Twende Hub is a community of innovators working together to solve concrete problems. It has already led to the development of several technologies and prototypes. 

Twende Hub is a social innovation center that works to solve community problems through technology. Based in Tanzania, it provides workspace, technology incubation, and mentoring.

The center believes in working with students and community members to identify common challenges and design and create suitable solutions to those problems.  Under the leadership of John Rexford Nzira, a project management and HR professional, it offers programs that encourage creativity and innovative thinking.

Its training programs are typically one day to eight weeks long. They are open to a variety of participants, from primary school pupils to community members. Through those programs, the center introduces participants to mechanical and electrical trades and thought processes that help them identify challenges facing them, their families, and their communities.  

At the end of the programs, the center encourages “the more enthusiastic innovators with the most promising prototypes to take them forward towards a product which can be manufactured at scale, distributed, sold, serviced and used for the mutual benefit of everyone concerned and to contribute to the growth of the Tanzanian economy and poverty alleviation.”

Twende Hub has two creative spaces, workshops in which program participants can build their prototypes. One of these spaces is at its Arusha headquarters, while the other is located at the Orkolili secondary school and vocational training center in the Kilimanjaro region.

In its 9 years of existence, the center has helped develop over 60 prototypes and 20 technological products. More than 100,000 people use the technologies designed and developed by its trainees.

A member of the AfriLabs network, the center is supported by Google for Nonprofits, Kumasi Hive, Africa Open Science Hardware, Global Giving, Southern Africa Innovation Support, Pangea Advisors, The School of St Jude, and Okoa New Generation, among others.

Melchior Koba