Sierra Leone partners with Qhala to integrate AI in government
500 civil servants to train; 10-15 AI workflows planned
National AI readiness study launched with World Bank support
As it struggles with major development challenges, Sierra Leone is turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to modernize public services and boost its international profile.
The country ranks 172nd out of 193 in the United Nations 2024 E-Government Development Index, with a score of 0.3042.
To close this gap, Sierra Leone signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Qhala, a Nairobi-based digital transformation firm, during the 80th UN General Assembly.
The partnership will train civil servants to apply AI in their daily work , improving efficiency, decision-making, and service delivery.
The program’s first phase targets 500 trainees and the creation of 10–15 AI-driven workflows in government operations. The goal is to build digital capacity in the civil service and embed AI into public administration to speed up and improve service quality.
In a related move, the government on October 2 launched a National AI Readiness Assessment with support from the World Bank. The study will evaluate infrastructure, human capital, and regulation needed for AI adoption in key sectors such as health, education, agriculture, energy, and security.
Preliminary results will help identify priorities and guide Sierra Leone’s AI strategy. Both initiatives are part of a wider push to make government more efficient and responsive. By integrating AI into public institutions and critical sectors, Sierra Leone hopes to address chronic inefficiency, processing delays, and limited data use.
Officials see AI , with its capacity to process vast data sets , as a potential engine of development, improving coordination across sectors and promoting more inclusive, data-informed governance.
Samira Njoya
In Ghana, new technological approaches are changing how healthcare services are managed. This entrepreneur is among those piloting solutions to make these services more structured and accessible.
Ghanaian technology entrepreneur Isidore Kpotufe is pioneering new approaches to healthcare management as the founder of RiviaCo, a health-tech company created to make medical services more accessible and integrated.
Founded in 2024, RiviaCo is developing a network of primary care clinics—some company-owned, others through partnerships—all linked by a uniform technology platform, common brand identity, and standardized quality protocols. The goal is to offer affordable medical consultations, prescriptions, medications, and laboratory tests without excessive delays, while providing streamlined and easy access to health information.
RiviaCo directly manages "Rivia Clinics," which are equipped and administered according to its guidelines. It also offers a "Rivia Access Card" to facilitate entry to the network’s services, including virtual consultations and certain discounts. The Rivia Clinics network has already registered more than 50,000 patients.
"In five years, half of all healthcare transactions in Ghana will flow through the Rivia Access Card, and we will take our solution to four other countries," Kpotufe stated in 2024.
A serial entrepreneur, Kpotufe first founded Westcape in 2018, where he served as CEO until 2019. Westcape operates in transportation, logistics, technology, and advertising. In 2019, he launched the mobility startup Stabus, serving as its CEO until 2021.
Kpotufe began his career in 2013 at the Imani Center for Policy and Education, a Ghanaian think tank, where he held positions as Communications Manager and Head of Imani Francophone. From 2021 to 2023, he worked for Treepz, a Canadian mobility company, first as Country Director in Ghana and later as Marketing Director.
Melchior Koba
The Kenyan entrepreneur is exploring new ways to use technology to close financial gaps for small businesses struggling to access suitable solutions.
Kenyan entrepreneur and fintech advisor Ochich Magero is tackling financial gaps for small businesses in East Africa's agri-processing sector as the co-founder and CEO of TradePulse.
Established in 2023, TradePulse is a financial technology startup focused on providing tools tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that struggle with financing and cash flow management, particularly in the food and agriculture sector. According to its official website, the company aims to "streamline Raw material sourcing challenges in Agro-processing in low trust markets."
TradePulse allows businesses to forecast, track, and meet immediate liquidity needs. It offers tools for creating and managing invoices, visualizing real-time cash flow, and facilitating the search for raw material suppliers, alongside secure payments.
In addition to leading TradePulse, Magero serves as an advisor at Afrinet Capital, a Kenyan venture capital platform, and at Picha Image, an image production technology company. His first entrepreneurial venture was in 2009 with the creation of Footprintnow, a social network platform.
Magero holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the Pontificia Università Urbaniana in Italy (2008) and a master’s degree in strategic management from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in Kenya (2010), where he subsequently worked as a lecturer and researcher for three years.
His career includes a role at KNATCOM in 2012, a public institution under the Kenyan Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, responsible for implementing UNESCO programs. He later served as Head of Business Development for Africa at Kip McGrath Education Centres in 2015, and as Country Director for Think Equal, a non-profit focused on child education and development in Kenya, starting in 2017. Before TradePulse, he was the Director of Strategy and Innovation at Lawyers Hub Kenya, an organization dedicated to legal technologies, from 2019 to 2023.
Melchior Koba
• Comoros launches measles-rubella drive using digital tools
• Over 101,000 children targeted across three main islands
• Real-time data aims to boost coverage, speed up response
The Union of the Comoros launched its national measles and rubella vaccination campaign on Oct. 4, using digital tools for the first time. The initiative, supported by the WHO and partners in the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), is funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Officials say the shift to digital tools will transform data management and improve campaign efficiency.
“This innovation gives us real-time data to make strategic decisions and ensure the campaign’s success,” said Chamsa Halidi, EPI Coordinator for the Comoros.
Health workers are now using mobile devices equipped with the Open Data Kit (ODK) application, replacing traditional paper forms. Data collected in the field is instantly uploaded to interactive dashboards and maps, allowing daily tracking of team performance, rapid identification of low-coverage areas, and immediate corrective action.
The campaign aims to vaccinate over 101,000 children across the islands of Ndzuwani, Ngazidja, and Mwali.
The digital rollout is part of a broader regional effort to improve equitable access to healthcare and strengthen health systems through innovation.
Previous vaccination drives were hindered by data delays, entry errors, and uneven coverage, limiting oversight for national authorities.
By adopting these digital tools, the Ministry of Health and its partners aim to enhance transparency, accountability, and campaign effectiveness. Real-time monitoring will help resolve issues quickly, ensure that every targeted child is vaccinated, and improve planning for future campaigns.
Beyond measles and rubella, the initiative sets the stage for lasting digital transformation in Comoros’s public health programs, potentially serving as a model for other African island nations facing similar monitoring challenges.
Samira Njoya
Ola Oyetayo, co-founder and CEO of fintech firm Verto, helps companies manage international payments and currency exchange.
Verto’s B2B platform enables businesses to hold, convert, and settle transactions in multiple currencies across 190 countries.
The London-based company serves over 1,000 clients, including SMEs, startups, and large corporations.
Ola Oyetayo, a Nigerian accountant and entrepreneur, is the co-founder and CEO of Verto, a financial technology company that simplifies international payments for businesses.
Founded in 2017, Verto operates a B2B cross-border payment and foreign exchange platform. It provides infrastructure for companies to convert, hold, receive, and settle transactions in multiple currencies. Based in London, the company focuses primarily on emerging markets, with a strong emphasis on Africa.
Verto facilitates money transfers between companies and their international partners by simplifying global payments. It offers multi-currency business accounts with IBANs adapted to different markets, along with tools to compare rates, identify liquidity sources, and manage currency risk.
The platform supports payments to and from more than 190 countries and serves over 1,000 clients, ranging from startups and small businesses to large corporations. Together, they convert millions of dollars each year through Verto’s infrastructure.
Oyetayo brings more than fifteen years of experience in finance. He began his career with an internship at Carphone Warehouse, a subsidiary of the European technology group Currys. In 2008, he joined American Express as a financial analyst, then moved to Barclays Corporate Banking in 2010 as an assistant vice president. In 2013, he joined the treasury team at Lloyds Banking Group. From 2016 to March 2025, he served as a director at Arbitrage Capital, a UK-based investment firm.
Senegalese computer scientist Yacine Sarr founded WER, a digital health operator improving access to care in Africa.
The platform combines a rechargeable health account, a digital card, and a unified medical record for better patient management.
Sarr has received multiple innovation awards, including the 2025 Nana Anè XV African Women’s Excellence Prize.
Yacine Sarr, a Senegalese computer scientist and tech entrepreneur, is the founder and manager of WER, a digital health operator aiming to modernize access to healthcare across Africa.
Launched in 2023, WER offers a digital platform featuring a rechargeable health account and a digital card that allow users to prepay for consultations, medicines, and medical services while ensuring expense tracking and continuity of care. The platform also integrates a unified digital medical record, accessible and updated at each visit, along with a geolocation tool that directs users to nearby healthcare providers.
WER is developed by Fiditech, an IT agency led by Yacine Sarr, which designs digital tools such as websites and mobile applications and provides IT services and hardware solutions.
Sarr holds a master’s degree in mathematics and computer science from Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, earned in 2017. She began her career in 2013 at Orange as a technical support specialist and later served as an IT consultant at the National Agency for Statistics and Demography (ANSD) between 2016 and 2021.
Her achievements have earned her several distinctions. In 2023, she won the first prize for innovation at the Dakar Innovation Days and was named a laureate of the African Women of the Future (AWF) program. In August 2025, she received the Nana Anè XV African Women’s Excellence Award at the International Women’s Entrepreneurship Fair in Lomé, Togo.
Madagascar launched the first cohort of the Skills4Job program to equip young people with key digital skills.
The initiative, aligned with the 2023–2028 Digital Strategic Plan, started with 51 participants in Toamasina.
The government aims to train 40,000 people by 2028 as part of broader efforts to reduce youth unemployment.
The Malagasy government launched on Thursday, October 2, the first cohort of the “Skills4Job” program, designed to equip young people with essential digital skills and improve their readiness for the labor market. The program began with 51 participants in the port city of Toamasina and will gradually expand nationwide.
According to Stéphanie Delmotte, Minister of Digital Development, Posts, and Telecommunications, the free training provides participants with the tools needed to face the challenges of tomorrow’s digital economy.
This initiative aligns with the country’s Digital Strategic Plan (PSN) 2023–2028, which aims to make Madagascar a key player in Africa’s digital economy through advances in telecommunications, e-government, and digital inclusion. The World Bank estimates that about 230 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills by 2030 as the continent continues its digital transformation.
In September, the Minister of Technical Education and Vocational Training, Marie Marcelline Rasoloarisoa, announced plans to train 40,000 people in digital skills by 2028. Earlier, in February 2024, Madagascar signed a partnership agreement with the United Arab Emirates to train one million young people in new technologies.
Youth employment remains a major concern in Madagascar. According to Afrobarometer, more than four in ten Malagasy aged 18 to 35 were unemployed and actively seeking work in 2024. The study identified lack of adequate training or preparation (30%), lack of experience (27%), and mismatch between school qualifications and market needs (16%) as key barriers to employment.
Senegal’s Ministry of Education launched PLANETE 3, a digital platform to modernize school management.
The system offers real-time monitoring of attendance, grades, and student performance, with UNICEF’s support.
The initiative is part of a CFA130 billion ($233 million) national digital education strategy for 2025–2029.
Senegal’s Ministry of Education officially launched “PLANETE 3” on Friday, October 3, a digital platform designed to modernize the management of schools and educational institutions. Developed by local engineers, the system aims to end the fragmentation and isolation of the country’s education network.
“PLANETE 3 is not just a technological upgrade. It represents a fundamental shift and marks the irreversible transition toward a more connected, participatory, and dynamic educational community,” said Education Minister Moustapha Guirassy during the launch ceremony in Dakar.
The platform provides each education stakeholder with a personalized interface. It includes features for real-time tracking of attendance, grades, and report cards, as well as remote learning tools for struggling students, developed with UNICEF’s support. Intelligent dashboards will also allow education officials, including the minister, to monitor the entire system nationwide.
The initiative is part of the National Digital Strategy for Education 2025–2029, unveiled in January with an estimated budget of CFA130 billion (about $233 million). The strategy seeks to modernize Senegal’s schools and improve their appeal. It also follows the launch of a large-scale program to train 105,000 teachers in digital tools and artificial intelligence to support the country’s educational transformation.
For teachers, PLANETE 3 is expected to reduce administrative burdens, freeing more time for innovation in the classroom. Parents will gain real-time visibility through instant notifications, while students will receive more personalized support, especially those facing academic challenges. For administrators, the tool provides a powerful decision-making and management instrument, helping to build a more efficient and inclusive education system.
However, several challenges remain to ensure the platform’s success. Connectivity issues, limited computer access in some schools, and potential overload during peak usage periods will need to be addressed to guarantee smooth and equitable implementation across the country.
Moroccan entrepreneur Mohammed El Beltagy leads Optomatica, an AI-first consultancy.
He has founded or co-founded multiple startups in fintech, sports tech, and digital health.
His career spans senior roles in innovation and AI-driven platforms across industries.
Mohammed El Beltagy, a Moroccan entrepreneur and expert in advanced optimization and modeling, is the founder and CEO of Optomatica, a deep tech consulting firm specialized in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and optimization.
Created in 2003, Optomatica develops custom systems designed to accelerate the path from concept to finished product. Positioned as an “AI-First” company, it delivers optimization software and applies its technologies across diverse operational contexts.
The firm works in several sectors, including fintech, sports technology, digital health, conversational AI, logistics, and process optimization. Its mission is to deliver practical AI applications and unlock new technical opportunities for clients and their markets.
Beyond Optomatica, El Beltagy has launched several ventures. In 2014, he co-founded Racefox, a digital coach for running and cross-country skiing. In 2018, he helped create ConsultingPad, a platform connecting consultants and businesses, and joined AIM Technologies, an AI company, as a board member. In 2021, he was involved in launching Optofolio, a wealth management platform; Jilatee, focused on circular fashion; and DFin Holding, a fintech.
Since 2022, he has been co-founder and chief technology officer of Flend, a financing platform that uses data and technology to support small and medium-sized enterprises. The same year, he founded Racemate, a sports-focused technology company, where he serves as chairman and CTO.
El Beltagy earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering in 1994 from the American University in Cairo, followed by a master’s in mechatronics in 1996 from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. He later obtained a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Southampton in 2000.
His career also includes leadership roles in tech companies. From 2007 to 2017, he worked at Hive Streaming, a company specialized in live video streaming for organizations, where he served first as chief scientist and later as chief innovation officer. Between 2013 and 2017, he was chief innovation officer at Novelari, an innovation accelerator. More recently, from 2020 to 2021, he was chief technology officer at Elves, an Egypt-based travel application.
Zambia and Ethiopia signed a cooperation deal to develop national digital ID systems.
Ethiopia shares experience from its Fayda program, with 25 million citizens already enrolled.
UNECA estimates digital ID could add 3–7% of GDP by cutting costs and boosting inclusion.
Zambia and Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding on October 2 to work together on developing national digital identity systems. The agreement, reached under the Permanent Joint Commission of Cooperation, aims to improve citizens’ access to essential services while strengthening transparency and public accountability.
The partnership will involve a transfer of expertise from Ethiopia to Zambia, particularly in biometric enrollment, open standards, and interoperable systems. Zambia expects to draw on Ethiopia’s experience to accelerate its identification infrastructure.
Ethiopia has moved ahead with its Fayda national digital ID program, launched in 2023, which seeks to provide secure digital identities to the entire population. More than 25 million people have already registered, with a target of 90 million by 2027.
In Zambia, progress is more recent but notable. In 2024, the country digitized 81% of its old paper identity cards within just three months. However, challenges remain, including a low birth registration rate of 14% in 2024, which limits overall coverage.
Beyond improving public services, the initiative is expected to support financial and social inclusion. According to the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), a well-designed digital ID system could generate value equivalent to 3–7% of GDP in African countries by reducing administrative costs and better integrating citizens into the formal economy.
For both Zambia and Ethiopia, the project is seen as a driver of development and aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which promotes local digital solutions to foster regional integration and sustainable growth. By adopting interoperable digital identities, the two countries are laying the groundwork for inclusive ecosystems that can stimulate economic activity and strengthen trust between citizens and institutions.
If fully implemented, the initiative could place Zambia and Ethiopia at the forefront of Africa’s digital transformation. Still, challenges remain, including ensuring data protection, achieving cross-platform interoperability, preventing the exclusion of rural and low-connectivity populations, and securing sustainable financing for large-scale deployment and maintenance.
Moroccan agri-food engineer and entrepreneur Wissal Ben Moussa co-founded Sand to Green in 2022 and serves as its agricultural director. The agri-tech startup focuses on regenerative farming projects aimed at restoring degraded soils and improving agricultural resilience.
Sand to Green builds its models on environmental data analysis, guiding farmers and industry players toward resilient, traceable systems with measurable climate and economic impact.
The company developed RegenWise, a software platform that evaluates land characteristics and generates project scenarios including crop selection, plant combinations, spatial layouts, and irrigation systems. The tool provides technical guides for implementation, tracks plantation progress, and produces reports aligned with ESG certification standards. It also supports processes related to carbon credit initiatives.
In September 2025, Sand to Green secured third place in the national round of the Orange Social Venture Prize for Africa and the Middle East (POESAM). The startup also joined the AI Founder Sprint program at INSEAD’s AI Venture Lab and was named a finalist in the Food Tech Challengers competition.
Ben Moussa graduated in 2012 as an agri-food engineer from the Hassan II Agronomic and Veterinary Institute in Morocco and earned a master’s degree in innovation management for agro-industries from AgroParisTech in 2013.
Her early career included research at the INRH’s specialized seafood processing center in 2012 and a junior consulting role at Quaternaire in 2013. In 2014, she joined the Moroccan Innovation Center as a performance and development officer. From 2015 to 2017, she worked at Unilever Morocco in food R&D, supporting the local head of the department.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
• Senegal launched a $233 million national program to train 105,000 teachers and administrators in digital tools and artificial intelligence.
• The program is part of the government’s Education Digital Strategy 2025–2029 and includes distributing computers to science students.
• Connectivity gaps remain a challenge, as 40% of Senegal’s population lacked internet access in 2023, according to the ITU.
Senegal’s government is accelerating its digital transformation strategy through new capacity-building initiatives. In August, authorities already organized digital training for members of parliament.
On September 30, the Ministry of National Education (MEN) officially launched a national program to train teachers in digital skills and artificial intelligence. The initiative also includes providing computers to students in science tracks. Officials described the program as the operational start of the country’s Education Digital Strategy 2025–2029, which carries a budget of CFA130 billion (about $233 million) announced in January.
The program stems from a partnership signed in March 2025 between the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation. It targets 105,000 teachers and administrative staff to integrate digital tools and AI into teaching and school management.
The online training will be accessible via computers, tablets, or smartphones connected to the internet. It includes interactive content, self-learning modules, and certified assessments. Teachers will learn to adapt their methods to technological changes, use digital resources to enrich learning, raise student awareness of digital and AI issues, and strengthen cybersecurity and data protection in schools.
“The final objective of this initiative is to integrate digital tools directly into the classroom, not only to modernize teaching but also to create an ecosystem adapted to 21st-century requirements,” the ministry said. “This program is not limited to teacher training. It represents a paradigm shift that will allow Senegalese students to move from being simple consumers of technology to becoming creators and innovators.”
Successful implementation depends on several factors. Access to compatible devices, the cost of internet connections, digital literacy, and telecom coverage remain significant barriers. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), nearly 40% of Senegal’s population lacked internet access in 2023.
This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
Moroccan entrepreneur Mohammed El-Beltagy has built his career around applying artificial intelligence to business performance. He founded and leads Optomatica, a deep-tech consulting firm specializing in AI, machine learning and advanced optimization.
Optomatica focuses on accelerating the transition from ideas to final products by developing tailored AI systems that improve decision-making and data management. The company positions itself as “AI-First” and adapts its technologies to operational contexts across industries.
Founded in 2003, Optomatica operates in fintech, sports technologies, digital health, conversational intelligence, logistics, and process optimization. The firm aims to create practical AI applications and unlock new technical opportunities for clients and their markets.
Alongside Optomatica, El-Beltagy has pursued multiple ventures. In 2014, he co-founded Racefox, a digital coach for running and cross-country skiing. Four years later, he launched ConsultingPad, a platform linking consultants with enterprises, and joined AIM Technologies, an AI-focused firm, as a board member.
In 2021, he helped establish Optofolio, a wealth management platform; Jilatee, a circular fashion company; and DFin Holding, a fintech venture.
Since 2022, El-Beltagy has served as co-founder and chief technology officer of Flend, a financing platform that uses data and technology to support small and medium-sized enterprises. That same year, he founded Racemate, a sports technology company, where he chairs the board and serves as CTO.
El-Beltagy graduated in biomedical engineering from the American University in Cairo in 1994. He earned a master’s degree in mechatronics from Lancaster University in 1996 and a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Southampton in 2000.
His professional record includes senior positions in technology firms. From 2007 to 2017, he worked at Hive Streaming, a live video distribution company, as chief scientist and later as innovation director. Between 2013 and 2017, he served as innovation director at Novelari, an innovation accelerator. More recently, from 2020 to 2021, he was CTO at Elves, an Egypt-based travel app.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
This startup has launched an innovative legal technology, or legaltech, solution at the intersection of law and technology. It aims to serve as a localized, specialized legal AI option in Morocco.
Juridia, a digital solution developed by a Moroccan startup, is simplifying access to local laws using specialized Artificial Intelligence (AI) trained on the Kingdom’s legal corpus. The Rabat-based startup was founded in 2023 by Omar El Adlouni.
“We saw an opportunity: what if AI could simplify and centralize access to law? That's how Juridia was born, a company specializing in leveraging AI to improve access to legal resources,” El Adlouni said. “The goal was to create a platform that is not just a legal search engine, but a true conversational assistant capable of understanding legal questions and answering them with precision.”
Juridia’s AI has been trained exclusively on Moroccan legal texts, case law, and regulations. When a user poses a question, the tool provides a clear answer and includes the sourced legal excerpts (laws, decrees, and regulations) used to construct its response. Additionally, the platform can draft or rephrase contractual clauses, analyze legal risks, and ensure regulatory watch, all in multiple languages.
The solution aims to save time for legal practitioners while empowering non-specialists to better understand their rights. Amid growing focus on legal cybersecurity, compliance, and digital innovation, Juridia intends to contribute to the transparency of the Moroccan legal system.
Juridia offers tiered subscription plans to users. The “Individual” plan costs 490 Moroccan Dirhams (MAD), or about $54, per month, targeting individuals or independent lawyers. The “Professional” plan, priced at 990 MAD per month, is designed for law firms or mid-sized organizations, featuring additional functionalities and a secure collaborative space.
A bespoke, customized offering is available for large companies, which includes an Application Programming Interface (API), the integration of internal data, and personalized support.
Adoni Conrad Quenum