Gambia Tech Project is a commendable project that contributes to the development of the technology ecosystem in The Gambia. It provides networking opportunities for young entrepreneurs while playing a crucial role in training the next generation of technology leaders in Africa.
Gambia Tech Project is a program launched in 2021 by the French Embassy, in collaboration with the cultural center Alliance Française de Banjul. It aims to foster and actively participate in the development of a tech ecosystem that provides opportunities and facilitates innovations for young Gambian entrepreneurs.
Hosted by Alliance Française de Banjul, it is coordinated by project manager Boubacar D. Coly. It has a dedicated incubation space and a publicly accessible technology lab, where entrepreneurs can access various resources and services, such as training, workshops, events, mentoring, advice, and funding.
The project offers "young entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to achieve their goals through technology. Our main objectives are to provide quality human resources and entrepreneurs in The Gambia, because we have very creative people, but the problem lies in their limited vision," said Boubacar Coly in 2021.
Gambia Tech Project’s stated goal is to support and coach up to 50 people and incubate, accelerate, and finance up to 10 startups yearly. It creates business networking opportunities and usually organizes two major tech-entrepreneurship events every year.
Among the Gambia Tech Project's initiatives is the Gambia Tech Entrepreneurship Program. This program supports entrepreneurs who have an idea or already have a business in the fields of agritech, edtech, fintech, multimedia, creative arts, sustainable solutions, healthtech, smart cities, and information and data sciences, among others. The registration phase for the 2024 edition was launched on October 16 and will close on November 5, 2023.
Gambia Tech Project has also supported several other initiatives, including the Fireside Chat and Pitching Competition, which was hosted in January 2023 by Amie Jack, Product Manager at Microsoft.
To date, the Gambia Tech Project has assisted 275 entrepreneurs, supported 60 viable projects, and incubated 10 startups. These include Hightech Show, which promotes digital literacy through media and content creation, and Green Waste Initiative, a company specializing in the production and sale of fuels made from solid organic and agricultural waste.
Melchior Koba
