Kokono, when innovation comes to developing countries

An innovative cradle, designed and patented in Italy by De-LAB – a Milan-based benefit company specializing in consultancy in the field of development cooperation and purposive economics – and made and distributed locally in Uganda, capable of protecting newborns from malaria and other potential causes of death, made of biodegradable and multifunctional plastic: this is Kokono, a unique sustainable and impactful entrepreneurship project that has its roots in the sub-Saharan African country. Leading the initiative is Lucia Del Negro, who, born in 1984 in Verona, has accrued a resume of studies and research on development cooperation, in 2019 was elected “Female Role Model of the Year” for Southern Europe within the Global Startup Award and among other things sits on the Advisory Board of the Giannino Bassetti Foundation working on the theme of “Inclusive Health.” We met with her to get a closer look at this project that connects innovation, sustainability and support for developing countries.

Lucia, you lead an innovation project that enables Ugandan women to use a cradle designed to confront a harsh daily life context. How did this project come about?

Kokono stems from the De-LAB proposal presented at the Milan Triennale, during the NEW CRAFT exhibition, in response to the idea of reflecting on “New objects for new uses.” Thanks to the support of the Giannino Bassetti Foundation, we presented our concept related to the creation of a multi-purpose protective cradle for infants from 0 to 12 months, which can be used both day and night, in both home and hospital settings. We were interested in working, in fact, on the concept of “versatility,” which in low-income settings-such as Uganda, the country chosen for the market test-is crucial to ensuring a truly efficient allocation of the few economic resources available to the poorest households. From concept to production took 2 years, in which De-LAB, independently, invested in field research that led us to engage more than 200 Ugandans to understand their preferences for use and structure of the new cradle. After that, we won the Profit AICS (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation) call for proposals and produced the industrial mold of the cradle shell, which was made from highly biodegradable plastics and entirely produced in Uganda, where we brought greener technologies and materials for our cradles. We have always believed that in order to protect children, who are the future, we could not resign ourselves to the use of standard plastic, which is taking away the future in Africa since it heavily pollutes soil and air. We then withstood the wave of the pandemic, and finally in 2022 we started industrial production and relations with NGOs, hospitals, orphanages and individual users, finally able to protect babies from malaria, accidental bumps, animal attacks-all in one product that can also be used as a bathtub and playground.

What results have you achieved?

Economically, we initially produced 1500 pieces, which we distributed in 9 months. We then have orders for another 3000 pieces, which we will produce in 2023. From a social point of view, we obtained data from an Amref study, with which we actively collaborate, showing that all children who received our cradle in the Kawempe slum (Kampala) never contracted malaria ….an excellent result! In terms of the environmental profile, we are using the absolute greenest materials (while maintaining certain conditions of product sealing and safety) and we are in dialogue with other Ugandan companies for them to use our materials in their consumer products.

Kokono’s innovation model is very unique because it was born in Italy, in De-LAB, but it is designed to be developed entirely in Uganda and, more generally, in sub-Saharan Africa, starting with the production of the cradles. What does it mean to “make innovation” along such vast distances and, clearly, such different cultures?

It means building a team of people who trust you as an entrepreneur despite the distance that is obviously both physical and cultural. We started with no introduction, from scratch, and had to build a common language of frankness, seriousness and a lot of flexibility on both sides. On the level of innovation, I have to say that working in Africa is exciting: young countries have a greater energy and a desire to test new things that is significantly higher than what happens in Italy. Basically, since our cradle is unique, there is a great need to familiarize beneficiaries and intermediate actors (doctors, nurses, doctors) with the use of cradles: our innovation responds to a need and needs to be promoted and accompanied by local empowerment pathways. To do this in such large markets requires resources and a clear strategy.

What will be the future of Kokono?

Vertically, continue to spread to rural, as well as urban, areas of Uganda, and at the same time reach other countries (such as Kenya or Malawi, for example, where we have already provided an Italian NGO working there). At the horizontal level, Kokono will be accompanied by other products aimed at maternal and child health. We are already working on this and look forward to sharing our results.