The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) will host the SDG Digital event on September 20-21 in New York. The event will spotlight digital innovation’s role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
SDG Digital will showcase how digital technologies can drive a more sustainable and inclusive future. Leaders from various sectors government, civil society, private industry, youth, and academia will discuss the trends, risks, and opportunities of emerging technologies.
Since 2018, the Tunisian government has been working on developing and adopting a national artificial intelligence strategy. This aligns with the executive's ambition to position the country as a digital hub in Africa.
American tech group Nvidia announced the launch of an artificial intelligence (AI) innovation center in Tunisia on Tuesday, September 17. Located in the Novation City technology park, the center aims to empower Tunisian developers with training, technology, and networking opportunities to foster AI adoption across Africa.
This initiative comes as Tunisia prepares to adopt a national AI and digitalization strategy, part of a broader vision to establish the country as a digital leader in Africa. Earlier this year, the University of Tunis launched Tunisia's first public institute dedicated to AI, further encouraging its integration.
AI adoption across various economic sectors is expected to drive socio-economic development. For instance, in agriculture—employing around two-thirds of Africa’s workforce and contributing 15% to the continent’s GDP, according to the World Bank—AI can enhance productivity. It can help develop better seeds tailored to local conditions, advise farmers on optimal crops for their soil and climate, and aid in developing medications and vaccines for livestock.
Tunisia ranks 81st out of 193 countries in AI readiness, with a score of 46.07 out of 100, according to the 2023 "Government AI Readiness Index" by Oxford Insights. Within Africa, it ranks third, behind Mauritius and Egypt.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
He has over 15 years of experience in the fintech sector. His goal is to create innovative and secure solutions tailored to the needs of professionals and individuals in Africa.
Moussa Dembele (photo) is a Malian computer scientist and entrepreneur, co-founder and CEO of Danapay, a fintech startup focused on improving access to international payments for Africans. Based in France, Danapay was founded in 2017 by Keita Gaoussou, Moussa, and Demba Dembele. The company leverages blockchain technology to simplify financial transactions between African businesses and individuals and the rest of the world. Additionally, it enables transactions via USSD and SMS.
Danapay allows individuals to transfer up to €6,000, while businesses can transfer up to €30,000, with the option to increase this limit to €70,000 by providing the necessary documentation. Africans residing in Europe can send money to 12 countries in West and Central Africa.
Moussa Dembele holds a degree in computer engineering from Polytech Marseille, which he earned in 2008, and a master's degree in organizational consulting from EM Lyon Business School, obtained in 2013.
His professional career began in 2009 at Société Générale Corporate and Investment Banking as a software engineer. In 2011, he joined AXA Investment Managers as an IT architect. By 2013, he became an information systems consultant at Sentelis, a consulting firm specializing in strategy, governance, and IT architecture. From 2018 to 2020, he worked as an IT consultant at CGI in Luxembourg, a company known for its technology services and business process management.
Melchior Koba
Developed with the support of multiple technical partners, the solution assists parents in tracking their children's vaccination schedules.
Mangwele is a digital health solution developed by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to help parents keep track of their children's vaccination appointments from birth until the age of one. Launched in July 2023 with support from the Japanese government, the platform is designed to streamline the vaccination process.
“This project will allow healthcare workers to monitor birth registrations and track each child’s vaccinations by entering this information into a national database. The system enables individualized tracking to ensure all children receive the necessary vaccines, even if they relocate,” said Satoko Morito, First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy in Congo.
From the moment a child is born, midwives collect key information such as the child's name, the parents' details, and their phone numbers. Fifteen days before each vaccination date, Mangwele sends SMS reminders to parents, notifying them of the upcoming appointment. These dates are pre-set according to the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) calendar.
In addition to aiding parents, Mangwele helps healthcare professionals monitor birth registrations and track each child’s vaccinations, contributing to a national database. Currently available in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, authorities plan to expand the app’s use across the entire Congo in the coming months.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Her goal is to provide every African with access to quality insurance tailored to their respective needs. Through technology, she helps insurance companies better understand their customers' expectations.
Jihan Abass (photo) is a Kenyan entrepreneur and businesswoman. She is the founder and CEO of Lami Insurance Technology, a startup aiming to revolutionize insurance and make it accessible to everyone.
Founded in 2018, Lami Insurance Technology offers an insurance-as-a-service platform that digitizes the entire insurance value chain. This platform allows users to quickly create and distribute digital insurance products. Its services cater to a wide range of clients, including individuals, independent agents, and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Before launching Lami, Jihan Abass founded Griffin Motor Assurance in 2016, one of East Africa’s first smart car insurance companies. The Griffin Motor app is redefining auto insurance in Africa, providing a simpler, more affordable, and efficient experience through innovation.
The Kenyan entrepreneur holds a bachelor’s degree in Investment and Financial Risk Management from Bayes Business School in London, England. She also graduated from the University of Oxford in 2019 with a master’s in Business Administration.
Prior to her entrepreneurial ventures, she worked as a trader at Toyota Tsusho Sugar Trading Limited, a company specializing in wholesale confectionery distribution. In 2022, The New Africa magazine ranked her among the 110 most influential African women.
Melchior Koba
Landlocked African countries heavily rely on neighboring nations' markets, infrastructure, and institutions, making them economically vulnerable. To enhance their economic resilience, the adoption of new trade facilitation methods is crucial.
On September 10, Botswana's permanent mission in Geneva, Switzerland, organized a forum to discuss strategies for boosting digital trade in landlocked countries. The event was organized under the theme ‘Overcoming Geography: Digital Trade in Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs),’ on the fringes of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Public Forum 2024. It focused on how to meet the unique challenges faced by landlocked nations, particularly in Africa, to participate in global trade.
Torbjörn Fredriksson, head of e-commerce and the digital economy at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), explained that there is a need for “ more investment in ICT infrastructure, strengthening the capacity of policymakers to put in place a favorable legal environment, intensify efforts to improve digital and financial literacy and other skills, including through more effective public-private collaboration, and strengthen support for improved trade logistics and trade facilitation, including paperless cross-border trade.”
Vuyile Dumisani Dlamini, Eswatini's Permanent Representative, stressed the need to invest in “ a robust digital infrastructure coupled with a vibrant skills development and supportive regulatory environment, including international cooperation.” He justified this approach given the importance of digital commerce, which “can help to reduce trade costs, improve market access and foster economic growth.”
Moderating the discussion, Gerelmaa Davaasuren, Mongolia's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said that it is also necessary “to fully digitize customs processes to reduce the high trade costs faced by landlocked countries due to their lack of direct access to the sea.”
During the discussion, emphasis was also placed on the potential of the creative industry in digital trade, advocating collaboration with various organizations to improve transactions. The formation of alliances was suggested as a way of streamlining support and funding efforts. In addition, the disparity in ownership of digital devices between developed and developing regions was noted, underlining the importance of equitable access to digital resources.
There are currently 32 landlocked developing countries in the world, 17 of which are classified as least developed countries. According to the World Bank report ‘Improving Trade and Transport for Landlocked Countries’, one of the characteristics of these countries is their low per capita income compared to neighboring transit countries. They are often heavily dependent on the markets, infrastructure, and institutions of their neighbors, making regional cooperation and investment in digital trade vital to their economic growth.
Hikmatu Bilali
The government aims to position Burundi as an emerging country by 2040. To achieve this goal, the administration is focusing on the development of ICT as a key accelerator for economic and social transformation.
Burundi's vice president Prosper Bazombanza launched a $92 million project on Thursday to improve internet access and digital public services. The project dubbed PAFEN (Projet d’appui aux fondations de l’économie numérique- Support Project for the Foundations of the Digital Economy) is funded by the World Bank to help Burundi achieve its goal of becoming an emerging country by 2040 and a developed nation by 2060.
"Everyone understands the importance that the government of Burundi places on this project, which comes at a crucial time as we embark on a digitalization drive to support the structural transformation of our economy and ensure transparent, effective, and efficient governance," Bazombanza stated.
This initiative aligns with Burundi's vision to become an emerging country by 2040 and a developed nation by 2060, with digital technology as a key development driver. It follows a national survey conducted earlier this year as part of the project to assess the penetration of ICT in the country.
The survey results are yet to be published but Burundi lags behind in this area. According to a report from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) released in December 2023, the country ranks 43rd out of 45 African ITU member countries, with a score well below the continental average of 23 points.
PAFEN’s main challenge will be to close the digital divide by 2028, facilitate access to digital services in the public sector, and establish a legal framework for data protection. Additionally, the project seeks to attract private investment to develop digital infrastructure, creating the necessary conditions for Burundi's digital growth.
Samira Njoya
The e-TAMKEEN program was implemented between 2018 and 2023, training approximately 6,800 participants at a total cost of 3.5 million euros.
Last week, Morocco’s Digital Development Agency (ADD) announced the launch of the e-learning program "e-TAMKEEN" on the national digital learning platform Academia Raqmya. This initiative will allow more civil servants, professionals, and learners to benefit from the digital capacity-building program that was implemented between 2018 and 2023.
The program includes several training modules, such as digital communication, public innovation, collective intelligence and public problem-solving, cybersecurity and data protection, as well as digital transformation.
e-TAMKEEN is the result of a collaboration between the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform and the Belgian development agency Enabel, aimed at training civil servants at both central and local levels. From 2019 to 2023, over 6,800 participants engaged in training activities covering 23 digital-related topics. The program required an investment of 3.5 million euros.
This initiative is part of Morocco's new national digital transformation strategy, "Maroc Digital 2030," which places a strong emphasis on strengthening professional training in ICT. This approach is designed to ensure a qualified and adaptable workforce, fostering more effective and efficient public service management in an era of accelerated digital transformation.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
African healthtech company Field has introduced a new route-to-market service to address maternal mortality, newborn health, and nutrition. Announced on September 11, the launch is backed by an initial $11 million investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The initiative will use Field’s technology, distribution network, and financing services to deliver emerging therapies across Kenya and Nigeria.
It will focus on digitalizing healthcare operations and enhancing supply chains, including financing options, last-mile delivery, and installing pharma-grade refrigerators.
After inaugurating a branch in Paris last January, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University continues its global expansion, seeking meaningful opportunities for Africa and its dynamic youth.
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) officially announced the opening of its new international branch in Montreal last Friday. According to the Moroccan university, this Canadian branch will focus on research and skill development, knowledge exchange, and enhancing capacity and technology transfer between Africa and North America.
“With the opening of UM6P Canada, we mark a significant step in our commitment to strengthening ties between Africa and North America. In collaboration with our Canadian partners, we are addressing the need for innovation and fostering international cooperation in response to contemporary challenges,” said Hicham El Habti, President of UM6P.
The initiative is part of UM6P’s broader international expansion strategy, which recently included the launch of a campus in France. That campus will house the first Eurafrican lab, dedicated to supporting startups across both continents for a year. Additionally, the university plans to open the Digital Farming School in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire, in the coming months, in partnership with Moroccan group OCP Africa, with a focus on agriculture.
The expansion into Canada represents a strategic milestone for UM6P. It will drive innovation, encourage partnerships in key sectors such as AgriTech, AI, and executive training, while also contributing to sustainable economic growth in Africa.
Samira Njoya
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After completing his studies and gaining several years of experience in the United States, he returned to Africa to use his technological expertise to benefit local populations. Through his recruitment platforms, he aims to reduce unemployment across the continent.
Yusuf Reja (photo) is an Ethiopian software engineer and serial entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Africa Jobs Network, an interactive talent search platform.
Founded in 2019, Africa Jobs Network specializes in recruitment and employer branding, aiming to strengthen connections between local talent and companies across Africa. Based in Kenya, the company operates several platforms in various African countries.
The first platform, Ethiojobs.net, was launched by Yusuf Reja in 1997. It is one of Ethiopia's earliest job portals, helping job seekers confidently find opportunities. Another initiative, Deraja, also based in Ethiopia, focuses on tackling youth unemployment through innovative solutions aimed at improving their socio-economic well-being.
In addition, Yusuf Reja launched Kipawa, based in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2016. This branch of Africa Jobs Network specializes in recruitment marketing, offering effective employer branding solutions.
Yusuf Reja holds a bachelor's degree in computer and electrical engineering, which he earned in 1991 from the Santa Barbara College of Engineering at the University of California, U.S. His professional career began the same year at Motorola in Texas, where he worked as a software engineer. In 1994, he became the executive director of the Tigray Development Association in North America, a nonprofit dedicated to improving education in rural areas of Tigray, Ethiopia, a role he held until 1997.
Melchior Koba
Nigeria's tech ecosystem, one of Africa's most dynamic, is experiencing rapid and impressive growth. Exploring it provides an opportunity to identify emerging trends, learn from best practices, and connect with key players.
A delegation of winners from Togo's Digital Awards visited Nigeria's tech hub Lagos last week to learn from local innovators.
The program, organized with the support of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Digital Transformation (through the Togo Digital Agency) and the German cooperation agency GIZ Togo, aims to enhance the skills and networks of these young digital professionals.
Lagos, often referred to as Nigeria’s "Silicon Valley," hosts several leading digital infrastructures in the region, such as DTC Lagos, Co-Creation Hub (CcHub), Google Developers Space for Africa, and Microsoft. During the week, the award winners had the opportunity to meet entrepreneurs, incubators, business engineers, and investors active in the digital sector, drawing inspiration from best practices in digital transformation.
According to Guillaume Djondo, the commissioner in charge of organizing the Togo Digital Awards, the trip "offers a chance to explore Nigeria's digital transformation model and use it as inspiration to strengthen the digitalization momentum in Togo." Similarly, Gilles Lasson, a winner in the "Coup de cœur" category, called it a unique opportunity "to observe Nigeria's tech ecosystem and learn valuable lessons for innovation in Togo."
The Togo Digital Awards, now in its third edition, celebrate excellence in Togo’s digital sector by recognizing the contributions of entrepreneurs and innovators. This year, 25 winners were honored for their efforts in advancing digital development in Togo.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
The Tunisian government's national policy prioritizes the digitization of services. In 2022, the administration had already digitized the birth certificate process.
Tunisia is seeking a company to build an electronic visa platform. Last week, the Ministry of Communication Technologies launched an international tender for the project, with submissions open until October 15.
The e-visa platform is expected to be developed within 12 months. To fund the project, the Tunisian government will use part of a loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB), granted under the "Tunisia Digital 2020" national strategic support project (PNS TD2020).
This initiative aligns with the goals of the "Tunisia Digital 2025" strategic plan, which emphasizes the digitization of public services. Other planned projects include the establishment of a national address directory, the implementation of e-justice, the creation of a private cloud for the Ministry of the Interior, infrastructure for e-government, the development of an internal HR management system for public administration, and a platform for monitoring cyber threats.
With the e-visa platform, the Tunisian government hopes to streamline the visa application process and reduce processing times. It also expects this initiative will boost economic cooperation and open new tourism markets.
According to official statistics, Tunisia welcomed 9.37 million tourists in 2023, a 45.5% increase from 2022. In its Spring 2024 "Economic Outlook Bulletin," the World Bank reported that tourism revenues rose by 28.1% in 2023, reaching 6.9 billion Tunisian dinars ($2.27 billion). This accounted for 4.4% of GDP, up from 3.8% in 2022.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
Last June, Gabonese authorities approved a €56.2 million loan for invesments in digital infrastructure. Since then, the government has launched various projects and forged strategic partnerships to accelerate the country's digital transformation.
On Friday, September 13, in Libreville, Gabon's Minister of Digital Economy and New Information Technologies, Bonjean Rodrigue Mbanza, welcomed representatives from Swiss Authentis, a Swiss tech firm. The meeting aimed to explore the company's offerings to facilitate the digitization of Gabon's public services.
"I have asked my team to carefully review the various solutions proposed to assess their suitability for our needs. Gabon remains fully open to all innovative technological proposals and is committed to its strategy of becoming a tech hub in Central Africa," the minister stated.
This initiative follows the Council of Ministers' recent approval of a bill allowing Gabon to secure a €56.2 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), part of the World Bank Group. The loan is part of the "Digital Gabon" project, which seeks to modernize public administration through digital transformation.
Moreover, Gabon is considered a leader in Central Africa when it comes to information and communication technologies. According to the International Telecommunication Union, the country achieved an ICT development index score of 74.7 out of 100 in 2024, ranking 10th on the continent. Libya (88.1), Morocco (86.8), and Seychelles (84.7) top the list.