1. Solar taxis

In Ivory Coast, around 80 percent of vehicles are used imports, with many of them spewing out clouds of smoke as they drive down the road. But a fleet of three-wheeled solar-powered taxis are now providing transportation that's much better for the environment.

2. Bamboo bikes

A Ugandan entrepreneur and cycling enthusiast has developed a more sustainable bike with a frame made from fast-growing and readily-available bamboo. Not only are they strong and durable, they are also light.

3. Boats out of plastic bottles

Social entrepreneur Ismael Essome Ebode hit upon a novel idea - making unique boats by tying plastic bottles together. This helps the environment by using bottles that would otherwise choke the country's drainage system.

4. Harnessing the sun for e-bikes

In Namibia, SunCycles makes e-bikes that are charged by solar power – it's an ideal solution in one of the sunniest countries in the world, with an average of 300 days of sunshine a year.

5. Smart traffic in Kenya

Kenya's capital, Nairobi, has a huge traffic and air pollution problem. But  Kenyan mobile, web and SMS platform Ma3Route wants to change that with a smart crowd-sourced solution.