Brief (381)
On April 16, the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) fund, Muuni, launched the Smart Africa Youth Chapter to support digital startups.
This initiative aims to narrow the digital gap and boost economic growth by equipping young entrepreneurs with essential digital skills.
The Smart Africa Youth Chapter aims to cultivate young leaders capable of driving innovation and job creation through mentorship and training.
Chowdeck, a Nigerian startup operating in meal delivery, announced on Tuesday, April 30, the successful completion of a $2.5 million funding round. Speaking on the matter, Femi Aluko, co-founder of the startup, explained the funds will enable the startup to replicate its success in more parts of Nigeria and add value to customers, vendors and riders in “as many ways” as it can.
Food delivery platform Glovo will cease operations in Ghana on May 10, 2024, despite a previous €3.5 million ($3.7 million) investment for expansion, citing profitability issues.
Following this, Glovo will focus on other African markets, including Morocco, Uganda, Kenya, Côte d'Ivoire, and Nigeria.
Despite Co-founder Sacha Michaud's positive outlook on Ghana's market in 2021, challenges such as high taxes and inflation have led to this decision. Yet, the online food delivery market in Ghana is projected to generate US$224.60 million in revenue in 2024.
BongoHive, Zambia’s leading innovation and technology hub, in collaboration with the German Cooperation (GIZ) and Zanga African Metrics, a Zambian firm, has recently unveiled the FIT4Mentorship program. This initiative is specifically designed for African women in the ICT sector. The program aims to bring about substantial transformations in the industry by offering mentorship, networking opportunities, and capacity-building for women. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by May 31.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Prime Minister, Beugré Mambé, recently advocated for responsible use of social media. During the conference of the French-speaking regulators' network, REFRAM, and the African Communication Regulation Authorities Network, ACRAN, on Tuesday, April 23, he called on these networks to protect digital platforms from toxic content and to strengthen regulation to ensure a healthy online environment. He also emphasized the importance of dialogue in promoting responsible digital usage.
On Monday, April 22, Djibouti’s Minister of Labor, Omar Abdi Said, met with the Moroccan Minister of Digital Transition during his official visit to Morocco. The two officials discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, focusing on digital transition, administrative reform, and social protection. They expressed satisfaction with the relations between their countries and agreed to promote the exchange of expertise and best practices for the mutual benefit of their populations.
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, recently hosted Dr. Matteo Prosperi and Roland Ruhumuriza, respectively CEO and Africa Area Manager of De Lorenzo SpA, at the agency's Abuja headquarters, NITDA announced on its Facebook page on April 16.
The meeting centered on discussions regarding potential partnerships and collaborations aimed at bolstering Nigeria's digital economy.
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.
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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.