South African entrepreneur Peter Adolphs serves as co-founder and chief executive officer of AskMandla, a South African platform that supports individuals who employ domestic staff, including housekeepers, gardeners, nannies and caregivers.
Founded in 2025, AskMandla manages key administrative tasks associated with domestic employment. The platform generates customized employment contracts based on each worker’s role, working hours and compensation level. Users sign the contracts digitally, and the platform stores them in a secure environment that allows both employers and employees to access them at any time.
The platform also assists employers with worker registration procedures involving relevant public agencies. The solution tracks mandatory contributions and helps employers maintain records that comply with regulatory requirements. In addition, the platform processes payroll, calculates applicable deductions and generates monthly payslips. Employers receive a single invoice covering all payment obligations, while workers receive their payslips directly through WhatsApp.
AskMandla also manages employee leave records. The platform tracks accrued leave entitlements, sick leave, family responsibility leave and unpaid absences.
The system centralizes and continuously updates these records, helping employers and employees reduce administrative errors and minimize potential disputes.
Beyond routine administration, AskMandla seeks to improve working conditions for domestic employees.
The company argues that many domestic workers lack the documentation and employment records needed to access financial services or pursue new professional opportunities. By providing employment contracts, payslips and structured employment histories, the platform helps strengthen worker visibility and professional recognition.
Peter Adolphs launched his first company in 2008. He founded Catchlight Film, a production company specializing in documentaries and advertising content.
In 2013, he co-founded Twenty-Two Media, a marketing agency.
Adolphs earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from IIE Varsity College in 2004. He later obtained a bachelor’s degree in Film, Business Administration and Business Management from AFDA School for the Creative Economy in 2007.
He began his professional career in 2008 as a producer at Cooked in Africa Films, a film production company. Between 2021 and 2022, he served as chief executive officer of Namola, a smart safety platform.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
The Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform and the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) signed a framework agreement in Rabat on Wednesday, June 3, to enhance citizen reception services across police stations and security facilities nationwide.
Minister Delegate for Digital Transition Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni and DGSN Director General Abdellatif Hammouchi signed the agreement.
The agreement provides for the implementation of pilot programs and the development of digital and physical infrastructure aimed at modernizing reception conditions within police stations and security services.
The two institutions will test new service models before extending them progressively across the country. Authorities expect the pilot phase to evaluate operational effectiveness and support a broader national rollout.
Beyond infrastructure modernization, the agreement seeks to strengthen institutional cooperation between the two entities.
The partnership aims to support the modernization of police public services while integrating security administration more closely into Morocco’s broader public-sector digital transformation program.
The initiative forms part of a wider modernization effort that Morocco’s national police have pursued for several years.
In late 2024, the DGSN launched the E-Police platform, which allows citizens to complete several administrative procedures online. The platform enables users to request police documents, schedule appointments and track selected procedures remotely.
The institution has also developed a digital ecosystem based on digital identity solutions and the gradual dematerialization of administrative services.
According to the DGSN, this strategy aims to reduce in-person visits, accelerate request processing and strengthen personal data protection.
The agreement signed in Rabat also supports Morocco’s broader objective of extending service-quality standards across public administrations.
The framework includes an experimentation phase through pilot projects. Authorities will use the results of those projects as the basis for wider deployment across DGSN structures nationwide.
Samira Njoya
Cameroon is seeking funding to implement DIGI-CoR, a CFA92 billion ($163 million) program designed to accelerate the digital transformation of the country's decentralized local authorities.
The government presented the initiative to technical and financial partners in Yaoundé on Tuesday, June 2. The project aims to modernize local administration, expand access to digital public services and reduce regional disparities in connectivity and digital equipment.
The initiative comes as digital projects continue to emerge across Cameroon's municipalities and regions, although deployment remains uneven from one territory to another. Authorities are promoting a coordinated approach to improve interoperability among systems and enhance the quality of services delivered to citizens.
DIGI-CoR 🇨🇲💻 : 92 milliards FCFA pour digitaliser les CTD, moderniser les services publics et créer plus de 9 200 emplois. Gouvernement et partenaires mobilisés à Yaoundé pour son financement. #MINDDEVEL #DIGICoR #Décentralisation pic.twitter.com/gIs9tcI4VA
— MINDDEVEL (@MINDDEVEL1) June 2, 2026
The DIGI-CoR program will deploy digital infrastructure, improve connectivity, equip local authorities with information technology and energy systems, and establish interoperable digital platforms.
The government aims to enable existing administrative systems to communicate with one another more effectively. Authorities expect this interoperability to improve information sharing and increase public-service efficiency.
The initiative targets significant gaps in local digital readiness. According to data presented by the government, 68.5% of decentralized local authorities lack structured computer networks, while 57.8% do not employ personnel specifically trained in digital tools.
These shortcomings continue to slow the modernization of administrative services, even as municipalities and regional governments assume a growing role in local development.
DIGI-CoR will also promote the sharing of digital infrastructure to reduce investment and operating costs. Rather than developing isolated systems, local authorities will rely on shared resources for data hosting, cybersecurity and digital-service management.
In addition, the program will strengthen the skills of public-sector employees and establish a regulatory framework aimed at harmonizing digital transformation efforts across the country.
Authorities expect the initiative to simplify administrative procedures, shorten processing times and improve public access to information. At the same time, local governments should benefit from stronger local revenue mobilization, more efficient administrative management and enhanced data-driven decision-making tools.
The project builds on several digitalization programs already underway in Cameroon. Authorities have developed 335 municipal portals through earlier local-government digitalization programs.
In addition, 145 local authorities have already received equipment financed by the Special Fund for Equipment and Inter-Municipal Intervention (FEICOM).
However, the government believes that these initiatives remain fragmented and insufficiently interconnected, limiting their impact at the national level.
Government projections indicate that DIGI-CoR could generate more than 9,200 direct, indirect and induced jobs over a three-year period. Authorities expect young people and women to secure a significant share of those opportunities.
The government views the initiative as a key lever for accelerating the modernization of territorial administration while supporting the growth of Cameroon’s local digital economy.
Samira Njoya
Entrepreneur, musician and competitive swimmer Carina Bruwer has combined her professional interests to build solutions for the entertainment and events market. She serves as founder and chief executive officer of Gigster, a platform that connects event organizers with industry professionals.
Founded in 2015, Gigster operates as a talent marketplace serving the African events ecosystem. The platform brings together artists, hosts, speakers, content creators and a wide range of event-related service providers through a single digital interface.
The platform enables companies, institutions and individuals to identify and engage professionals that match their event requirements more efficiently.
Within the entertainment segment, Gigster lists musicians, bands, dancers, comedians, disc jockeys, stage performers and other specialized entertainment professionals. The platform also features event speakers and facilitators, including masters of ceremony, keynote speakers, trainers and auctioneers. By aggregating diverse talent categories in one marketplace, Gigster seeks to simplify talent sourcing and improve visibility for industry participants.
Gigster extends its offering beyond artistic performances. The platform provides access to creative and media professionals, including photographers, videographers, content creators, voice artists and audiovisual production specialists.
In addition, the marketplace includes event-support providers specializing in logistics, decoration, beauty services, guest management, security and event coordination. This broader service offering allows organizers to source multiple event-related services through a single platform.
Beyond its marketplace activities, the company offers a solution called Gigster Direct. The tool targets service providers who secure their own clients independently of the marketplace.
Gigster Direct helps users manage administrative processes associated with their engagements, including invoicing, contract management and payment collection. The company aims to reduce administrative burdens while allowing professionals to focus on service delivery and business growth.
Carina Bruwer’s academic and entrepreneurial career reflects a diverse professional profile. She earned a degree in Musical Performance from the University of Stellenbosch in 2003. In addition to leading Gigster, she founded and directs Sterling EQ, an instrumental music group.
She also founded and serves as creative director of Visio Productions, a video and photography production company launched in 2020. In the same year, she founded PanaStream, a company that provides live video-streaming solutions.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
Nigerian startup Riwe has secured UN funding to expand its climate insurance services for smallholder farmers. The project uses satellite data to automatically compensate farmers when droughts or floods occur. With the funding, the company plans to provide affordable insurance coverage, weather alerts and access to loans to more than 15,000 farmers, helping protect their crops from climate-related losses.
WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature aimed at detecting scam messages. The system will analyze suspicious messages from unknown numbers directly on users' devices rather than sending them to external servers. This allows the app to identify potential scams in real time while preserving privacy, as chats remain end-to-end encrypted. Users will receive an alert allowing them to block suspicious contacts.
Startup Esca Finance has partnered with the MANSA platform to offer same-day international money transfers. The partnership uses stablecoins to bypass delays associated with traditional banking systems. The technology allows money transfer operators to avoid holding large amounts of capital overseas to settle transactions destined for markets such as Nigeria, Ghana and Francophone Africa.
The country's telecommunications regulator, the Electronic Communications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARCEP), and the National Institute of Post, Information and Communication Technologies (INPTIC) signed a CFA5 billion ($8.9 million) subsidy agreement in Libreville on June 1 to modernize training for digital professions.
The agreement took place in the presence of Digital Economy, Digitalization and Innovation Minister Mark Alexandre Doumba and Higher Education Minister Charles Edgar Mombo.
The partners structured the agreement as a renewable two-year program. The initiative will rehabilitate the institution's educational infrastructure, acquire new technological equipment, and develop specialized laboratories.
In addition, the funding will support the launch or strengthening of academic programs in strategic fields, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data management, cloud computing, networks and telecommunications, as well as digital entrepreneurship.
Through the project, Gabonese authorities aim to align training programs more closely with economic needs.
Officials said the agreement includes reforms to INPTIC's governance and management mechanisms. The partnership will also provide the institute with access to ARCEP's sector data and market analyses, enabling it to anticipate changes in digital professions and evolving skills demands from businesses.
The investment forms part of Gabon's national digitalization strategy, particularly the component dedicated to human capital development.
Authorities now view the availability of local digital talent as a critical requirement for supporting the digital transformation of government administration, businesses, and public services.
The challenge has become increasingly urgent as demand for digital professionals continues to grow across Africa.
According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), nearly 230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills by 2030. Organizations in both the public and private sectors are actively seeking specialists in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data management, and cloud computing.
By strengthening INPTIC's capabilities, Libreville aims to reduce the country's dependence on external expertise. At the same time, authorities want to position the institution as a leading regional center for digital skills training in Central Africa.
Samira Njoya
Burkina Faso is continuing the modernization of its judicial system through digital technologies. Platforms deployed by the Ministry of Justice have enabled the issuance of more than 600,000 criminal record certificates and nearly 70,000 nationality certificates, highlighting the acceleration of digital public services for citizens. Authorities disclosed these figures during the National Forum on the Digitalization of Justice, which took place in Ouagadougou from June 2 to June 3. These results reflect progress achieved in recent years through the online delivery of administrative procedures.
In addition to platforms dedicated to criminal records and nationality certificates, the country launched a digital service in February for documents derived from the Trade and Personal Property Credit Register (RCCM). The service has already enabled the issuance of approximately 2,000 documents.
Moreover, authorities have implemented a system that allows citizens to file and track criminal complaints online. Despite these advances, access to digital judicial services continues to face a major obstacle: the digital divide.
Data presented during the National Forum on the Digitalization of Justice showed that internet access reaches about 72% in urban areas, compared with only 27% in rural areas. The figures highlight significant inequalities in access to digital technologies across the country.
World Bank data for 2024 showed that only 37.24% of the population owned a smartphone. Meanwhile, DataReportal estimated that Burkina Faso had 5.42 million internet users at the end of 2025. As a result, the digital divide remains a major challenge for the government's administrative transformation agenda.
While online services reduce processing times and eliminate unnecessary travel for users, a large share of the population still lacks the devices or connectivity required to access those services. Consequently, the overall impact of digitalization remains constrained.
In response, authorities are considering additional support measures to broaden access. Officials have discussed integrating national languages into digital platforms, developing solutions for citizens with limited literacy skills, and expanding connectivity infrastructure in rural areas.
Furthermore, these measures will complement existing initiatives already underway.
Authorities are currently deploying telecommunications infrastructure in underserved areas and establishing digital community centers. These facilities will serve as local access points that allow citizens to connect to the internet and use a range of digitized public services.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
Patrick Kana is a Cameroonian engineer and entrepreneur. He is the founder and chief executive officer of QTA Tech, an agency specializing in organizational digital transformation.
Founded in 2023, QTA Tech supports companies across multiple industries. The firm provides end-to-end services that range from needs assessment and strategy design to implementation and maintenance.
The company bases its approach on understanding client objectives, developing tailored digital strategies, and providing continuous support to ensure long-term project success.
QTA Tech offers services across several business segments. The agency develops websites and applications for both businesses and individual users. In addition, the company helps organizations build e-commerce platforms, internal management systems, and digital tools designed to streamline day-to-day operations.
Furthermore, QTA Tech provides services related to data management and utilization. The company organizes, optimizes, and secures organizational data to improve operational efficiency.
At the same time, the firm supports companies as they modernize their digital infrastructure and business processes. Among the agency's flagship innovations is ProprioLink, a digital real estate ecosystem designed to connect property seekers with certified real estate professionals across Africa. The platform aims to simplify interactions between market participants while improving access to trusted real estate services.
Alongside his commercial activities, Patrick Kana serves as president of Drupal Cameroon, a professional association that brings together users, developers, and companies that use the open-source Drupal content management system (CMS).
Through this role, he contributes to the development of the local technology ecosystem and promotes the adoption of open-source digital solutions.
Patrick Kana trained as an engineer. He earned a master's degree in networking from the University of Dschang in 2016. Subsequently, he obtained a master's degree in information systems and database management from Gaston Berger University in Saint-Louis, Senegal, in 2018.
He began his professional career in 2016 as an independent developer. In 2020, he joined training center CUGIT Consulting as an Oracle database administrator before taking responsibility for the organization's IT team.
Between 2022 and 2023, he strengthened his technical and educational expertise as an Oracle administrator and trainer at training center CISPhoenix. He later devoted his full attention to entrepreneurship and the development of QTA Tech.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
Gachlem Ngassaki-Zoni is a Congolese entrepreneur and the founder and chief executive officer of DigiPay Group, a pan-African fintech company specializing in digital payments and money transfers.
Founded in 2020, DigiPay aims to streamline financial transactions across borders. The company enables users to send, receive, and manage payments in real time. Moreover, the company relies on an extensive network of partners that includes mobile financial service operators, banks, and international payment networks.
As a result, DigiPay seeks to improve connectivity between African payment ecosystems and global financial networks.
DigiPay structures its offering around several complementary services. The company provides money transfer solutions that facilitate remittances between Africa and numerous destinations worldwide. These services target both individuals who support family members abroad and entrepreneurs who need to execute international payments.
The company emphasizes the speed, simplicity, and security of its transfer operations. Furthermore, DigiPay aims to reduce friction in cross-border transactions and improve access to international financial services.
In addition to money transfer services, DigiPay markets a range of digital payment cards under the DigiCard brand. The company offers these cards to individuals, freelancers, and businesses. The cards allow users to make purchases, pay for subscriptions, and manage business-related expenses through digital channels. Consequently, DigiPay is expanding its product ecosystem beyond remittances and payment processing.
Alongside his fintech activities, Gachlem Ngassaki-Zoni serves as founder and chief executive officer of Gachlem.com, a real estate company that he launched in 2022. He also holds a shareholder position in Noki Noki Services, a Congolese express grocery delivery company. These investments reflect his broader interest in technology-enabled business models and consumer services.
Gachlem Ngassaki-Zoni holds a master's degree in economics and management from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, which he obtained in 2019. Before launching his entrepreneurial ventures, he strengthened his industry expertise through several professional roles. Most notably, he served as Regional Director for West and Central Africa at TerraPay, a company specializing in cross-border payments.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
The investment fund Catalyst Fund has crossed the $30 million mark to support green innovation in Africa. The capital will be used to back early-stage startups developing technologies to tackle climate challenges. The goal is to help vulnerable populations adapt to droughts and floods through projects in clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and water management.
The international money transfer app YouSend is now available in the UK and Canada, enabling African immigrants to send money home quickly and securely. Powered by advanced digital payment technology, 95% of transfers to Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania are completed in under two minutes. The company emphasizes fast transfers, transparent pricing, and 24/7 customer support.
Marrakech will host the Africa IT Meetings trade show in November 2026, bringing together IT managers, technology companies and digital experts. Participants will discuss data protection, cloud computing and cybersecurity. The event aims to foster business partnerships and support Africa's digital transformation.