SmartRocket Africa
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Boubaker Hammou. I am the CEO of SmartRocket Africa and the founding partner of International Marketing Services. I’m Algerian and Canadian. After graduating as a Medical Doctor from the University of Algiers, I briefly worked in the private sector before immigrating to Canada to pursue an MSc in Applied Nutrition at the University of Montreal. I joined Sanofi Aventis as an Associate Researcher in Nutrition, and then as Director of the Global Health program for WebsEdge in London, UK.
Please can you tell us about your work?
SmartRocket developed an innovative real-time data capture system using advanced technology that supports modernisation of location execution (public hospitals, schools, shops, etc..) in African countries by providing accurate data. This information and data are essential for organizations like NGOs and public health services to monitor and assess ongoing projects such as vaccination programs; medical equipment tracking; identifying stocks and medical supply shortages (masks, oxygen concentrators); evaluating bed capacity and ICU bed availability, and monitoring clinical trials.
Our work uses advanced digitalization of activities to benefit the population, particularly remote communities in the post-COVID-19 scenario. It can improve supply chain effectiveness with real-time information on product availability in urban/rural areas. We aim for over 50,000 new quality employment by 2024 as per our expansion throughout the African continent and the Middle East.
How is Engage and the Transform Fund going to help you achieve your ambitions?
We expect assistance and guidance from experts and mentors to raise our profile and enhance activities by using the Engage platform for cohesive work towards the SDGs. The Transform Fund gives us the opportunity to rapidly disseminate our best practices related to the SDGs during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Which Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) does your work support the most?
Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing and Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure – all aligned with Engage priority SDGs.
Why do you think it’s important to support the SDGs?
The SDGs are a set of universal goals to help combat the urgent environmental, political and economic challenges facing our world. At SmartRocket, we strongly believe that sustainable business environments will benefit through the goals, particularly by using science, technology and innovation.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting a business to make a difference in today’s world?
Identify opportunities to make an impact where you are and don’t be afraid to start small. The most important thing is to start. Listen to the stakeholders and adopt the strategy of “servant leadership” (people first). Be surrounded by a good team, making a positive change requires a team sport.
