How Leoleo GulioSmart Is Driving Smart Waste Solutions at the DURP Hackathon in Dar es Salaam
🌱 Introduction
As cities grow rapidly, new challenges emerge — and one of the most pressing is waste management. In Tanzania, particularly in Dar es Salaam, managing waste efficiently has become critical due to increasing population and urban expansion.
To address this, the DURP Hackathon 2025 brought together innovators, organizations, and tech leaders to develop technology-driven solutions for sustainable waste management.
Among the standout innovations was Leoleo GulioSmart, showcasing how agricultural data can also play a key role in reducing waste and improving efficiency.
“Innovation is not only about increasing production — it is also about reducing waste and creating sustainable systems that benefit both people and the environment.”
🌍 The Challenge of Waste in Dar es Salaam
With a population of over 10 million people, Dar es Salaam generates:
More than 5,000 tonnes of waste daily
Significant pressure on limited landfill infrastructure
Growing environmental and economic challenges
This situation highlights the urgent need for smart, scalable, and sustainable solutions.
🚀 The DURP Hackathon: A Platform for Innovation
The hackathon, hosted under the Dar es Salaam Urban Resilience Project (DURP), brought together key stakeholders including:
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
MTI Investment
Resilience Academy
FSD Africa
Participants presented innovative solutions ranging from:
Mobile applications
Data-driven platforms
IoT-enabled waste systems
Out of eight innovations, three were selected for further development — including Leoleo GulioSmart.
💡 Leoleo GulioSmart’s Innovation in Waste Management
Leoleo GulioSmart introduced a unique approach by connecting agriculture and waste management through data.
The solution focuses on:
Digitizing agricultural supply chains
Tracking food waste at local markets
Providing insights to reduce post-harvest losses
Connecting vendors to systems that convert waste into:
Livestock feed
Organic fertilizer
This demonstrates how agritech platforms can go beyond farming to support the circular economy.
🔗 From Agriculture to Circular Economy
Leoleo’s participation highlights an important shift:
👉 Agriculture is not just about production
👉 It is also about resource efficiency and sustainability
By using data, the platform helps:
Reduce food waste
Improve market coordination
Promote environmentally friendly practices
This aligns with global efforts to build climate-smart and resilient cities.
🏆 Recognition and Future Opportunities
Leoleo GulioSmart was selected among the top innovations and admitted into the MTI Investment Elevate Blue Incubator Programme, where it will:
Refine its solution
Prepare for investment opportunities
Scale its impact across regions
This recognition confirms the platform’s potential to contribute not only to agriculture but also to urban sustainability challenges.
🤝 Collaboration for Sustainable Impact
The hackathon emphasized the importance of collaboration between:
Startups
Government agencies
Investors
Development partners
Through such partnerships, solutions like Leoleo GulioSmart can grow faster and deliver real impact at scale.
📌 Key Takeaways
Technology can solve both agricultural and urban challenges
Waste management requires data-driven solutions
Collaboration is essential for innovation success
Circular economy models create sustainable value
✅ Conclusion
The DURP Hackathon marks a significant step toward building smarter and more sustainable cities in Tanzania.
Leoleo GulioSmart’s participation demonstrates how innovation in agriculture can extend into waste management and environmental sustainability. By leveraging data and digital tools, the platform is helping shape a future where resources are used efficiently, waste is minimized, and communities thrive.
As Tanzania continues to grow, solutions like Leoleo will play a critical role in ensuring that development is not only fast — but also sustainable and inclusive.
