• Guinea launches platform for public access to draft constitution
• Citizens can ask legal experts questions via the site
• Platform supports local languages to boost participation rates

 In a push to engage citizens ahead of a constitutional referendum scheduled for September 21, Guinea has launched a new digital platform, "maconstitution.info". The online tool gives the public easy access to the full draft of the new constitution, allowing them to understand its key issues and submit questions directly to legal experts. This initiative is a key part of the country's strategy to broaden citizen participation despite limited internet penetration in many rural areas.

The project, a joint effort by the Government's Secretariat General, the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy, and the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation, is part of a broader digital inclusion strategy.

"We are crossing a threshold: marrying technology with democratic values to give every Guinean clear and direct access to the draft of the new constitution. This platform stems from our commitment to comply with Article 18 of Law L/012 of April 25, 2025. It provides everyone with a simple and transparent tool," said Tamba Benoît Kamano, Minister Secretary General of the Government.

The platform offers full access to the constitutional draft and an interactive space for users to ask questions. These questions are handled by legal experts from the Secretariat General, with a commitment to respond within 48 hours.

To ensure the widest possible participation, the platform's content is available in several national languages, which helps reach citizens who do not speak French and reduces linguistic barriers to accessing information. If successful, this approach could become a model for other public consultation processes in Guinea or inspire similar initiatives in the sub-region.

According to DataReportal, Guinea had about 3.96 million internet users at the beginning of 2025, a penetration rate of 26.5%. While this figure is growing, it highlights the challenges of equitable digital access, particularly in rural areas. It is in this context that "maconstitution.info" stands as an innovation aimed at broadening citizen participation, despite current infrastructure and connectivity limitations.

Adoni Conrad Quenum

Posted On jeudi, 21 août 2025 06:08 Written by

Partnering with the ILO brings international expertise and credibility to Rwanda’s digital skills drive. It ensures that Rwanda’s training aligns with global labor standards while opening doors to wider support and partnerships.

On August 19, the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to strengthen collaboration on digital skilling and SME digitization through the One Million Rwandan Coders (1MRC) initiative.

At the heart of this partnership is a shared goal: empowering more women and girls to take up space in Rwanda’s growing ICT sector,” the ministry said, reaffirming MINICT’s mission to leverage ICT for inclusive social development, accessible education, and accelerated job creation.

The agreement, signed by Permanent Secretary Yves Iradukunda and ILO representatives, aims to expand opportunities in Rwanda’s rapidly growing ICT sector. At the core of the partnership is a commitment to equip more Rwandans—especially young women and individuals with disabilities—with the digital skills necessary to thrive in today’s economy, while supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in adopting technology.

Launched as part of Rwanda’s broader digital transformation agenda, the 1MRC programme aims to equip Rwandans with digital skills, create jobs, and build a strong pipeline of local digital talent to drive the country’s knowledge-based economy. By integrating ILO’s expertise, the initiative will further enhance training quality, with a focus on preparing women and girls to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.

Although Rwanda’s ICT sector is growing rapidly, its impact on employment is still limited.  According to Rwanda’s ICT Skills Snapshot 2022, ICT workers accounted for only 0.2–0.5% of total employment between 2018 and 2022, underscoring the need for stronger investment in digital skills and workforce development. The partnership between Rwanda and the ILO through the 1 Million Rwandan Coders initiative is therefore crucial—not only to bridge the gender gap in technology but also to expand the sector’s contribution to jobs, inclusivity, and national growth.

This latest MoU builds on an ongoing collaboration between Rwanda and the ILO focused on youth employment and digital skills development. In April 2024, the ILO launched the Boosting Decent Jobs and Enhancing Skills for Youth in Rwanda’s Digital Economy project, backed by the Government of Luxembourg, with a €4 million budget running through 2028. The initiative targets youth across Kigali and secondary cities, emphasizing digital skills, entrepreneurship, and pathways to decent work within the digital economy

The initiative builds on Rwanda’s digital transformation agenda, which seeks to position the country as a regional technology hub while ensuring no one is left behind in the digital economy.

Hikmatu Bilali

 

Posted On mercredi, 20 août 2025 14:55 Written by

The serial entrepreneur has founded several companies in Kenya, spanning digital services, cosmetic distribution, and skincare technology.

Kenyan entrepreneur Maxine Kinyua is the founder and CEO of Tui Beauty, an AI-powered skincare technology platform specializing in skin analysis.

Founded in 2024, Tui Beauty aims to provide each user with a precise virtual skin diagnosis and personalized product and routine recommendations tailored to diverse African skin needs and types. The technology, accessible via smartphone, is based on an automated visual analysis.

After the AI performs a visual skin assessment, Tui Beauty suggests customized solutions to improve skin health and guides the user in purchasing authentic and reliable products. The service also integrates an e-commerce experience, allowing customers to easily order recommended products and receive information on their optimal use.

In addition to Tui Beauty, Kinyua is a strategic advisor at TreatMePal, a platform for beauty and wellness service companies. Before launching Tui Beauty, she founded Raize Digital Ke in 2016, a company focused on providing digital support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In 2017, she founded EmkayStore Cosmetics, dedicated to distributing beauty products.

Kinyua holds a bachelor's degree in public relations, advertising, and applied communication from Maasai Mara University in Kenya, which she earned in 2019. She also holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of East London in the United Kingdom.

Melchior Koba

Posted On mercredi, 20 août 2025 06:16 Written by

• EXIM approves $47M for Côte d’Ivoire digitization project
• U.S. firms, including AWS and Cisco, to implement system
• Project counters China, supports 100 U.S. jobs via CTEP

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) board of directors approved on Friday a $47 million financing package for the digitization of Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The project will be implemented by the Washington-based Cybastion Institute of Technology in partnership with technology giants such as Cisco, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Motorola Solutions, and Microsoft.

"Supporting the digitization of Côte d'Ivoire’s Ministry of Finance reinforces EXIM’s commitment to countering the rise of People’s Republic of China (PRC)’s influence. By approving today’s transaction, we are supporting around 100 jobs and countering the PRC by fortifying and securing our supply chains," said James Cruse, EXIM's acting chairman.

The initiative is part of the China and Transformational Exports Program (CTEP), a program launched by EXIM to support strategic U.S. technology exports, particularly in the face of Chinese competition. For Ivory Coast, this project supports its ambition to digitally modernize its administration.

The project, which is about to begin, aims to modernize the ministry's information systems, strengthen cybersecurity, integrate cloud solutions, and improve administrative efficiency. The goal is to enhance the transparency and responsiveness of public services, streamline procedures for businesses, and increase the country's attractiveness to investors. It also represents a significant step toward establishing a more competitive industrial and commercial environment that is better aligned with international standards.

Samira Njoya

Posted On mercredi, 20 août 2025 06:08 Written by

Nigeria’s selection as the first beneficiary reflects its potential as a digital trade hub and its readiness to harness the power of women entrepreneurs in shaping the future of its economy.

Nigeria has become the first pilot country for the World Trade Organisation’s $50 million Women Exporters in Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, an initiative to help women entrepreneurs tap into the global digital marketplace. Rolled out on Thursday, August 14, in Abuja, the program aims to dismantle long-standing barriers that have held back women-led businesses from limited access to finance to weak digital infrastructure.

At the launch, Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, hailed the initiative as a landmark step toward inclusive global trade, allowing Nigerian women entrepreneurs to scale their innovations and compete beyond national borders.

For WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, "The goal of the fund is to give women the tools, the knowledge, the networks, and the resources they need to access global value chains, so their businesses are not just surviving, but thriving, on the world stage."

Launched in February 2024, the WEIDE Fund is backed by the FIFA World Cup 2022 Legacy Fund, along with the Governments of Bahrain and the UAE. It represents a rare blend of international finance and trade policy dedicated specifically to women. The initiative is designed to empower women entrepreneurs by helping them expand their businesses through digitalization and international trade, targeting women-led MSMEs that are either already exporting, ready to begin exporting, or have strong export potential.

Under the first phase, 146 Nigerian women entrepreneurs will benefit. Sixteen “booster track” participants will receive $30,000 each alongside 18 months of technical support, while 130 others will receive $5,000 and a year of business mentorship. Beyond funding, the WEIDE Fund will equip beneficiaries with tools to enhance competitiveness, strengthen their digital capabilities, and expand their access to global markets.

Out of every 100 businesses in Nigeria, 39 are female-owned, according to World Bank data. Yet most remain small and excluded from global value chains due to financing and infrastructure gaps. If these women-led businesses were given adequate financing and access to digital/global markets, they could significantly boost Nigeria’s GDP, job creation, and trade competitiveness.

This highlights why the WTO’s $50m WEIDE Fund matters: it’s designed not just to acknowledge women’s participation, but to move them from small-scale survival businesses into globally competitive enterprises.

Hikmatu Bilali

Posted On mardi, 19 août 2025 14:21 Written by

Driven by his experience building companies in various sectors, the entrepreneur is now helping Ivorian creators develop their ideas. His goal is to build and support initiatives that generate lasting economic and social value.

Amidou Diarra, an Ivorian entrepreneur with ventures in e-commerce, agriculture, education, and advertising, is leveraging his experience to assist emerging business owners through his company, C'possible.

Founded in 2023, C'possible is an entrepreneurial support platform that offers a combination of mentoring, practical workshops, methodological resources, and digital tools. The company's goal is to help develop and implement new business projects.

The platform focuses on rapid action and business structuring. It guides project leaders through key stages, including idea validation, business model development, legal formalization, financial management, and marketing strategy. By providing a clear and accessible framework, C'possible aims to reduce the common barriers to launching a new business.

In addition to its direct support, C'possible is cultivating a community for entrepreneurs. The platform fosters networking and the sharing of experiences, bringing together seasoned experts and new creators to strengthen the French-speaking entrepreneurial ecosystem in Africa.

Diarra is also a co-founder of Monrezo, a platform launched in 2024. Monrezo connects individuals, professionals, and entrepreneurs seeking advice on business, career, or personal matters with African experts and public figures.

Before these projects, Diarra co-founded Diago in 2022. Diago is a digital platform that links informal retailers with supply opportunities and financial services. He served as the company's CEO until 2023, when it was acquired by Chari.co, a Moroccan e-commerce and financial services company.

A graduate in marketing and communication with certifications in coaching and personal development, Diarra began his career in 2016 at Orange Côte d'Ivoire as a press review officer. In 2018, he joined the energy company Total Côte d'Ivoire, where he worked as a gas station manager.

Melchior Koba

Posted On mardi, 19 août 2025 06:00 Written by

• Super apps centralize services, boosting digital access in Africa
• Platforms like M-Pesa and Gozem drive regional adoption
• Infrastructure, regulation, and trust remain major challenges

A new generation of all-in-one applications, known as "super apps," is emerging in Africa, capable of managing a wide range of services from a single smartphone. Modeled on successful Asian platforms like WeChat and Grab, these apps integrate messaging, payments, transport, e-commerce, and even health services, providing centralized access to multiple functions. On a continent where a mobile phone is often the first point of entry to the digital world, super apps are positioning themselves as a strategic lever for accelerating digital transformation.

The super app model holds particular promise for Africa. The GSMA projects that the continent will have more than 1.1 billion mobile subscribers by 2028, even with limited physical infrastructure and banking access. By centralizing services into one application, these platforms address tangible needs for both urban and rural populations while promoting financial inclusion.

Market Leaders and Growth Drivers

Several companies are already competing in this market. M-Pesa, launched by Safaricom in Kenya, is a prominent example. Initially a money transfer service, it has evolved into a multifunctional platform that includes merchant payments, microcredit, and insurance. In West Africa, Gozem, often called "Africa’s Gojek," combines transport, delivery, mobile money, and financial services, with a strong presence in Togo and Benin. In East Africa, SafeBoda offers a similar model, ranging from motorcycle taxi booking to digital payments. Telecom operators are also developing their own ecosystems, such as Orange's Max It app, which offers mobile payments via its Orange Money service, as well as phone credit purchases, streaming television, and online shopping.

Super apps represent more than just a technical innovation. They contribute to digital and financial inclusion by reducing dependence on cash, democratizing access to services once reserved for those with bank accounts, and providing a digital storefront for small businesses. Artisans, traders, and informal entrepreneurs can reach new customers, accept electronic payments, and apply for micro-loans. These apps could also become growth engines by integrating services related to education, health, or agriculture.

Persistent Challenges

While the potential is immense, significant obstacles remain. Developing a super app requires massive investment in digital infrastructure and cybersecurity. The regulatory frameworks, which are often fragile regarding personal data management and consumer protection, present another barrier. Furthermore, a shortage of specialized skills slows the design and maintenance of these complex ecosystems. Finally, user trust remains a critical issue, as many people are still wary of digital services.

Africa does not need to simply copy the Asian model; it can create its own solutions adapted to local economic and social realities. For example, super apps could integrate cross-border payments to support the African Continental Free Trade Area or use artificial intelligence to optimize agricultural services and expand access to health and education via mobile devices. If these challenges are overcome, super apps could become a pillar of the continent's economic competitiveness by combining technological innovation, financial inclusion, and sustainable development.

Samira Njoya

Posted On mardi, 19 août 2025 05:58 Written by

 

• Tunisia to launch Najda platform for heart attack response
• System links ambulances, hospitals, specialists in real time
• Part of broader health digitization with international partners

Tunisia's Ministry of Health is set to roll out the digital platform Najda nationwide to detect heart attacks and trigger an immediate medical response. The initiative follows a successful pilot phase, with the platform set to become a national rapid-response tool for cardiac emergencies, according to a ministry statement on its Facebook page on Tuesday, August 12.

The ministry will equip all cardiology and emergency departments, along with SAMU ambulance services, with advanced digital equipment. The initiative includes training medical teams on the use of the new technology, in partnership with the Tunisian Society of Cardiology and the National Accreditation Authority.

Najda connects emergency services, cardiology units, and ambulances in real time. When a suspected case is reported, patient clinical data is transmitted instantly to specialists, who can guide treatment even before the patient arrives at the hospital. This reduces critical time delays, increasing the chances of survival and limiting irreversible cardiac damage.

The deployment of Najda is part of a broader health system modernization program. Tunisian authorities have established strategic partnerships, including with South Korea, to strengthen digital health capabilities. A new telemedicine center was inaugurated last week, allowing residents of inland regions to avoid long journeys for certain medical examinations.

The nationwide rollout also aims to standardize emergency protocols and improve coordination among medical facilities. Beyond the anticipated reduction in heart attack mortality, the project represents a significant step toward modernizing Tunisia's healthcare system. The experience could also serve as a model for integrating other critical emergencies, such as strokes or respiratory distress, into a unified digital network.

Adoni Conrad Quenum

Posted On lundi, 18 août 2025 05:58 Written by

After earning a degree in biomedical engineering, he founded several tech companies across different sectors, including media. Through his latest venture, he is pioneering innovations in digital logistics and supply chain transformation.

Mostafa Amin is an Egyptian entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Breadfast, an online platform specializing in the delivery of groceries and household goods.

Founded in 2017, Breadfast operates a vertically integrated supply chain for fresh and baked goods, as well as household items. The company serves Cairo, Giza, and Alexandria, with plans to expand across Egypt and the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. By operating its own bakeries and fulfillment centers, Breadfast maintains control over its production and distribution, ensuring product freshness and fast delivery.

In addition to his work with Breadfast, Amin co-founded Egyptian Streets in 2012. The independent English-language media company focuses on cultural, economic, social, and travel stories to showcase a different side of Egypt.

Before launching Breadfast, Amin co-founded Wassel in 2016, a networking platform for businesses, investors, and individuals in the MENA region. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Egypt’s Higher Technological Institute, which he earned in 2012.

Amin's professional career began in 2013, when he joined Canadian technology and content company Thomson Reuters as a communications and marketing officer. The following year, he became chief operating officer at Speakol, a content discovery and native advertising network. From 2016 to 2017, he worked as a product advisor for COOING, a digital real estate platform.

Melchior Koba

Posted On lundi, 18 août 2025 05:55 Written by

The initiative represents a linchpin in the nation’s journey to a modern, resilient, and inclusive digital government. With AI skills, officials could automate repetitive tasks, draw insights from complex datasets, and craft more responsive policies.

Kenya is gearing up to overhaul government operations with AI, aiming to equip 100,000 public servants with the skills to make it happen. The initiative was formally set in motion at the first Project Implementation Board meeting of the Regional Centre of Competence (RCOC) for Digital and AI Skilling held on August 11. The meeting was co-chaired by the Ministry of Public Service and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

For the Principal Secretary for ICT and Digital Economy, Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui, “With these steps, Kenya is firmly positioning itself as a continental hub for AI excellence — boosting efficiency, decision-making, and inclusive governance.” This vision is supported by a deepening partnership among the government, UNDP, Microsoft, and other collaborators, who will provide curriculum expertise, technology access, and research support to ensure the training is both practical and forward-looking.

The RCOC, based at the Kenya School of Government, will serve not just as a national training hub but as a continental blueprint for AI capacity building, with Kenya pledging to share its model and resources with 37 African nations. At the meeting, government leaders, development partners and tech experts endorsed the Project Board and approved an implementation plan that sets the stage for AI integration into public service delivery.

A core element of the plan is the commitment to train 100,000 civil servants in AI applications, starting with an initial cohort of 10,000 selected through transparent, merit-based criteria. Already, two-thirds of this first group are ready to begin training. The programme will integrate AI tools directly into public workflows, spanning policymaking, service delivery, and data management, enabling faster decision-making and more inclusive governance.

Public service upskilling is especially urgent. Digital transformation initiatives like the Digital Masterplan 2022–2032 aim to digitize 80% of government services, connect 100,000 km of fibre, and roll out nationwide public Wi-Fi. Yet these systems can only achieve their full potential if managed by officials who understand, adapt, and innovate with new technologies.

AI can speed up service delivery, strengthen data-driven decision-making, and make government operations more transparent and efficient. And with training rolled out in partnership with UNDP and Microsoft, public servants will gain access to globally benchmarked curricula, tools, and research networks.

If successful, the programme could serve as a model for other African nations, helping bridge the continent’s digital skills gap while enabling governments to lead in AI adoption rather than lag behind it.

Hikmatu Bilali

Posted On lundi, 18 août 2025 05:51 Written by
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