The 2020 African Drone Forum has an ambitious goal

The 2020 African Drone Forum comprises a Symposium, Expo and Flying Competitions, which will take place in Rwanda in early February 2020. Dates will soon be announced.

Emerging technologies can play a vital role in improving the lives of people in hard-to-reach rural communities across the continent, increasing resilience, and leapfrogging existing infrastructure to deliver significant socio-economic benefits. The African Drone Forum is a timely multi-stakeholder engagement program that will take place in 2020 in Rwanda, a country already using drone technology to improve the lives of its citizens. This Forum will showcase the latest drone technology, convene experts and regulators together in a Symposium, and challenge drone companies to take part in flying competitions with real-world elements.

Accelerating new, clean and safe infrastructure models

According to World Bank estimates, Africa needs to spend $38 billion more each year on transport infrastructure, plus a further $37 billion on operations and maintenance – that is just to sustain its current level of development. Africa’s infrastructure deficit is more than a mobility issue. Today, road accidents are the continent’s third-biggest killer.

Drones offer a starting point for a radically new model of low-cost, fast and futuristic transportation. Transforming mobility infrastructure can provide rural towns and villages with access to modern services like emergency aid, commercial goods and medical supplies. This will benefit industries like agriculture, mining, construction, and livestock.

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