Although South Africa is one of the wealthiest countries in Africa, hunger remains a major issue due to income inequality.
To address this problem, 60 Gen Z innovators came forward with technology ideas that could spark a real revolution.
Artificial intelligence, blockchain, data visualization, and community-driven platforms were among the technologies used during “The Biggest Hunger Hack”, an event organized by KFC Africa.
At this event, young participants proposed redesigning Add Hope, a project funded by 2-rand donations from millions of KFC customers. The initiative reached over 154,000 children last year, and participants demonstrated how it could be further enhanced through digital innovation.
The event also featured the introduction of an app called Misfits Mzansi, which aims to rescue imperfect fruits and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste on farms and deliver them to food-insecure families.
Another team developed a social media–focused donation ecosystem, which includes a real-time donor dashboard, a map showing donation hotspots, and integration with KFC’s loyalty rewards program — allowing good deeds to be rewarded with free meals.
Additionally, one group created a WhatsApp chatbot solution that enables customers to instantly donate by scanning a QR code on their KFC receipts.
The event brought together representatives from the business community, government, and civil society. The next step is to develop pilot programs in collaboration with Add Hope partners.
The goal is to showcase the results by the time the National Convention on Child Hunger takes place early next year.