Data Transparency for Environmental Safety with Altruistech
Welcome back to our latest series on the teams behind the first cohort of the Green Accountability Technology Accelerator. Four teams joined us in May 2024 to develop tech-enabled tools that enhance citizen oversight and decision making in climate finance and climate action. Today, we’re speaking with Abdul Karim Sesay of Altruistech about youth climate advocacy in Rwanda and how AI, robotics, and public data portals are enabling greater transparency and accountability.
Climate Collective: Who is Altruistech? Tell us about your team.
Abdul Karim Sesay: Altruistech is an energetic team of young climate tech innovators. We want to bring transparency, accountability, and responsibility to climate action among individuals, manufacturing industries, and local communities across Africa.
Our team is led by software and hardware developers from East and West Africa. I am a hardware engineer with experience in research, data analytics, and hardware development in robotics & AI. I am originally from Sierra Leone and now reside in Rwanda, where I recently graduated from African Leadership University. Mercy Nyamusi is a Kenyan software developer and tech enthusiast who is passionate about robotics, IoT, and AI. Last, but certainly not least, Daniel Falama is a robotics and software engineering student at Limkokwing University in Sierra Leone.
Climate Collective: Altruistech is a team of young professionals, some fresh out of university and others still pursuing degrees. Where do you see young people contributing to the fight against climate change? How are young women engaging in this movement, especially in East Africa?
Abdul Karim Sesay: In recent years, we have seen more young people in Rwanda becoming active in climate advocacy, from community level projects like tree planting and wetland restoration to technology-focused research and innovation. During my time as a university student in Kigali, I had the opportunity to engage with groups like The Youth Climate in Action Initiative, The Rwanda Climate Change and Development Network, and United Nations Museum — Rwanda on issues of policy formulation, accountability, and transparency regarding Rwanda’s climate action. Together, we are bringing fresh perspectives and a strong sense of urgency to this movement.
In East Africa, young women are increasingly taking leadership roles in climate initiatives, championing policy changes, and mobilizing the voices of their communities. Rwanda is home to many young women leading this charge. We are inspired by Deborah Mukundwa, who is an author of climate literature for children and serves as the regional co-lead for the Conservation Leaders Network in East Africa. We also look to Ineza Umuhoza Grace, a climate activist who serves as CEO of The Green Protector and was a founding member of the Loss and Damage Youth Coalition.
At Altruistech, we see these youth climate action movements and businesses as the keys to driving positive momentum and change. They are some of the core demographics who can leverage our public facing data portal to enact Green Accountability.
Climate Collective: What are you building? Tell us about your application.
Abdul Karim Sesay: We are building a robust set of tools designed to monitor and manage environmental compliance, starting in manufacturing facilities. Our new mobile app integrates data from sensors located in manufacturing sites, transmitting each company’s environmental footprint into visible metrics in real-time. We currently monitor 18 environmental parameters related to air pollution and emissions, and we plan to expand this scope further as user demand grows.
These tools are not only relevant for manufacturing industries, they are also useful for concerned citizens (like youth advocates) and NGOs, as well as environmental impact assessment consultants and government institutions. Anyone with the mobile app can access live environmental impact data and view industry-wide trends on air pollution. Push notifications ensure that citizens receive alerts about high pollution levels, key updates, and daily reminders to promote accountability with their local government.
We are not only making this data measurable and accessible, we are also ensuring communities have a way to share this data with civil society organizations and elected officials to advocate for their environmental safety.
Altruistech’s design prototype for a data collection robot. Sensors on the robot transmit data to a mobile application to showcase air pollution measurements into visible metrics in real-time.
Climate Collective: How does Altruistech foster feedback loops between governments, industries, and citizens for a cleaner environment?
Abdul Karim Sesay: We are fostering a collaborative approach to combating climate change and safeguarding our environment by facilitating data transparency and providing actionable insights to communities.
With our toolkit, governments will be able to monitor the environmental footprints of local industries and communicate directly with companies, flagging non-compliance and sharing impact reports. Industrial players will likewise receive AI-driven recommendations and alerts, enabling them to address issues promptly. Meanwhile, citizens and civil society actors can access anonymized industry data and interact with both industries and regulatory bodies, promoting transparency and accountability for the environmental safety of communities.
This continuous exchange of information and collaborative problem-solving ensures all stakeholders work together to reduce pollution and improve environmental health, creating a cleaner and more sustainable environment.
Climate Collective: How can these tools be adapted to address environmental compliance and public data sharing in different countries and contexts?
Abdul Karim Sesay: These tools can be adapted to new metrics and data visuals according to each country’s regulatory frameworks and local environmental concerns. We are building specific localization features, such as language support tools and region-specific pollutant thresholds, to make sure the mobile app is adaptable and accessible across the globe.
As a next step, we want to integrate national databases and collaborate with local authorities to enhance data accuracy and enforcement of environmental safety regulations. Public dashboards and educational resources tailored to community needs will further promote citizen awareness and engagement. We know that climate change is upon us, so as each community’s environmental conditions and monitoring needs continue to evolve, our app will also adapt to facilitate new forms of data monitoring, visualization, and citizen advocacy.
Altruistech’s design prototype for a mobile application. Citizens and civil society actors can use the app to access anonymized industry data and interact with both industries and regulatory bodies.
Climate Collective: What motivates the team at Altruistech to build tools that enable Green Accountability? How are you achieving this?
Abdul Karim Sesay: In 2017, we suffered a landslide in Sierra Leone that was caused by deforestation. Unfortunately, I lost several close friends in that disaster. This was a pivotal moment in my life, and one that ultimately led me to pursue a career in engineering solutions to climate mitigation and adaptation.
This commitment to upholding community health and safety in the face of a changing climate is what drives our entire team to build tech-enabled tools for Green Accountability. We are developing applications that facilitate real-time monitoring, transparent reporting, and collaborative problem-solving to combat climate change and protect ecosystems. Armed with better data and methods of communicating with public officials, communities in East Africa and around the world can better advocate for their own environmental safety and hold leaders accountable for protecting their wellbeing.
Climate Collective: What do you need to take this to the next level? How can others get involved?
Abdul Karim Sesay: We are seeking funding for advanced technology development, partnerships with environmental agencies, and more extensive data integration capabilities. Collaboration with researchers and industry experts will also enhance our tools’ accuracy and effectiveness.
If you’d like to get in touch with us about funding, sharing technical expertise, and scaling our demonstration projects, reach out to our team at info@altruistechinnovations.com.
