The World Resources Institute (WRI) announced it has launched, in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD), a challenge to reward initiatives that aim to transform the transit systems in Africa by utilizing technology.

The DigitalTransport4Africa (DT4A) Innovation Challenge focuses on sustainable mobility initiatives, particularly those related to artisanal or "informal" transport in African cities through innovative digital tools and technologies. It is open to NGOs, research and academic institutions, and private companies. All eligibility and application conditions are available at digitaltransport4africa.org. The deadline for submissions is February 16, 2022, at 11:59 p.m., East African time.

The four best digital innovations, according to the jury, will each receive a $30,000 award to implement a new initiative over 12 months.

The government of Benin has adopted a new five-year multi-sectoral plan for digital migration. For the education component, the government has defined a technical framework to accelerate the digitalization of the sector. A workshop was organized for this purpose on January 27 by the Minister of Digitalization, Aurelie Adam Soulé Zoumarou (pictured).

It was attended by Salimane Karimou, Minister of Nursery and Primary Education; Eléonore Yayi Ladekan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; and Kouaro Yves Chabi, Minister of Secondary and Technical Education and Vocational Training.

According to Aurelie Zoumarou, the meeting enables participants to set “the fundamentals of the information system to be put in place, as well as the governance and the roadmap of the e-Education project.” She stressed that “per the vision of the government, the e-Education project must optimize learning and foster a better quality of the transmission of knowledge using digital tools.” The e-Education project is a sub-component of the Government Action Program (PAG) 2021-2026, in its fifth strategic axis: "promotion of quality education and technical and vocational training." Accelerating the project will help the government address the challenges faced by the sector during the coronavirus pandemic.

Once implemented, e-Education will contribute to improving the governance and management of education systems, introducing new teaching and learning practices, improving the monitoring and development of learners, making certificates and diplomas more reliable, strengthening teachers' capacities and skills, and improving research.

Adoni Conrad Quenum