IN THIS LESSON YOU WILL:

✔ Analyze shortlisted problems more deeply
✔ Measure the scale and impact of each problem
✔ Research evidence to validate the problem
✔ Identify existing solutions and innovation gaps
✔ Narrow down to one meaningful, impactful problem

🔹 INTRODUCTION: FROM IDEAS TO EVIDENCE

Last week, your team brainstormed and categorized problems using the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Now comes a more serious step.

You must test your ideas.

Many students choose problems because they “sound important.”

But innovation requires evidence.

This week, you will research 2–3 of your strongest ideas and measure:

• Scale

• Impact

• Feasibility

• Innovation opportunity

🔹 WHAT IS SCALE?

Scale means:

How big is the problem?

Questions to ask:

• How many people are affected?

• Is it local, regional, national, or global?

• Is it increasing or decreasing?

Uganda Example 1: Exam Stress

Scale:
Affects thousands of students annually.

Impact:
Impacts performance, mental health.

But:
Are there already many apps solving this?

Uganda Example 2: Post-Harvest Crop Loss

Scale:
Affects millions of farmers nationally.

Impact:
Financial losses, food insecurity.

Opportunity:
Can technology improve storage alerts or market timing?

🔹 CONSIDER IMPACT

To measure impact, ask:

1️⃣ Is it a serious problem?
2️⃣ Does it affect many people?
3️⃣ Is it discussed in news or policy?
4️⃣ Are organizations working on it?
5️⃣ Is there room for innovation?

Uganda Research Scenarios

Problem A: Youth Unemployment

Research Sources:

• UBOS statistics

• Ministry of Gender reports

• Local newspapers

Questions:

• How many youth are unemployed?

• What skills gap exists?

• Are job matching platforms effective?

Problem B: Poor Waste Management in Urban Slums

Research:

• KCCA reports

• Local council leaders

• Community interviews

Questions:

• How often is garbage collected?

• What are health consequences?

• Is there a reporting system?

🔹 ROOM FOR INNOVATION

Important Question:

Are others already solving this problem?

If yes:

• Can you improve it?

• Can you localize it?

• Can you simplify it?

• Can you make it affordable?

Example: If many farming apps exist, but none work offline → Innovation opportunity.

🔹 PARTNERING OPPORTUNITY

If NGOs or organizations are working on this issue:

• Can you collaborate?

• Can you pilot your solution?

• Can you gather user data from them?

Example:

Partner with:

• Health Center IV

• Farmer Cooperative

• SACCO

• Youth Development NGO

Partnership increases:

✔ Real-world validation
✔ Impact credibility
✔ Competition strength

🔹 ACTIVITY: RESEARCHING 2–3 PROBLEMS

(Estimated Time: 20–40 Minutes)

For each problem, fill out the following:

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📝 PROBLEM RESEARCH WORKSHEET

Problem Title:

---

1️⃣ Description of Problem:

---

2️⃣ Who is affected?

---

3️⃣ Estimated number of people affected:

---

4️⃣ Evidence collected (sources, interviews, articles):

---

5️⃣ Existing solutions:

---

6️⃣ Gaps or weaknesses in current solutions:

---

7️⃣ SDG Alignment:

---

8️⃣ Potential for partnership:

---

---

Repeat for second and third problems.

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🔹 COMPARING YOUR OPTIONS

After completing worksheets, compare:

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🔹 REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• Which problem are we leaning toward?

• Why are we excited about it?

• Who else is working on it?

• Does technology meaningfully improve it?

• Is it achievable within our timeline?

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🔹 KEY TERMS

Research – Gathering information to understand a topic
Scale – The size or magnitude of a problem
Impact – The effect solving the problem would have

🔹 STRATEGIC NOTE 

At NCC competition level:

Judges look for:

✔ Evidence-based problem
✔ Clear scale explanation
✔ Real user validation
✔ Understanding of existing solutions
✔ Justification for choosing this problem

Weak teams say:
“We think this is a problem.”

Strong teams say:
“According to UBOS 2024 report, 38% of youth in our district…”

Evidence wins competitions.

🔹 END OF LESSON OUTCOME

By the end of this lesson, your team should have:

✔ 2–3 deeply researched problems
✔ Evidence of scale and impact
✔ Knowledge of existing solutions
✔ Clear favorite problem
✔ Justification for final selection