News (1348)
Over the past five years, the number of start-ups founded and run by women has increased significantly in Africa. But, many problems still hinder the growth of those businesses. Various initiatives are being created by development partners to deal with those problems.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and Venture Building's Betacube program launched an incubation program, Tech African Women (TAW), yesterday (July 28). The program is focused on women-led technology start-ups still in the idea stage. Its first edition will target Ethiopia, Senegal, Tanzania, and Tunisia.
TAW aims to empower female tech innovators, leverage their skills to build strong tech companies from scratch, accelerate the transformation of their project ideas into validated business models, and develop alliances between different African ecosystems.
Applications are open until August 10, 2022, for Tunisia, and August 17, 2022, for Ethiopia, Senegal, and Tanzania at the official address www.techafricanwomen.com. To participate in TAW, applicants must be aged between 18 and 35 and be fluent in English or French.
Tech entrepreneurs selected for the program will take part in a 3-day intensive training and pitch competition organized in partnership with actors from each of their various local tech ecosystems. The winning team from each camp will receive a US$2,000 cash prize.
The top 2 startups from each country will then take part in a 2-month online incubation program to be prepared to enter the market and attract investments.
Later, in December, the top eight startups will take part in a pitching competition to select the best startup, which will win a cash grant of US$7,000.
The deal comes a few days after Benin officially introduced biometric ID cards, canceling the issuance of old cards.
Trade facilitation solution provider Webb Fontaine announced Monday (July 25), a deal with Beninese authorities to implement its Customs Webb solution. The new artificial intelligence-based solution will replace ASYCUDA World, the old IT system used by Benin customs.
The deal is the result of a partnership binding Benin and Webb Fontaine since 2018. According to Alain Hinkati, Director General of Benin Customs, “Customs Webb, Webb Fontaine’s Customs system, based on artificial intelligence, was chosen by Benin to continue the modernization of customs and optimize the trade environment.”
“Webb Fontaine’s ability to provide cutting-edge technology and digital solutions is a guarantee of success. With this new system, the objective of the public authorities to make Benin an exemplary platform in the simplification and transparency of Customs clearance procedures has taken a major step forward,” he added.
The deal to implement Customs Webb follows a decision issued by the Ministerial council on July 6, 2022. It is in line with the government’s ambition to make Benin a model country whose customs clearance procedure is clear and simple.
Customs Webb's main objective will be to interconnect all the main commercial platforms such as the single window, the community port system, and the electronic goods tracking solution.
In January 2018, Webb Fontaine launched the Single Window for Foreign Trade (GUCE), a platform through which pre-clearance and trade inspection documents can be requested.
With Customs Webb, Benin is taking another step toward the digital transformation of its public and private sector. A few days ago, the country officially introduced biometric identity cards, canceling the issuance of the old non-biometric card.
Samira Njoya
In Africa, the coronavirus pandemic demonstrated the need for e-learning initiatives. However, some constraints still affect the development of those initiatives. One of those constraints is teachers’ low ICT adoption. It is, therefore, crucial to train them on how to use IT tools to share their knowledge.
The Francophone University Agency (AUF), on Monday, July 25, kicked off a training session to train teachers in e-learning course designing and scripting. The training session is launched in the framework of Africa Digital Campus, which aims to boost distance learning.
For Ouidad Tebbaa, Regional Director of the Francophone Universities Association (AUF) in West Africa, “the AUF aims to train teachers who will constitute a skill pool to be used by the universities of Burkina Faso and Benin.”
“The project wants to boost the e-learning offer. It will provide the universities with adequate infrastructure and build teachers’ capacities in the e-learning field,” she added.
For two weeks, 69 teachers from Burkinabe public and private universities will be trained in course scripting and designing. They will become bridges assisting other teachers who are yet to grasp the importance of ICT in education.
“Digitilizing education requires paradigm shifts. We need to review pedagogical approaches and consider digitalization not as a constraint but as an opportunity,” explained Jean Marie Dipama, president of the Virtual University of Burkina Faso (UV-BF).
Throughout 2022, Africa digital campus will organize similar training sessions in other countries. The 2-year program is funded by the European Union to the tune of €2.8 million. It focuses on four key areas, notably developing e-learning, modernizing infrastructure and equipment to allow students and teachers to easily access learning platforms, knowledge sharing as well as awareness-raising to convince decision-makers to support the development of connectivity solutions.
Thanks to the training sessions organized by the AUF, 121 courses (for seven training programs) will be accessible on the UV-BF’s platform.
Samira Njoya
In Africa, the digital ticketing system is nascent. However, Morrocan startup Guichet wants to develop it further and conquer the whole of Africa.
Moroccan digital ticketing platform "Guichet" announced, Friday (July 22), the official launch of its Senegalese subsidiary. The new subsidiary, based in Dakar, is the result of a strategic partnership with a Senegalese operator.
For Guichet founder and CEO Ahmed Tawfik Moulnakhla, Senegal is a strategic market. "Morocco and Senegal are sister countries, whose exemplary relations embody an ambitious and inspiring model of South-South cooperation. By setting up [its subsidiary] in Dakar, Guichet wants to contribute to the exceptional dynamism of Senegal’s culture and entertainment industries by providing the public with smart ticketing solutions developed in Morocco,” he said.
Guichet, which has been operating in the Moroccan market for three years now, just passed the mark of one million tickets sold online. This is an unprecedented performance in the Moroccan entertainment industry. The ticketing platform wants to replicate this performance in the Senegalese market, which is its first step out of its native country, Morocco.
The Senegalese subsidiary is a test for Ahmed Tawfik Moulnakhla who wants to conquer the whole of Africa in the coming years.
Despite a difficult start, over the years, Guichet has managed to gain the trust of the Moroccan public by offering them the possibility to buy tickets online. The platform, which has Android and iOS apps, offers the possibility to buy tickets for concerts, sporting events, festivals, etc. In Morocco, it has organized more than 2,000 events.
Samira Njoya
Morocco embarked on a digital transformation journey years ago. Thanks to the various partnerships and agreements it has already signed, the country expects to digitize all of its public services by 2025.
In Morocco, the Ministry of Justice is moving to accelerate its digital transformation. Indeed, on Friday, July 22, in Rabat, Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, represented by Digital Minister Ghita Mezzour.
In the framework of that memorandum, the Ministry of Digital Transformation will offer technical assistance for the implementation of the Ministry of Justice’s digital projects. The two ministries will also share experience and collaborate on human resource development. Notably, the memorandum will oversee the interconnection of the Ministry of Justice’s digital platforms and allow the Ministry of Justice to use digital participatory platforms.
According to Abdellatif Ouahbi, the digital transformation of the Ministry of Justice is a strategic move aimed at rendering its services more accessible to users. “In the coming months, the Ministry will redesign its websites and digitize its justice services,” he said. He explained that with digitalization, the justice system will be accelerated since data can now be securely exchanged in real-time between departments.
The acceleration of the Ministry of Justice’s digital transformation is in line with the country’s digital transformation strategy (Maroc Digital 2020 and 2025) launched in 2016. The national digital transformation strategy aims to reduce the divide. Its ambition is to digitize at least 50% of administrative procedures and connect at least 20% of Moroccan SMEs to the internet by 2025.
As Minister Ghita Mezzour explains, in its new development model, Morrocco considers the digitization of public services a tool to improve economic, social, and territorial integration.
Samira Njoya
In Africa, fintech startups are gradually gaining ground, offering exclusive services to users. Thanks to its new mobile app, Studely becomes the first startup to allow students to remotely open a bank account in Paris.
Cameroonian consulting firm Studely launched Friday (July 22), its fintech app StudelyApp in Brazzaville, Congo. The app was launched during a ceremony attended by administrative authorities, entrepreneurs and students.
According to Studely co-founder and CEO Duplex Kamgang (photo, left), the mobile app complements the visa assistance services rendered by Studely.
“StudelyApp has been developed [...] to help students remotely open a bank account in Paris. It gives them the possibility to become banked while facilitating the payment of their school and housing fees. When they enter France or Germany, they just have to purchase a Mastercard for their bank transactions,” he explains.
The innovation was praised by Congolese Minister of Digital Economy Léon Juste Ibombo, who estimated that the app would enrich the Congolese ecosystem of practical solutions addressing the challenges faced by students who travel abroad. With its new service, Studely becomes the first global startup to develop a solution for the problems faced by students when they are required to pay their school ad housing fees before landing in Europe for their studies. The app is already available for Android devices. In the coming days, it will also be available for iOS users.
Studely was founded in 2015 to assist students in the visa application process for their studies in Europe, France, and Germany notably. Its assists in the obtention of proof of financial support, accommodation research, travel or home insurance, and bank account opening. The fintech is already present in fifteen countries and claims over 10,000 students assisted.
Before launching the StudelyApp in Congo, it had already launched the solution in Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Samira Njoya
Over the past four years, Africa's startup industry has attracted significant investors. The number of innovations developed is growing with beneficial impacts on the lives of millions of people. Several tech solutions developed by African startups have gained international recognition.
African startups have developed a fantastic ecosystem, according to Arun Venkataraman, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets. Speaking during an exclusive interview, with Ecofin Agency, before the next US-Africa Leaders Summit, the official revealed his country’s admiration of the digital ecosystems developed by African countries.
“The fantastic ecosystems developed by startups in countries like Nigeria and Kenya as well as the innovations that have come out of them” meet the expectations of the creative and forward-looking African youth, who are the core of the demographic dividend, he said.
"If this dynamic is carefully backed by the right policies, it can lead to great success and greater innovation that will benefit every one of us," he emphasized
Arun Venkataraman estimates that digital technology is one of the sectors where Africa and Africans can contribute a lot to their trade relationship with the U.S. "The U.S is looking forward to the innovations and new ideas contributed by Africans. We see Africa not only as a consumption market for U.S. goods and services but also as a key provider of the goods and services the United States needs,” he told Ecofin Agency.
Over the past four years, Africa's start-up industry has indeed undergone a profound transformation. The number of innovative companies created on the continent has increased. The volume of investments they attracted has gone up as well, following a sharp uptrend. According to Partech, African startups attracted US$1.16 billion in 2018. By 2021, that volume rose to US$5.2 billion. Investors committing funds to those innovative companies include American companies such as Bezos Expeditions, Visa, PayPal, Sequoia Capital, and LeapFrog.
For Arun Venkataraman, given the dynamism of its startup ecosystem, “Africa is much more than a commodity market. Even though we have to help it develop strong value-added sectors, we admire the successful ventures noticed because they add value to the U.S., but also the global market as a whole.”
Muriel Edjo
In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic forced most African countries to accelerate their digital transformation. In that regard, they focused heavily on boosting access to the internet and digitization of public services. Meanwhile, with the development of new technologies, cybersecurity has become an ever-present issue. Hence, the Nigerien government wants to devise a strategy to protect residents against cyber threats.
Niger validated Wednesday (July 20), the first draft of its national cybersecurity strategy. The draft was validated during a workshop held at the Niamey Congress Palace.
According to Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Hassane Baraze Moussa, the national strategy will safeguard Niger’s digital transformation. Cybersecurity “ is not a privilege. It is a requirement because of cyberspace issues. […] Elaborating a national cybersecurity strategy is a key step to guarantee Niger’s digital transformation,” he explained.
“Cybersecurity is essential in almost every human activity. It has become a priority for companies, but also for governments, which must protect people and properties,” the official added.
Niger initiated the elaboration of its cybersecurity strategy in June 2018. Almost four years later, the completed and vetted strategy is in line with the country’s 2022-2026 socioeconomic development program, the ECOWAS regional cybersecurity and cybercrime strategy, and the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection. It is part of Niger’s national security strategy.
Samira Njoya
Over the past five years, there has been a steep rise in the volume of investments secured by African startups. All through those years, Nigeria has almost always been the country attracting the most startup investment. Authorities now want to enhance those startups’ capabilities with a dedicated legal framework.
The Nigerian Senate passed Wednesday (July 20), a startup bill first drafted in June 2021. With its bill passing the Senate review, the national startup ecosystem is getting closer to its goal of ensuring “that Nigeria's laws and regulations are clear, planned, and work for the tech ecosystem.” The two steps remaining are validation by the House of Representatives and the signature of the President of the Republic.
The main objectives of the bill are "to provide a legal and institutional framework for the development of startups in Nigeria and to provide an enabling environment for the establishment, development, and operation of startups in Nigeria; Foster the development and growth of technology-related talent and position Nigeria's startup ecosystem as the leading digital technology hub in Africa, having excellent innovators with cutting edge skills and exportable capacity.”
Currently, Nigerian start-ups attract the most investment in Africa. They are thriving thanks to a long battle fought by the private sector. Nowadays, analysts point to their contribution to economic growth in the current digital age, and public authorities are determined to provide a better framework for their development.
In its nascent start-up bill, Nigeria has provided several facilities that will help accelerate the maturation of startups. The facilities include a label entitling to tax incentives, financial facilities through a dedicated seed fund, and customs facilities as well as training.
Once the bill is passed, Nigeria will join the list of the few African states that have adopted specific startup regulations. These include Senegal, Tunisia, and Mali.
Muriel Edjo
The smart card will serve as an ID card, allowing access to various government services. It will be used as a payment card to settle transactions.
Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital, will start issuing smart ID cards to its residents. For that purpose, the state signed Wednesday (July 20), a partnership agreement with fintech company Verve International. The smart card is an enhanced version of the identity cards issued by the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA).
“We have upgraded the residency card from an ordinary plastic card, for identification purposes only, to a smart, multi-purpose card that combines biometric identification with other functionalities and benefits, that cuts across areas such as security, financial services, mobility, and access to government services and amenities,” explained Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
According to the governor, the smart ID card is “borne out of the need to embrace change and align with global best practices.”
Dubbed "LAG ID", the smart card is a first of its kind in the country. It will enable holders to conduct transactions anywhere and anytime, easily verify their identities and access various social amenities provided by the government. It will “ultimately help inform the government’s planning and provision of services designed to secure lives and property,” Governor Babajide adds.
The card comes with an electronic wallet that can hold funds and be used for daily transactions and support monetary authorities' cashless program.
The partnership between Verve International and Lagos State Government is in line with the fintech company’s ambition to create a digital identification system in Nigeria. Recently, the company partnered with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to develop a digitization framework for the efficient management of Nigerians’ identity.
Samira Njoyav
More...
The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated digital transformation in most African countries. Nowadays, investments that were previously concentrated in urban areas are increasingly channeled to the development of rural areas, which house most of the population.
Nigerien Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Hassane Baraze Moussa, presided over the launch of the first edition of the Smart Village Innovation Forum (FIVI) last Monday. The forum, which will be concluded tomorrow (July 22), serves as a framework for reflection on rural areas’ digital transformation. Its theme is “Tec4Dev through Carpooling for Development.”
According to Minister Hassane Baraze, the end goal of the reflections will be to help materialize the government’s commitment “to connecting the rural areas by supporting state institutions and agencies.” It will also help “achieve the state agencies and institutions’ strategies, and end the digital isolation of Niger’s administrative villages.” The reflection is also expected to help “promote the use of e-services in urban and rural areas to notably improve financial inclusion, as well as create an ecosystem that is conducive to the development of local digital content and facilitates support to local startups.”
The plan currently set in motion for the digital transformation of rural areas in Niger is in line with the government’s commitments in its Renaissance Program Act III. The program notably provides for the modernization of rural areas by developing production and human capital as well as improving financial inclusion. By leveraging information and communication technologies, the country can quickly reach those goals.
In 2021, the country’s internet penetration rate was around 30% with low public services digitization scores. According to UN data, in 2020, it was among the countries with the lowest e-governance index, ranking 188th out of 193 countries. Developing broadband connectivity that supports digital services and information is one of the key requirements for the government of Niger to realize its "smart villages" ambition.
Niger "has a predominantly young population living in rural areas. [..] Our youth are our main asset. By training them and allowing them access to information, we will create better conditions to achieve our development objectives,” said Hassane Baraze Moussa.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
A few years ago, Ghanaian authorities initiated digital transformation projects to boost the adoption of digital technologies and promote innovation in key productive sectors.
Ghana inaugurated, Monday (July 18), its national e-pharmacy platform. The platform, dubbed “National Electronic Pharmacy Platform,” is the convergence of licensed local pharmacies. It “will enable Ghanaians to have access to prescribed medicines and buy them by making an order with a mobile phone through the ePharmacy app, website, or a shortcode, and have the medicine delivered to a requested location,” the government indicates.
“'The introduction of the National ePharmacy Platform (NEPP) is meant to safely and securely make available medicines, reduce the burden of cost and save time,” explained Ghana’s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
According to Ghana's Ministry of Communication, although cell phone penetration is over 100% in the country, people have yet to fully embrace ICT in their daily lives or business operations. Less than 10% of the population uses the internet and mobile broadband use is extremely low, the ministry informs.
NEPP is part of the e-Transform strategy launched by the Ghanaian government a few years ago. The strategy aims to boost broadband access and improve the efficiency and quality of certain digital public services. It also eyes an enhancement of Ghana's digital innovation ecosystem to help create better jobs and a better economy. In addition, it will improve the allocation of government resources, leading to the efficient use of public funds. Above all, the strategy is expected to promote entrepreneurship and create more jobs.
Let’s note that according to the World Bank, with an average of 19% growth rate annually between 2014 and 2020, the digital sector is one of Ghana’s best-performing sectors.
Jean-Marc Gogbeu
Last year, Côte d’Ivoire’s mobile money market was shaken by a new actor, which increased competition with an aggressive pricing policy. The competition forced strategic adjustments, much to users’ benefit.
In Côte d’Ivoire, Orange Money Afrique is no longer reserved for Orange Côte d’Ivoire’s users only. Indeed, to boost financial inclusion in the country the telecom operator opened access to its platform, allowing users to carry out various financial transactions irrespective of the network they are subscribed to.
According to Mariame Diaby Touré, CEO of Orange Money Côte d’Ivoire, to carry out their transactions, users only have to download the Orange Money Afrique app, register by following the required steps, and validate their mobile money account. Then, they can send or withdraw money, carry out merchant services and pay bills right from the app.
By opening Orange Money Afrique to other networks’ subscribers, Orange Côte d’Ivoire materializes the mobile money interoperability being advocated by the government since 2020. “It is an additional step towards financial inclusion,” says Mariame Diaby Touré.
Currently, the telecom operator is multiplying initiatives to remain the leader of the Ivorian mobile money market disputed with Wave, MTN Money, and MOOV Money. To get closer to its users, the operator has 41,000 kiosks installed all over the country. It also made significant investments in its network infrastructure to guarantee quality services. Thanks to those investments, Orange Money Afrique is accessible everywhere, even in remote areas.
“We are proud to be part of Orange Group, which has great network ambitions. We have covered almost every part of the country with 3G and 4G,” Mariame Diaby Touré indicates.
Internet is currently a crucial tool for students. In that regard, Algerian authorities want to improve its quality in universities.
Algeria will accelerate the digital transformation of its universities. For that purpose, the country plans to increase the internet speed in higher education and research institutes by ten by January 2023. The move was announced by Higher Education Minister Abdelbaki Benziane, during the Higher Education Conference held in Annaba, last Saturday.
According to Minister Abdelbaki, “digitalization is a strategic choice and universities are about to successfully implement it to improve management, assessment, and [learners’] performance.”
The government official recalled that an integrated information system, called “Progrès” (Progress in French), and digital platforms have already been deployed to improve educational management, research, and university life.
By increasing universities’ internet speed, the government will help students save time during their research with lower latency. The move will also allow a large number of students to access the internet and have a positive impact on their studies.
The acceleration of universities’ digital transformation is in line with the Algerian President’s instructions for the digitalization of every state institution. The country initiated its digital transformation years ago but, the coronavirus pandemic accelerated the process.
Adoni Conrad Quenum