Brief (360)
On Wednesday, April 17, Dr. Batakao Grégoire, advisor to Chad's Ministry of Public Health and Prevention, initiated a workshop to develop the National Digital Health Strategy Plan for Chad. This plan will serve as the primary reference for all actions and developments related to digital health in Chad, aiming for its effective implementation at the national level.
The Irish Tech Challenge South Africa calls on South African startups to collaborate with Irish counterparts. Organized with Wits University’s Tshimologong Digital Precinct and Dogpatch Labs, with support from Department of Science and Innovation DSI, Technology Innovation Agency TIA, and the Embassy of Ireland, the initiative aims to expand tech companies owned by South Africans, aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Selected startups will receive EUR10,000 each, a 10-day trip to Ireland, tech expertise, and government support. Applications are open until April 26th.
The AgriTech4Egypt Innovation Challenge is now accepting applications from scientists and entrepreneurs with agri-tech solutions that can enhance Egypt’s agricultural system.
Selected ventures will benefit from a fully funded bootcamp, professional advice, a six-month acceleration program, and an equity-free grant of up to EGP300,000 (US$6,500) from the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) of Egypt. The program runs from June to October, with a demo day in November. Applications are open until April 21st.
The Malawi Government has hired local ICT firm E-Tech Systems to resolve a passport crisis at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, which began after the system was hacked. The engagement of E-Tech Systems was confirmed by Frank Namangale, the Ministry of Justice spokesperson on April 14.
This move follows the cancellation of a contract with TechnoBrain in December 2021 due to alleged mismanagement.
The Sierra Leone ICT Talent Development Program is inviting applications for a one-week intensive training on digital technologies, focusing on Cyber Security, Privacy Protection, and Digital Marketing.
The training will run from April 29th to May 3rd, 2024. Selected participants will be trained to educate secondary school students and traders across Sierra Leone. The application deadline is April 19, 2024.
Click here to apply.
Kenyan agritech company SunCulture recently announced the successful completion of a $12 million funding round. The funds will be used to introduce solar irrigation systems, leveraging the Internet of Things technology, to numerous smallholder farmers by 2030.
On Monday, April 15, Roscas, a fintech startup based in Mozambique, announced the successful closure of a funding round. The financial details of the operation, spearheaded by Renew Capital—an American investment firm with a focus on Africa—remain undisclosed. The newly acquired funds will help the company further develop its technology. Specifically, it aims to provide access to social protection products such as insurance, capitalized savings, and loans for individuals who have historically been marginalized from formal financial systems.
On Friday, April 12, the Information and Digital Systems Agency (ASIN) of Benin initiated a call for applications for a Women’s Bootcamp focused on cybersecurity. The initiative aims to equip 22 young women, aged between 18 and 25, with an in-depth knowledge of prevalent web application vulnerabilities and the methods to ethically identify and exploit them. Applications are open until April 24, with the training scheduled from April 29 to May 3, 2024.
The Future World team emerged as the champions of the inaugural First Lego League, which took place on Saturday, April 13, at Sèmè City Open Park in Cotonou, Benin. The competition, a collaborative effort between Sèmè City and STEM Inspires, was themed “Quand l'art et la technologie se rencontrent (When Art and Technology Meet).”
The event offered a platform for young individuals aged 9 to 16, divided into various teams, to explore and apply concepts from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through an engaging and educational robotics program. In addition to winning the best team award, Future World also took home the prize for the best team with the most innovative project. The "Design du Robot," "Match de Robot," and "Valeurs fondamentales" awards were won by the Tech BoT Warriors, Dixitbot Squad, and Agodjié, respectively.
AfriLabs, in collaboration with Intel Corporation and Prosper Africa, recently announced the launch of the Intel Community Reach program. The initiative aims to support tech players who leverage artificial intelligence or high-speed connectivity to catalyze social change in Africa. Interested organizations, companies, startups, SMEs, and institutions can submit their applications before June 7.
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The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in collaboration with FNSV Korea, has launched the ITU BSA Application Challenge to revolutionize user authentication in digital financial services. The aim is to leverage blockchain technology to create a highly secure and transparent password-free authentication system. Applications are open until April 30, with the deadline to submit solutions set for August 1, 2024.
On Thursday, April 11, Chinese tech firm Huawei announced a partnership with telecom firm MTN Cameroon. The agreement aims to enhance women’s digital skills. As part of the agreement, participants will attend training workshops on advanced technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. The objective is to reduce the gender digital gap in the country.
ExxonMobil Foundation, in partnership with Junior Achievement Africa (JA Africa), a subsidiary of JA Worldwide, has recently initiated a non-profit organization aimed at empowering youth: the ExxonMobil STEM Africa initiative. This $300,000 program is designed to foster science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education among approximately 3,000 African students across Nigeria, Namibia, Angola, and Mozambique. Further details about the program are available upon request.
On Wednesday 10 April, Botswana's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lemogang Kwape, and France's Secretary of State for Development and International Partnerships, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, signed a partnership declaration dubbed the "𝑫𝒆𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒆".
The declaration outlines the primary areas of cooperation where Botswana and France aim to bolster their partnership. These areas include digital entrepreneurship, sustainable agriculture, and tourism.