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The Somali government inaugurated the Data Protection Authority on Saturday, February 24, in a ceremony led by the country's Minister of Communications and Technology, Jama Hassan Khalif. The initiative aims to safeguard citizen privacy amid rapid daigital transformation.
Burkina Faso approved, on Thursday, a draft bill to establish a unique identifier for all individuals within its borders and a national register of identifiers. The system aims to simplify access to services and will issue government-recognized IDs regardless of nationality or legal status.
British financial technology firm TerraPay announced today an agreement with Diamond Trust Bank Uganda (DTB Uganda). The agreement aims to develop international money transfers and enhance financial inclusion in Uganda.
The World Bank seeks young leaders aged 18-35 to participate in its 11th annual Youth Summit, themed "Powering Progress: Youth Leading the Digital Transformation."
Scheduled for May 30-31 in Washington D.C., the summit will gather thousands of individuals worldwide to raise awareness of development challenges and engage them in developing innovative solutions using digital technologies. Interested young people can submit their applications by March 1 through the following link: https://youthsummit24.wufoo.com/forms/zr587641ladlrn/
Tunisian venture capital fund 216Capital Ventures participated in a $1.5 million funding round for Logidoo, a pan-African logistics startup, according to a press release issued on Tuesday.
The funds will be used for expansion into key markets across Africa, including Congo, Gambia, Guinea-Conakry, Mali, and Mauritania, the press release stated.
The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) announced on Monday the addition of the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) as its thirteenth member, bolstering efforts to facilitate seamless cross-border payments and promote financial integration across Africa. This move reflects the BCT's aim to support economic growth in Tunisia and the wider region by offering Tunisian businesses and citizens benefits like improved payment efficiency, reduced transaction costs, and expanded opportunities for intra-African trade and payments.
The Fate Foundation, in collaboration with Orange Corners Nigeria and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, has launched applications for the tenth cohort of its incubation program for Nigerian entrepreneurs. The six-month program offered both physically and virtually will provide participants with capacity-building sessions, expert advice and mentorship, industry visits, and networking opportunities. The deadline for applications is February 18.
Accelerate Africa has opened applications for its second cohort, seeking promising African startup founders. Selected participants will receive mentorship from experienced founders, access to a network of over 75 investors, and the opportunity to showcase their ventures at a demo day. The deadline for applications is February 16.
U.S. tech giant Microsoft announced plans to open a new data center campus in Centurion, South Africa, last week. The company said the facility represents "the next step in its commitment to enabling and accelerating the pace of digital transformation in South Africa, and Africa, in an inclusive, trusted, and responsible manner."
UNICEF StartUp Lab, an initiative supporting impactful technology-driven startups in Ghana, opened applications for its fourth cohort last week, the organization announced. The six-month program offers selected startups one-on-one mentorship, access to a network of UN partners, funding for prototyping, and various other support mechanisms.
Startups focusing on education, health, child protection, and other areas aligned with UNICEF's mandate are encouraged to apply. Applications close on February 29th.
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Nigerian fintech startup Kippa is shifting gears and venturing into the education technology (edtech) space, according to a Wednesday report by Techcabal. The company is developing an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered e-learning platform to facilitate the creation of online course modules and deliver bite-sized training sessions.
African fintech startups eager to scale their businesses are invited to apply for the Visa Accelerator program, offering three months of intensive training and support from the global payments giant.
The program provides selected startups with 1:1 mentorship, personalized training, and networking opportunities. With the deadline for applications set for February 18, interested parties can learn more by visiting the program’s page.
Nigeria's Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (MCIDE) on Friday announced 10 startups that will receive grants under its Fourth Industrial Revolution Technology Application (4IRTA) program in agriculture.
The selected companies, stand to gain up to 10 million naira ($10,977) each to scale their innovations.
"Congratulations to the 10 selected projects as we look forward to working with them in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture to support their path to scale and sustainability," said Bosun Tijani, Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
Ugandan e-mobility startup Safeboda is set to return to the Kenyan market in February 2024, two years after suspending operations there. The announcement was made on Monday, January 22, through a post on the X social network. Details regarding the company's Kenyan relaunch remain scarce, with the post only confirming the February timeframe and Nairobi as the initial operating city.