SORA Technology Launches Ghana Malaria Elimination Project through UNDP-led Access and Delivery Partnership and TDR, Deploying AI-Powered Larvicide-Spraying Drones
Project in Ada East aims to generate operational evidence for drone- and AI-enabled larval source management to support Ghana’s malaria elimination efforts

SORA Technology Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya, Japan; Founder & CEO: Yosuke Kaneko; hereafter “SORA Technology”), which provides advanced drone and AI solutions across public health, agriculture, and climate resilience, announced that it is implementing an innovative pilot study to support Ghana’s malaria elimination efforts through the use of drones, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital field management tools. The project, titled “Harnessing Drones and AI to Combat Malaria in Ghana,” is being carried out on behalf of Ghana’s National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) to evaluate how emerging technologies can strengthen malaria vector control in hard-to-reach communities.

The study is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through its Access and Delivery Partnership (ADP) Programme, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), and funded by the Government of Japan.

Malaria remains one of the leading public health challenges in Ghana. A key malaria prevention strategy is Larval Source Management (LSM), which targets mosquito breeding sites before larvae mature into adult vectors. However, implementing LSM especially in wetlands, flood-prone areas, and other difficult-to-access environments can be labour-intensive and time-consuming.

To address these challenges, SORA Technology is leveraging drone technology, artificial intelligence, and digital field tools to improve the identification, classification, monitoring, and treatment of mosquito breeding sites.

The project combines drone mapping, artificial intelligence, and digital field management to identify, classify, and treat mosquito breeding sites. High-resolution aerial imagery is analyzed to detect water bodies and assess their suitability for mosquito breeding, after which high-risk sites are targeted through precision drone-based larvicide spraying. The findings are integrated into the Zzapp Malaria platform (a digital tool designed to strengthen LSM) to support field monitoring, navigation, larval surveillance, and operational coordination.

In addition to improving the efficiency of breeding-site identification and treatment, the study is evaluating the impact of AI-assisted risk classification and drone-based larvicide spraying on mosquito larval densities. The findings will help generate evidence on the effectiveness of these technologies as tools for strengthening malaria vector control programmes in Ghana and beyond.

Through this pilot, SORA Technology aims to support national efforts to develop more effective, efficient, and sustainable approaches to malaria vector control. The study is also expected to provide insights into how drone technology, artificial intelligence, and digital monitoring platforms can be integrated into public health programmes to improve decision-making and intervention targeting.

This story in UNDP Website:
https://www.undp.org/ghana/stories/harnessing-drones-and-ai-combat-malaria-ghana

Company Profile

Company Name: SORA Technology Co., Ltd.
Headquarters: 2-14-1 Nagono, Nishi-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Representative: Yosuke Kaneko (Founder & CEO)
Established: 2020
Business: Development and provision of drone- and AI-powered technologies for infectious disease control, agricultural support, and climate adaptation.
Mission: SORA Technology is committed to the mission of “Transforming lives from the sky (SORA).” By leveraging advanced drone and AI technologies, the company aims to help build safe and prosperous societies anywhere in the world. Centered in Africa and other developing regions, SORA provides a wide range of services, from infectious disease surveillance and control to agricultural productivity enhancement and climate adaptation support.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sora-technology/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sora.technology/