Brief (218)
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 third edition of the Africa Digital Finance Summit, organized by pan-African public relations agency Glass House PR, will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa. Traditionally hosted in Kenya, the event will take place from Wednesday, November 20 to Saturday, November 23, 2024.
Key topics on the agenda include digital transformation, artificial intelligence, climate change, cybersecurity, and financial inclusion.
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/
Burkina Faso's Ministry of Digital Transition, Posts and Electronic Communications (MDTPEC) has made significant progress in its efforts to dematerialize priority public services, according to an evaluation workshop held recently in Koudougou.
By January 31, 2024, the average completion rate for dematerializing 43 key procedures stood at 83.97%, the ministry said. The workshop also focused on drawing up a roadmap for further digitization in 2024.
African Leadership Experience (ALX) is now accepting applications for its 2024 cohort, targeting young Africans aged 18-34 interested in tech skills. The program offers online courses in in-demand fields like AI Essentials, software engineering, data analytics, CRM, and AWS Cloud Computing.
ALX, which has trained over 100,000 students since 2021, aims to reach 750,000 by year-end. It partners with organizations like Mastercard Foundation to offer tuition-free access to programs typically costing between $7,500 and $39,750 in Africa, and $14,500 to $79,500 in Europe and North America. Applications are open until February 27.
Hikmatu Bilali
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.
Kenyan health technology startup Ilara Health announced on Tuesday, February 13, the successful completion of a $4.2 million financing round. The funds will be used to develop its technology and expand into new markets in the East African sub-region.
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.
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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."
Nathan Nwachuku (photo), co-founder of Nigerian edtech Klas, announced on Monday, February 5 the successful completion of a $1 million funding round. The funds power up the startup's online schools worldwide.
The Orange Foundation inaugurated its 22nd Digital House in Côte d’Ivoire on Wednesday, January 31, at the Institution de formation et d'éducation des femmes (IFEF) in Soubré. This initiative aims to empower women and promote their digital inclusion by providing access to tailored digital tools and content. Ultimately, it seeks to facilitate their professional integration into the local economy.
"The inauguration of this new Digital House underscores the Orange Côte d'Ivoire Foundation's commitment to supporting women," said Habib Bamba, Director of the Foundation's Management Committee. "We believe that digital technology is an essential tool for their financial autonomy."
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.