The Malawi Government has hired local ICT firm E-Tech Systems to resolve a passport crisis at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, which began after the system was hacked. The engagement of E-Tech Systems was confirmed by Frank Namangale, the Ministry of Justice spokesperson on April 14.
This move follows the cancellation of a contract with TechnoBrain in December 2021 due to alleged mismanagement.
The Sierra Leone ICT Talent Development Program is inviting applications for a one-week intensive training on digital technologies, focusing on Cyber Security, Privacy Protection, and Digital Marketing.
The training will run from April 29th to May 3rd, 2024. Selected participants will be trained to educate secondary school students and traders across Sierra Leone. The application deadline is April 19, 2024.
Click here to apply.
Since its inception in 2022, the AfricaTech Awards have awarded a dozen startups for the tangible impact of their activities on society. For its third edition, the event organizers continue to pursue the same goal.
Viva Technology, or VivaTech, an annual exhibition dedicated to technological innovation, announced on Wednesday, April 17, the 45 African startups selected for the finals of the third edition of the AfricaTech Awards. This Pan-African initiative aims to identify and support impactful innovative startups across the continent. The event will take place on May 24 in Paris, alongside VivaTech.
The 45 finalists were chosen from 310 applications following an evaluation conducted by VivaTech and its knowledge partner, Deloitte. These startups hail from 37 African countries, with Kenya, Nigeria, and Egypt having the highest participation since 2022. The finalists are divided into three categories: e-commerce & FinTech (15), Climate Tech (15), and Health Tech (15).
Following a second evaluation by a panel of experts consisting of C-Level partners, investors, and CEOs of incubators, the top three startups from each category will have the opportunity to participate in the 2024 edition of Viva Technology, which will be held from May 22 to 25 in Paris.
According to VivaTech's press release, among the 45 selected startups, 42% are founded or co-founded by women, and nearly 90% have at least one woman on their board of directors. They were selected for the concrete impact of their activities on society or the environment, the creation of remarkable innovation, the scalability of their business in the African market, and the formation of a diverse and experienced team.
"In this new shortlist for the AfricaTech Awards, Africa demonstrates all the richness and dynamism of its startup ecosystem and positions itself as the continent to watch for tech and digital innovation. Viva Technology is delighted to make this African reality known to the whole world and to connect it to the stakeholders who will enable it to reach its full potential. This has been one of VivaTech's commitments since its inception, and this year it will once again be one of the key themes of our event," stated François Bitouzet, Managing Director of Viva Technology.
Samira Njoya
Since October 2022, Nigeria has embarked on the development of a regulatory framework designed to foster the growth of innovative startups. A series of initiatives have been rolled out to support young companies and stimulate the local tech scene.
On Monday, April 15, Nigeria’s Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, officially inaugurated the national startup portal. The initiative is designed to stimulate the growth of startups and nurture tech talent in Nigeria.
Bosun Tijani, speaking about this initiative, stated, “The platform will also facilitate a consultative forum where issues affecting startups can be discussed and properly defined for action by the government and other stakeholders.”
The digital platform, which can be accessed at startup.gov.ng, offers numerous benefits to local startups. These include registration and labeling, as well as access to valuable knowledge and information resources crucial for their growth and success. Registering on the platform also opens up opportunities for young companies to receive financial support and tax breaks, among other benefits.
The launch of this platform aligns with the objectives of the Nigeria Startup Act, which was enacted in October 2022. This act stipulates the creation of an annual fund of 10 billion naira (approximately $8.6 million) to finance labeled startups through seed funds, grants, or loans.
Official figures reveal that since its inception in November, the new platform has registered 12,948 companies, 912 venture capital investors, 1,735 angel investors, and 925 incubators, accelerators, and hubs.
Samira Njoya
Connecting households to the Internet is crucial for African development as it enhances access to information, education, and economic opportunities, fostering inclusive growth and bridging digital disparities.
South Africa plans to provide internet access to 1.5 million households in rural areas and townships, by the end of the year, by deploying Wi-Fi hotspots. Mondli Gungubele (pictured), the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, announced the initiative during a media briefing in Pretoria on April 4.
“We are dedicated to bridging the digital divide by providing Wi-Fi access to communities and ensuring universal access to the internet. This year, we have connected over 740,000 households to the internet, enabled by the installation of 4,250 Wi-Fi hotspots,” said Mondli Gungubele.
This initiative, part of a broader plan to connect 5.5 million households over the next three to four years, seeks to bridge the digital divide and ensure universal access to the internet. The focus is on rural and township areas across South Africa, with particular attention given to reducing the cost of data and providing affordable internet access.
Additionally, efforts are underway to equip rural schools with internet connectivity and digital skills training through the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) Cyber Labs.
According to Minges (2016) in the World Development Report 2016: Digital Dividends by the World Bank, an enhancement of 10 percentage points in fixed broadband usage could lead to a rise in GDP growth by 1.21% in advanced economies and 1.38% in emerging economies. However, to accomplish this goal, it is imperative to ensure universal access to the Internet so that all individuals can contribute to generating this wealth.
Hikmatu Bilali
Strive Masiyiwa dreams of a future where every African, without exception, is digitally connected. His impact on the continent has been widely recognized and honored.
Strive Masiyiwa (photo), a philanthropist and businessman from Zimbabwe, is the founder and executive chairman of Cassava Technologies. His use of technology has significantly improved the lives of individuals and businesses across Africa, creating a wealth of opportunities and stimulating economic growth.
Established in 2021, Cassava Technologies has emerged as a pillar of digital transformation in Africa. Headquartered in London and operating in 31 countries, the company provides a wide array of products and services in as many as 94 countries. Its portfolio includes subsidiaries such as Liquid Network, Liquid Dataport, Liquid C2, Africa Data Centres, Distributed Power Africa, Sasai Fintech, Telrad, and Vaya Technologies.
Cassava Technologies is a part of the Econet Group, which also encompasses Econet Wireless. The latter is a telecommunications service provider in sub-Saharan Africa, offering services like mobile and fixed wireless telephony, public telephones, internet access, and payment solutions. It launched its inaugural mobile network in 1998.
In addition to his business ventures, Masiyiwa is deeply committed to social causes through the Higherlife Foundation, which he co-founded with his wife, Tsitsi. The foundation has supported the education of 250,000 orphaned children across Africa and has also sponsored health programs, disaster relief, and rural development initiatives.
Masiyiwa has been a non-executive director of Netflix since 2020 and also serves on the board of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and National Geographic, a premier media outlet in science and exploration. He is a member of the global advisory board for Bank of America.
From 2003 to 2018, Masiyiwa was a board member of the Rockefeller Foundation and served as a non-executive director for the consumer goods company Unilever from 2016 to 2024. He was an African Union special envoy for combating Covid-19 from 2020 to 2022.
Masiyiwa’s significant impact on the tech scene, both in Africa and globally, has earned him numerous accolades. In January 1990, he was honored as the Zimbabwean Businessman of the Year. In January 2020, Bloomberg named him among the 50 Most Influential People in the World, and Mail & Guardian listed him among the 100 Most Influential Africans. That same year, JA Worldwide inducted him into the Junior Achievement Worldwide Global Business Hall of Fame. In 2021, Fortune Magazine ranked him among the 50 Greatest World Leaders.
Melchior Koba
Kenyan agritech company SunCulture recently announced the successful completion of a $12 million funding round. The funds will be used to introduce solar irrigation systems, leveraging the Internet of Things technology, to numerous smallholder farmers by 2030.
On Monday, April 15, Roscas, a fintech startup based in Mozambique, announced the successful closure of a funding round. The financial details of the operation, spearheaded by Renew Capital—an American investment firm with a focus on Africa—remain undisclosed. The newly acquired funds will help the company further develop its technology. Specifically, it aims to provide access to social protection products such as insurance, capitalized savings, and loans for individuals who have historically been marginalized from formal financial systems.
The ongoing digital transformation across the continent has already revolutionized everyday practices and instigated profound societal changes. Notably, the education sector, which holds significant importance, is also experiencing substantial reforms.
On April 15, in Algiers, Kamel Baddari, the Algerian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, unveiled plans for a new digital platform. This platform, designed to guide recent high school graduates, will leverage artificial intelligence to help students choose their future educational paths based on their academic records.
Baddari explained, “Graduates from the June 2024 session will have access to a digital platform designed to identify the fields and specialties that best align with their abilities and grades. This will be achieved using artificial intelligence techniques and data analysis.”
The new platform is part of a broader series of digital reforms recently initiated by the Ministry of Higher Education. These reforms have led to significant savings for the ministry, approximately 72 billion DA (around $53.4 million) in university catering costs and 640 million DA in university transportation from October to last March. The digitization process has thus allowed the ministry to streamline expenses and enhance service quality.
The Algerian government’s investment in this new guidance platform aims to reduce dropout rates, reorientation needs, and student dissatisfaction. The artificial intelligence incorporated into the platform will aid young people in making informed decisions about their university courses. The ultimate goal is to transform student life through precise post-baccalaureate guidance and the selection of a professional, customized curriculum. This will enable students to contribute to wealth creation and job opportunities, thereby adding value to the national economy.
Samira Njoya
On Friday, April 12, the Information and Digital Systems Agency (ASIN) of Benin initiated a call for applications for a Women’s Bootcamp focused on cybersecurity. The initiative aims to equip 22 young women, aged between 18 and 25, with an in-depth knowledge of prevalent web application vulnerabilities and the methods to ethically identify and exploit them. Applications are open until April 24, with the training scheduled from April 29 to May 3, 2024.
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As an entrepreneur, he aims to ensure that sensitive products such as vaccines are transported under the right conditions, from the pharmacy to the patient.
Christian Cédric Toe (photo), an engineer and entrepreneur from Burkina Faso, is the founder of Laafi Concepts. His company provides an all-encompassing solution for tracking the critical conditions of sensitive items such as vaccines and other pharmaceuticals throughout their supply and distribution chain.
Established in 2020, the startup aims to enhance the availability of health products, including vaccines, and bolster food safety across the continent. Central to its services is the Laafi Monitor, a device that enables customers to track the temperature, humidity, and light exposure of their products in real-time. With its customizable alert features, this tool offers reassurance by alerting users to any critical changes.
In addition to this, the startup has created Laafi Mobile, an app designed to monitor and manage the transport and storage conditions of sensitive products, thereby providing a comprehensive solution to its clients.
Laafi Concepts has benefited greatly from the strategic support of Orange. Christian Cédric Toe acknowledges, “Orange has been instrumental in helping us identify new markets, providing mentorship, and granting us access to its network of experts. This support has been pivotal in the development and marketing of our product.”
Laafi Concepts has set ambitious development goals. The entrepreneur shared with We Are Tech Africa, “We aim to standardize all our processes, enhance the accessibility of our products, increase our institutional customer base to 100 by 2025, develop new features for our solution, and expand our presence in new markets in Sub-Saharan Africa.”
Toe was invited to the World Electronics Forum in Morocco, which ran from Monday, April 15, to Thursday, April 18. This event provided him with the opportunity to network and collaborate with other business leaders.
Toe is an alumnus of the Polytechnic University of Bobo-Dioulasso, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and maintenance in 2013. Prior to founding Laafi Concepts, he introduced Laafi Bag, a refrigerating bag that can keep vaccines at the correct temperature for 90 hours. This innovative product, developed by his company Genuine Concept (2015-2020), won him the innovation award at the Rebranding Africa Awards in 2016.
Melchior Koba
Digital technologies are significantly revolutionizing agriculture, impacting every stage of the value chain from production to marketing. Therefore, it's crucial to focus on improving funding to facilitate this transformation.
Orange, in partnership with the European Union and the German Cooperation (GIZ), recently announced the launch of "DigiGreen & Agri," an ambitious project aimed at enhancing the use of digital technology in the cocoa sector in Côte d'Ivoire.
This ambitious partnership benefits from joint funding of 7.6 million euros and will be implemented over three years, with the main objective of creating jobs for youth in digital agriculture or e-agriculture. The focus is particularly on young people from rural areas, women, girls, and individuals with disabilities, through the Orange Digital Center in Côte d'Ivoire.
Jérôme Hénique, CEO of Orange Africa and Middle East, explains: “The Orange Digital Centers serve as crucial catalysts for this transformation, providing a free and open innovation ecosystem accessible to all, with a special focus on youth, women, and vulnerable individuals. Collectively, we are rising to the challenge of constructing an inclusive digital future that respects the environment, paving the way for a more sustainable and prosperous economy.”
The DigiGreen & Agri project is part of the efforts and the desire of the European Union to strengthen smart, clean, and secure links in the digital sector, one of the pillars of the Global Gateway Strategy. This strategy aims to mobilize up to 300 billion euros to develop international cooperation in the fields of digital technology, energy, and transportation.
In Côte d'Ivoire, the implementation of the new project should contribute to the improvement of professional skills, the promotion of entrepreneurship, and the modernization and innovation of sustainable agriculture sectors, low-carbon transition, and corporate social responsibility. The project will also contribute to the evolution of the cocoa sector, which accounts for 22% of the GDP and employs 50% of the active workforce, but receives only 5% of bank financing.
Samira Njoya
The solution, launched by a Franco-Beninese tech entrepreneur, aims to improve pregnancy management across Africa.
Mama Care, an e-health solution developed by the Franco-Ivorian startup Susu, offers pregnant women comprehensive medical support and practical advice throughout their pregnancy and the initial months of their baby’s life. The startup, headquartered in Lyon, France, and with regional offices in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Dakar (Senegal), and Douala (Cameroon), was established in 2019 by Franco-Beninese entrepreneur Bola Bardet.
To enhance its technology, broaden its services, and facilitate its continental expansion, Susu has completed several funding rounds. In March 2022, it raised $1 million, followed by an additional $4.5 million in December 2023. Commenting on this recent fundraising, Bardet stated, “Our mission is to democratize healthcare access across the entire African continent by offering innovative solutions for quality care and financing our beneficiaries’ health. […] This funding will enable us to continue our development and fulfill our ambition of transforming the daily lives of millions of Africans.”
Launched in July 2022, the Mama Care app is available on iOS and Android and has already been downloaded over 50,000 times on PlayStore. After installing the app, pregnant women need to create an account to access Mama Care’s various services. These services include ultrasounds, blood tests, consultations, comprehensive assessments, and home visits from midwives, along with personalized advice and information on nutrition and lifestyle.
“Mama Care covers all prenatal and postnatal consultations for the expectant mother, as well as her delivery, in collaboration with the top clinics and hospitals in Côte d’Ivoire,” the startup explains.
The platform offers three packages for its services. “Mama Light” starts at XOF5,000 (about $8) per month, “Mama Zen” at XOF20,000 per month, and “Mama Plus” at XOF60,000 per month. While the platform is available in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Cameroon, some services are not yet available in the latter two countries.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
The Future World team emerged as the champions of the inaugural First Lego League, which took place on Saturday, April 13, at Sèmè City Open Park in Cotonou, Benin. The competition, a collaborative effort between Sèmè City and STEM Inspires, was themed “Quand l'art et la technologie se rencontrent (When Art and Technology Meet).”
The event offered a platform for young individuals aged 9 to 16, divided into various teams, to explore and apply concepts from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through an engaging and educational robotics program. In addition to winning the best team award, Future World also took home the prize for the best team with the most innovative project. The "Design du Robot," "Match de Robot," and "Valeurs fondamentales" awards were won by the Tech BoT Warriors, Dixitbot Squad, and Agodjié, respectively.