Brief (434)
Chad's Minister of Communications, Digital Economy, and Digitalization of Administration, Boukar Michel, held a meeting on Tuesday, June 18, with a delegation of American, Canadian, and Turkish investors. The delegation was accompanied by Kitoko Gata Ngoulou, Chad's ambassador to the United States. The discussions focused on the digital economy and the digitization of key sectors within the country. Boukar Michel emphasized that such partnerships would address the telecommunications needs of the population, highlighting the importance of international collaboration in advancing Chad's digital infrastructure and services.
EtriLabs, a Beninese startup incubator with a presence in Benin and Senegal, announced on Thursday, June 13, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the selection of six startups operating in educational technologies for the inaugural cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship. The program aims to accelerate 36 edtech startups over a period of three years.
The selected startups—Irawo, Sewema, Logeco, Blemama, Tama, and Esseyi—will benefit from an eight-month acceleration program, mentorship, expert advice, and non-equity funding of $75,000.
On Friday, June 14, the Minister of Digital Economy and New Information Technologies, General Bonjean Frédérik Mbanza, met with a delegation from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Gabon. Led by its Resident Representative, Francis James, the UNDP delegation presented the University Pods (UNIPODS) incubator program to the minister. This initiative is established within major public universities across Africa.
Madagascar plans to extend its surveillance camera project beyond the capital, Antananarivo, to other major cities in the country. The initiative was discussed during a meeting between Tahina Razafindramalo, Madagascar’s Minister of Digital Development, Posts, and Telecommunications, and Ji Ping, the Chinese Ambassador to Madagascar, held on Thursday, June 13, at the ministry’s headquarters in Antananarivo. Originally, the project included the installation of 1,200 surveillance cameras in the Malagasy capital.
Angola's National Institute for the Support of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (INAPEM) signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese tech giant Huawei last week, according to Angola Press Agency on June 14.
The partnership aims to strengthen Angola's national entrepreneurial ecosystem by fostering innovation and supporting the development of startups.
BotswanaPost, has partnered with Software Group -a global technology company specialized in digitalization and integration solutions for financial service providers- to introduce DigiPost, Software Group announced June 4.
This solution, which will be an integral part of the BotswanaPost Posa'it super app, will enable individuals and small businesses to resell postal services, improving financial inclusion across the country.
From July 5 to 7, the Dakar City Hall will host a hackathon for technology enthusiasts. Called Dakar Innovation Days, this event will showcase the creativity of students, professionals, and hobbyists. Organized by the Dakar City Council, the initiative aims to identify and promote innovative start-ups that contribute to local development.
Dahirou Thiam, the head of Senegal's regulatory agency for telecommunications and postal services (ARTP), recently welcomed a delegation from Guinea's counterpart, the ARPT. The Guinean delegation, led by Mamady Doumbouya, Director of Radiocommunications, visited from Wednesday, June 5th to Friday, June 7th. Their goal was to collaborate with Senegal's ARTP to develop a plan for rolling out 5G technology in Guinea.
Niger is currently developing a digital health master plan to optimize healthcare management. To this end, a workshop was held on Wednesday, June 5 in Niamey, presided over by the Minister of Public Health, Population, and Social Affairs, Colonel-Major Garba Hakimi.
Burkina Faso unveiled its new e-certificate platform for Certificates of Citizenship on Friday, June 7, in the capital Ouagadougou. The platform, accessible at https://ecertificat-nationalite.gov.bf/, is designed to streamline the application process for Burkinabe citizens by allowing them to submit and track their requests online.
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Rwandan Minister of Telecommunications and Innovation Paula Ingabire met with her Chadian counterpart, Minister of Communications, Digital Economy, and Digitalization of Administration Boukar Michel, on the sidelines of the ongoing ICANN80 summit (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) in Kigali, Rwanda, on Sunday, June 9. The discussions focused on bolstering bilateral cooperation in the digitalization sphere. Both ministers expressed their commitment to formalizing this collaboration through a memorandum of understanding, paving the way for Rwanda to share its digitalization expertise and experience with Chad.
Moroccan agricultural technology company YoLa Fresh announced on Thursday, May 30, that it has secured $7 million in a funding round.
The company, which connects farmers with fruit and vegetable retailers, will utilize the fresh capital to bolster its Moroccan operations, further develop its technology platform, and prepare for international expansion by 2026.
A South Korean delegation met with President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi at the 2024 Korea-Africa summit in Seoul, Botswana’s presidency revealed June 5.
The delegation discussed establishing an ICT industry base and fostering digital government in Botswana, aiming to share South Korea's successful strategies and explore potential collaborations.
This meeting highlights efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance technological cooperation between South Korea and Botswana.
Entrepreneurs using data and technology to tackle social issues in Africa are invited to join the 'Think Like an Investor' program, which seeks innovative digital social innovations (DSIs) with significant impact in areas like e-health, digital inclusion, climate change, financial inclusion, connectivity, and governance.
The program, announced on the official Facebook page of the Delegation of the European Union to Namibia on June 5, offers investment readiness training, mentorship from professionals in Europe and Africa, and networking opportunities at industry events.
Eligible applicants must be from South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia, Kenya, or Senegal, and must be proficient in English. Applications are open till August 4.