Category: Policy & Advocacy
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Civic Engagement: solving for misinformation during a pandemic
Introduction Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the world saw an unprecedented surge in misinformation and disinformation, complicating public health efforts. Pista Ventures, in response to this crisis, developed COTU, a WhatsApp-based communication tool designed to provide accurate, validated information about COVID-19 to residents of the eThekwini Municipality. By leveraging geo-targeted messaging, COTU aimed to inform the…
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UX Research: Living Wage for Barista Wage Calculator
Introduction Pista Ventures undertook a pioneering UX Research project to garner more insights for the Barista Wage Calculator, aiming to address the nuanced and often contentious issue of fair compensation within the coffee industry. This tool, developed by Open Cities Lab and Black Box, was envisioned to help reconcile the diverse needs and perspectives of…
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Circular Systems: prototyping for the visually impaired using plastic waste
Introduction Pista Ventures, seizing an opportunity provided by the South African Cities Network (SACN) aligning to the Integrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF), conceptualised “Open Oceans,” an innovative urban ocean lab project in Durban, South Africa. This initiative aimed to tackle the pressing issue of ocean plastics pollution by focusing on Durban’s river systems, which act…
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Food Systems: a manifesto for Africa developed by youth
Introduction Pista Ventures, as a founding contributor of the African Food Systems Manifesto, embarked on an ambitious journey to reshape the continent’s food systems. Recognising the critical role food systems play in societal health, economic stability, and environmental sustainability, the initiative aimed to foster a collaborative, continent-wide movement towards more sustainable, equitable, and resilient food…
