Nuru Lights makes LED lamps that run on batteries which take just 20 minutes to recharge using converted bicycles. They are revolutionizing life for Rwandans who are not on the grid.

Niger has suffered from a serious water shortage in recent years, so some geography students are working to find scientific solutions to restore trees and grassland to the area around the capital.

In coastal Kenyan villages like Watamu, a growing population is resulting in pollution of both terrestrial and marine environments. A local initiative is trying to keep beaches clean and create jobs.

Two young Egyptians have found a novel use for plastic that fuses tradition and modernity. The masterminds of Reform Studio weave old bags into beautiful home accessories.

For local residents, it's a challenging process. The elephants are often hungry, and happy to decimate any crops they come across. But the gentle giants also attract tourists to the region.

In Zambia, teams of rangers and botanists are documenting how the Miombo forest is changing as a result of extreme felling, and showing residents how to carry out sustainable forestry.

A German-French joint project is at the leading edge of the OLED market. The technology which uses less energy than LEDs is eco-friendly as it contains neither mercury or other harmful materials.

Cassava production generates huge amounts of waste, which when burned or left to rot, pollute the air, soil and groundwater. Scientists are now exploring ways of making better use of the whole plant that would simultaneously generate a source of income for farmers.

Berlin's transport agency has long operated diesel boats, but now runs four solar-powered ferries equipped with batteries for when the sun doesn’t shine. Captain Anna Sadowski pilots the boat.

Niger is not known as a company start-up hotspot but Yecheou Abdou shows the way with his new solar-powered grain mills. Just one success story launched by the Cipmen start-up center in Niamey.