The Comoros' digitalization project is expected to cost €22.53 million (approximately $25 million). The African Development Fund, the concessional lending arm of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has granted €4.02 million, while the Transition Support Facility has released €5.49 million.
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) approved a €9.51 million ($10.5 million) funding package for the Comoros on Monday, September 30. These funds will support the implementation of the Comoros Economic Digitalization Support Project.
“The objective of the project is to promote the emergence of a comprehensive and coherent range of digital services that can meet the needs of the population, with the ultimate goal of aligning the country with the information society,” the institution said in a statement.
This initiative comes as digital transformation accelerates across the continent. According to the Measuring Digital Development – ICT Development Index 2024 report, published in July 2024 by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Comoros ranks 25th in Africa with a score of 46.5 out of 100 on the ICT Development Index, below the African average of 50.3.
In terms of the E-Government Development Index (EGDI), the Comoros score significantly trails the African average of 0.4247, according to the E-Government Survey 2024: Accelerating Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development, published in September 2024 by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). The country ranks 45th, with a score of 0.2586 out of 1.
The implementation of this project is expected to help the archipelago develop digital infrastructure, create a favorable regulatory and legal framework, enhance digital education and training, and promote technological innovation and entrepreneurship.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
In The Gambia, the government is stepping up efforts to accelerate digital transformation. This affects all sectors of the economy, including education.
Last week, the Gambian government launched an initiative to provide laptops to the principals of all schools across the country. This effort, in partnership with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), UNICEF, and the World Bank Group, is expected to drive the digitalization of school administration.
“The initiative marks a significant step in our efforts to enhance quality education and empower school managers with the tools needed for efficient service delivery in the digital age,” said Pierre Gomez, Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology.
The Gambian government aims to digitize the national education system as part of its broader ambitions for digital transformation. According to Minister Gomez, the government is working to develop digitized information systems, enhance the digitalization of public services, and expand the use of electronic record management systems across all public administrations.
In September 2023, the government launched the Gambia Research and Education Network (GAMREN), in partnership with the World Bank, to provide high-speed internet connectivity to schools and research institutions nationwide. As early as July 2022, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology had begun efforts to develop a national strategy for digitizing technical and vocational education and training, with support from UNESCO.
UNESCO believes technology can significantly enhance educational management. "It enables a wider range of data collection on schools and students, allowing for precise analysis of learning paths and influencing factors. This data can be used to personalize learning, identify marginalized children, and prevent disengagement and early dropout," the organization stated in its 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
Passionate about solving global challenges, he develops technological solutions with a strong focus on underserved populations in developing countries.
Timothy Musoke (photo) is a Ugandan computer engineer and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and CEO of Laboremus Uganda, a startup that promotes financial inclusion in Africa.
Founded in 2013, Laboremus Uganda provides infrastructure to financial institutions, helping banks and fintech companies accelerate financial inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa by improving access to credit for everyone. The company offers financial service providers data and tools to process loans more quickly and at a lower cost by digitizing the loan process either partially or fully.
"We started Laboremus to build complex and user-friendly software for Ugandans, in Uganda," says Timothy Musoke. "McKinsey ranks Africa amongst the fastest growing and most profitable banking markets globally. We are working on digitising this market to make credit accessible to everyone," he adds.
Musoke is also the co-founder and advisor at Emeta, a licensed microfinance institution founded in 2017, which is transforming access to financing for smallholder farmers in Africa. Emeta provides loans that enable farmers to invest in their farms and increase their incomes.
Timothy Musoke holds a bachelor's degree in software engineering from Franklin University in the United States. From 2016 to 2020, he served on the board of Fontes Foundation, a Norwegian NGO providing community development services to disadvantaged populations.
Melchior Koba
Africa's fragmented regulatory landscape often poses significant challenges for entrepreneurs, who face different requirements in each country. Leveraging digital tools to lower entry barriers and provide a structured pathway for market expansion can boost economic transformation in Africa.
The UK, in collaboration with PwC, has introduced a digital toolkit through the UK-Kenya Tech Hub to aid entrepreneurs in accessing the Kenyan, Nigerian, and South African markets. The toolkit, launched on September 26, aims to streamline market entry and enhance opportunities for startups across various sectors, including agriculture, education, financial services, health, and manufacturing.
Jordan Kyongo, Head of the East Africa Research and Innovation Hub at the British High Commission in Nairobi, highlighted the importance of this initiative. "This toolkit will be an instrument in growing Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by consolidating the requirements for market entry, ultimately easing the process for entrepreneurs," Kyongo stated.
The toolkit was developed to address the regulatory, certification, and tariff barriers that entrepreneurs often face when expanding into new markets. It includes practical tools, guides, and outputs designed to simplify the market entry process in the three targeted countries. Feedback from multiple validation sessions has helped refine the toolkit, making it a user-friendly resource for entrepreneurs navigating complex regulatory landscapes.
According to an article by AU Startups on ‘How African Tech Startups Can Navigate Regulatory Challenges,’ African startups face constant hurdles, including creating scalable solutions in unpredictable markets and securing funding in volatile economies. Additionally, complex and restrictive regulations in both their home markets and potential expansion areas further complicate operations, making compliance a crucial factor that can determine their success or failure. The toolkit aims to reduce the administrative burden by providing clear, consolidated information for market entry in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. It also serves as a foundation for expanding similar initiatives into other African markets.
This digital toolkit could be a game-changer for African entrepreneurs, offering a model for overcoming market access challenges and promoting sustainable business growth.
Hikmatu Bilali
The acceleration of digital transformation in Africa has created a growing demand for cybersecurity professionals. According to the World Economic Forum, the global talent shortage in this field could reach 85 million workers by 2030.
Last week, Russian cybersecurity provider Kaspersky partnered with EPI Sup de Sousse, a private Tunisian university, to train a new generation of cybersecurity experts, foster innovation, and strengthen Tunisia's cybersecurity ecosystem.
This partnership comes at a time when Tunisia is facing a high number of cyber incidents. In 2023, TunCERT, the country's national computer emergency response team, recorded nearly 150,000 incidents affecting the national cyberspace. Of these, 46% were phishing attacks, while 17% involved malware.
According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Tunisia scored 82 out of 100 in the 2024 cybersecurity index, placing the country in Tier 3, indicating a "basic commitment to cybersecurity actions led by the government." However, this score marks a decline from 2020, when Tunisia scored 86.23, positioning it as one of the continent’s leading players.
For Kaspersky, this partnership could help identify future talent and contribute to the development of Tunisia's cybersecurity community. According to the World Economic Forum’s Cybersecurity Talent Framework, there is an urgent need for nearly 4 million professionals in 2024 to bridge the global talent gap, with a growing demand for expertise in cloud security, artificial intelligence, and machine learning within the cybersecurity sector.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
African countries are rapidly modernizing their digital systems, adopting a range of technologies to improve efficiency and transparency. As they embrace this digital transformation, they also need to prioritize cybersecurity to protect sensitive data and prevent potential threats.
Burkina Faso plans to modernize and secure its online services with the adoption of a national public key infrastructure (PKI). On Monday, September 30, the country’s National Agency for Information System Security (ANSSI) launched a project framework workshop in Loumbila, located in the Oubritenga province.
“PKI is a technology that secures electronic exchanges using digital certificates, comparable to electronic passports. These certificates verify users' identities and ensure that only authorized individuals can access or sign information,” explained Boukaré Sébastien Yougbare, ANSSI’s Director General.
This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to modernizing public services while strengthening the security of the country’s digital space. It comes at a time of accelerated digital transformation, marked not only by the rapid adoption of electronic communication services but also by a rise in cyberattacks.
The project, set to be implemented by December 2025, is being carried out in partnership with the American firm Cybastion Institute of Technology. This infrastructure will play a key role in digitizing administrative processes and offering citizens greater security when accessing online public services. Additionally, the PKI will allow businesses to secure their online transactions and provide reliable authentication of their partners. Banks will also benefit from this tool to enhance the security of electronic transactions while complying with regulatory requirements.
With the adoption of the PKI, Burkina Faso will follow the example of several other African nations, such as Ghana, Cameroon, and Ethiopia, which have already implemented similar infrastructures to bolster digital security. According to a report by consulting firm Future Market Insights, the global PKI market generated $3.9 billion in revenue in 2021. The market is expected to continue growing at an annual rate of 18.3% between 2022 and 2032, underscoring the increasing importance of these technologies in an increasingly digital world.
Samira Njoya
A computer engineer, he leads a team of passionate designers and engineers dedicated to creating innovative products. He has already launched several technological solutions.
Charles Wisdom Kateleshi (photo) is a Zambian computer scientist and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Daylight Technologies Inc., a software development company dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes leverage technology opportunities.
Founded in 2020, Daylight Technologies Inc. offers businesses and individuals a range of modern tech tools and solutions. The company aims to create an ecosystem of high-performing enterprises, fostering growth and success. Its services include cybersecurity, data management and analysis, optimization, and cloud solutions.
Daylight Technologies Inc. provides products like Bulk SMS, a tool for sending large numbers of messages to multiple recipients simultaneously, and Bulk Email, a mass email software. The company has also developed Supernova, an online video streaming platform.
Charles Wisdom Kateleshi graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science from Cavendish University Zambia in 2018. After his studies, he joined fintech company Nsano as a senior software engineer. In 2021, he became the managing director of Omega Records, a music label.
In January 2024, Charles was named "Founder of the Year Under 30" for Southern Africa at the FOYA Awards, an initiative recognizing young entrepreneurs contributing to the continent's development.
Melchior Koba
Senegal has made significant progress in digital transformation in recent years. To build on this momentum and better meet the needs of its population, the government wants to leverage international expertise.
Last week, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye met with several companies on the sidelines of the 79th United General Assembly. The aim of the meetings was to seek partnerships in the digital sector. According to a post on the X (formerly Twitter) account of the Senegakese presidency, Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his delegation held productive discussions with leaders from NVIDIA, a global leader in artificial intelligence. Concrete avenues of cooperation were identified to strengthen Senegal's technological ecosystem.
“The president discovered the most advanced AI technologies, applicable in key areas of the National Transformation Agenda 2050: agriculture, education, health, and more. These innovations will enhance our ability to tackle future challenges and position Senegal as a tech hub in Africa,” the presidency indicated.
The president also met with representatives from 500 Global, a worldwide startup investment fund and incubator. This meeting uncovered investment opportunities to support the growth of innovative digital companies in Senegal.
Another significant meeting took place with Ketan Patel, vice president of HP, the American laptop manufacturing company. Discussions centered on the country's ongoing digital transformation and key challenges related to cybersecurity.
Additionally, President Faye visited the facilities of Starlink, a SpaceX subsidiary specializing in satellite connectivity. Talks focused on potential collaboration to deploy this technology, with a particular emphasis on improving connectivity in rural areas.
These various meetings are part of the Senegalese government's ambitious "New Deal Technologique" initiative. This project aims to forge strategic partnerships and position Senegal as a digital hub in Africa. The country hopes to create over 50,000 direct jobs and 160,000 indirect jobs through the digital sector, boosting its contribution to the national economy to more than 10% by 2030.
Samira Njoya
With over 18 years of experience, he is actively involved in the technology and entrepreneurship sectors in Africa. He contributes to the development and growth of startups across the continent.
Paul Mbua (photo) is a Cameroonian-born business consultant and investments and information technology expert. He is the founder and CEO of Zixtech Hub, a pan-African incubator and accelerator aimed at transforming ideas into businesses.
Founded in 2017, Zixtech Hub supports tech startups and equips young people with the skills, training, networks, and tools necessary to build sustainable companies. As part of the AfriLabs network, which brings together business support structures, the incubator operates in Cameroon, as well as Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Rwanda, Ivory Coast, and Tanzania.
"We focus on the development and growth of startups to combat the rising unemployment in Africa. Our focus is on technologies we consider the cornerstones of emerging digital economies, including agriculture, entrepreneurship, and more," the company states on its website.
In 2019, Paul Mbua also founded Zixtech Corporation, where he serves as CEO. This organization connects investors with growing businesses, startups, and investment opportunities in Africa. He is also the founder of the Africa Business and Investment Summit, an event designed to encourage investments on the continent.
Additionally, he serves as the regional president for Africa at the Digital for Development Hub, a strategic platform established by the European Union to promote partnerships and stimulate investments in the digital sector. Paul Mbua is also an independent international consultant for Vital Wave, a U.S.-based tech startup, and Stantec, a Canada-based company.
Paul Mbua holds a certificate in civic leadership from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, earned in 2017. In 2020, he joined Ghana Tech Lab as a business development consultant. The following year, he became the partnerships manager for Ambitious Africa Cameroon, a volunteer group working toward the continent's development. From 2021 to 2023, he chaired AfriLabs' election commission.
Melchior Koba
Smallholder farmers, who dominate Africa’s agricultural landscape, often lack access to formal credit, limiting their ability to invest in modern tools, equipment, seeds, and fertilizers. Financial inclusion enables farmers to secure loans, helping them adopt improved farming practices and increase yields.
Nigeria and Mastercard have partnered to support one million farmers in Nigeria, Kenya, and Tanzania, aiming to boost agricultural productivity and financial inclusion, the Ministry of Information and National Orientation announced on September 27. The initiative, backed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), will provide farmers with digital access to financial services.
The agreement was sealed during a meeting between Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima and Mastercard executives at the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York. “This partnership is a major milestone in advancing financial inclusion and agricultural development across the continent,” Shettima said.
Mastercard’s Country Manager for West Africa, Dr. Folasade Femi-Lawal, added that the initiative includes 160 seminars on contactless payment systems, scheduled to begin in February 2025, to prepare the market for the adoption of new technology.
The World Bank’s Global Findex Database 2021 reveals that over half of the world’s unbanked adults reside in just seven economies, which collectively account for 54% of the unbanked population, with Nigeria alone representing 5%. The report also highlights that digitizing common payments—such as government subsidies, wages from private employers, and payments from agricultural buyers—could enhance financial inclusion for unbanked and underbanked adults. Providing digital financial tools can empower farmers to increase productivity and income.
Hikmatu Bilali
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Zimbabwe’s government is committed to a digital transformation, aiming to increase the use of information and communication technology (ICT) throughout the country. This includes plans to integrate ICT into all sectors, including education.
The Zimbabwean government has launched an initiative to deploy digital libraries in over 1,500 schools across the country. This was announced last week by Torerai Moyo, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, during the 57th annual conference of the Zimbabwe Library Association.
"By providing access to a wide range of resources, from traditional textbooks to digital media, libraries allow our learners to engage in exploratory learning that fosters creativity and skill development for problem-solving," stated the minister.
According to Moyo, this initiative is part of the government’s broader effort to improve access to educational resources, a fundamental pillar for the development of human capital and innovation, in line with the National Vision 2030. This strategic plan aims to elevate Zimbabwe to an upper-middle-income society by 2030, with a focus on digital advancements. The government places a strong emphasis on youth education, recently initiating discussions with LinkedIn, the professional social network, to enhance digital learning opportunities in the country.
However, several challenges could hinder the access and use of digital libraries, particularly limited internet access in certain areas. According to DataReportal, Zimbabwe had 5.48 million internet subscriptions, with 4G network coverage expected to reach 41.46% by 2024, as reported by Statista.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
Africa's digital economy is undergoing rapid expansion, but there is a growing need for infrastructure to support it. Creating a digital economic zone will provide the foundational infrastructure for this growth by enabling tech companies to operate in a streamlined, business-friendly environment.
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and Itana, Nigeria’s first licensed digital economic zone management company, have formalized a partnership to develop Africa's first digital economic zone. Announced at the Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI), on September 26, during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, the zone is intended to provide a seamless platform for global and Pan-African tech, finance, and service-based businesses to scale across Africa.
Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of AFC, described the initiative as a "pivotal step" towards creating a hub for Africa’s digital economy, adding that it will cement “the Corporation’s commitment to driving innovation, job creation, and sustainable economic development across the continent.”
The Itana Digital Economic Zone, based in Lagos, Nigeria, will operate as an online jurisdiction, allowing businesses to incorporate and manage their operations remotely. This platform will be optimized with laws, tax incentives, and services geared toward supporting the digital economy, alongside eco-friendly live-work districts and a live-in accelerator program designed to foster innovation and sustainability in Africa’s tech ecosystem.
AFC will provide project development funding and lead the financing for phase 1 of the Itana project, which is expected to cost approximately $100 million. This phase includes the development of a tech campus in Lagos and startup funding through Accelerate Africa, a partnership between Itana and Future Africa.
This development provides a framework for businesses seeking to tap into Africa’s growing digital economy. The project will be located in Alaro City, within the Lekki Free Zone, and will collaborate with partners like Future Africa, PwC Nigeria, and the Charter Cities Institute.
Nigeria is home to one of the largest startup ecosystems in Africa. According to the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, the country raised over $1.2 billion in startup funding in 2021 alone. Creating a digital economic zone will provide much-needed infrastructure, legal frameworks, and incentives to accelerate the growth of these startups, making Nigeria a global tech player.
Hikmatu Bilali
Designed to help artisans reach a wider range of clients, it offers an Android app that enables those artisans to get their activities online.
Fundis is a digital solution developed by a Kenyan startup that connects users with professional artisans across various fields. Founded in 2019 by Liwali Kivumanyuki and Alex Ndegwa, the startup is based in Nairobi.
"Africa’s informal workforce is highly fragmented, characterized by low unpredictable earnings, poor working conditions, and low productivity. Beyond the fragmentation, many artisanal skills, knowledge, and competencies in use in Africa’s informal labor market have not been assessed, recognized, or certified, yet recruitment requires certification that the informal or non-formal market does not provide," explained Alex Ndegwa.
The mobile app, currently available only on Android, has been downloaded over a thousand times according to Play Store data. After downloading the app, users create an account to access its services. They can submit their requests through the app, which connects them with top professionals in their respective fields. Users can preview profiles and select the artisan for the job.
Once a selection is made, users can schedule an appointment for the work to be completed. Fundis offers professionals in plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, tiling, masonry, and home appliance repair. The startup aims to expand its services to other African countries, beginning with Tanzania, where it is already conducting trials for a full rollout by the end of 2024.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Designed to improve smallholder farmers’ sales, it provides an online marketplace and delivery system to ensure efficiency. It also combat food waste through an aid program.
Fudlink is an agritech solution developed by a Namibian start-up, connecting farmers and buyers to logistics services through its web and mobile platforms. The start-up, based in Windhoek, was founded in 2021 by Twama Nghidinwa.
Fudlink has announced the official launch of its mobile app for Saturday, September 28. The app, available exclusively on Android, will feature all the functionalities of the web platform. "Our goal is to empower small farmers by giving them access to formal markets and building a logistics ecosystem that supports Namibia's agricultural sector," said Twama Nghidinwa.
Since its 2021 launch, the startup has operated primarily through its web platform, offering an online marketplace where small-scale farmers can register and sell their products. Fudlink has also implemented a delivery system. "Individuals and businesses with vehicles sign up as logistics service providers on our website, use their vehicles to deliver food, and are compensated for their services," Fudlink explains. This approach allows the company to create jobs and cover all regions of the country.
Moreover, Fudlink is committed to combating food waste. It has established a food aid program to redistribute surplus products that would otherwise be wasted or discarded to vulnerable communities and non-profit organizations.
Adoni Conrad Quenum