permanent changes in the property industry globally. Knight Frank's Africa Market Pulse Survey 2020 predicts a 70% post COVID-19 increase in remote working and social distancing in the sector which will become the norm, reducing density in commercial spaces. COVID-19 has changed the way our clients work and has accelerated their need for secure and centralised cloud technology. **De Graft Management (DGM)** are Property & Asset Management software specialists with 25 years' experience developing software in the UK and Africa. We have been working with banks, insurance and property companies and government in Kenya who do not use technology to manage buildings and physical assets, are struggling with manual systems and want to improve efficiencies and reduce costs. DGM have engaged with end users in Kenya since 2018\. During COVID-19 we have been unable to travel to Africa, however we continue to work with our clients using remote digital collaborative tools. COVID-19 has changed the way we and our clients work, accelerating their need for secure and centralised cloud technology. In direct response to client feedback, we are configuring and testing a prototype AI machine learning platform to help our clients recover from the effects COVID-19 has inflicted on the management of their buildings and assets. We have carried out detailed stakeholder analysis and are working with a sample of clients to specifically address COVID-19 related pain points in managing buildings and assets. We have identified the following requirements: 1. Managing and maintaining empty or part empty buildings; critical maintenance issues to keep buildings running and securing valuable assets. 2. Remote property management for regular, online contact with tenants, landlords, owners and suppliers, to reduce the time spent managing issues, payments, requests and feedback 3. Renegotiating and recording leases and contracts to compensate for reduced usage 4. Negotiating and logging discounts and concessions for suppliers, tenants and landlords for rents, service charges, ground rent, business rates and utilities 5. Managing solid waste and related service providers to track collection and disposal of residential and commercial waste 6. Safeguarding buildings by monitoring hygiene and maintaining shared spaces, cleaning supplies and cleaning providers 7. Tracking adequate staff PPE levels are maintained During this project we will configure the technology to enable users to complete 80% of their Property & Asset Management administrative tasks remotely, reduce costs and support their recovery post COVID-19\. Environmental impacts will be: * Reductions in emissions via improved building management efficiencies, reduced commercial buildings usage and fewer commuters * Controlled waste management improving public hygiene, health and air quality We will also address Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8 and 11 by creating local employment and entrepreneurship opportunities and supporting least developed countries through technical assistance in building management. We will also plan the commercialisation of the technology across Kenya, East Africa and Africa.