WFP Innovation Challenge drives home-grown food systems transformation in South Sudan  

WFP Innovation Challenge drives home-grown food systems transformation in South Sudan Juba, SOUTH SUDAN – Eleven ventures in South Sudan have been awarded a total of USD 320,000 in this year’s WFP IGNITE Food Systems Innovation Challenge and an opportunity to contribute towards transforming the country’s food system.   Launched earlier this year, the challenge, supported by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and German Development Bank, KfW is the second edition, following its inaugural event in 2021. Winners receive grant funding ranging from USD 15,000 to USD 40,000, alongside access to expert mentorship, business acceleration, and the chance to establish strategic partnerships.  “Building sustainable food systems is the cornerstone of South Sudan’s path to food security, economic sovereignty, and climate resilience,” affirmed Dr. John Ogoto Kanisio, Undersecretary for Agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. “By investing in young, innovative entrepreneurs, we are not only creating jobs, but we are also unlocking rural potential, driving inclusive agribusiness growth, and cultivating a new generation of leaders who will position South Sudan competitively in regional and global markets. The Ministry is fully committed to this vision, and we call on all partners to join us in empowering youth to lead the transformation of our food systems.”  The top two winners are Africa Cornerstone General Trading and Dream Farm Agribusiness Cooperative. Both companies are proudly women-led and have demonstrated remarkable commitment to environmental sustainability.  Africa Cornerstone General Trading’s innovation centres on bio-degradable and recyclable packaging solutions designed to reduce food waste and lower carbon emissions. Meanwhile, Dream Farm Agribusiness Cooperative has excelled in recycling poultry manure as organic fertiliser, developing sustainable feed solutions, and employing efficient water-saving housing.  “The IGNITE Food Systems Challenge shows the power of homegrown solutions by local entrepreneurs,” said Dr. Björn Niere, German Head of Cooperation.“Sustainable food systems need exactly these innovations. They also require strong partnerships, clear standards, and a safe and free environment for ideas to grow. Germany is proud to work with WFP, DANIDA, and local partners to ensure that promising ventures can thrive and have lasting impact on communities.”  “Lack of access to finance and technical support is suffocating innovations of South Sudanese young entrepreneurs,” said Adham Effendi, WFP’s Acting Country Director in South Sudan. “Through generous support by DANIDA and KFW, we are reaching bright and talented entrepreneurs to unlock their potential and provide solutions to food systems challenges.”  Following a rigorous selection process from over 200 entries received nationwide, the winners represent a diverse range of sectors. These include agri-tech, post-harvest management, livestock production, and sustainable food distribution. The full list of winners is as follows; AgriSmart Farm & Urban Gardens, Golden Farm South Sudan Ltd, Hope and Care for Development, Long Puou Cooperative Society, Lulu Bakes, Mading Chan Young Network Economic Development, Magwi College of Agribusiness & Management Science, National Star Investment Co. Ltd and Tropical Wet Organics Ltd.  “This is more than just a recognition of entrepreneurial excellence – it’s a turning point for inclusive, homegrown innovation in South Sudan,” said Nanko Madu, Director of Programmes at AfriLabs. “By backing visionary local businesses, we are not only fuelling sustainable economic growth but also proving that transformative change can and must come from within. These entrepreneurs are the architects of a more food-secure, climate-resilient future for South Sudan.”  The challenge is a brainchild of the IGNITE Innovation Hub of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and implemented through its partners AfriLabs and Seed Grow South Sudan in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. IGNITE Food Systems Challenge seeks to find and promote locally driven solutions to food systems challenges.    Past winners include Hagana Agro Processing Company, which has since grown into a household brand in South Sudan and competes favourably on regional markets. About WFP:  The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.  Follow us on Twitter @wfp_SouthSudan   About AfriLabs:  AfriLabs is the largest network of technology and innovation hubs across Africa, committed to driving inclusive innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development. Through community, capacity building, and collaboration, AfriLabs empowers local hubs to scale impact and shape the continent’s innovation future. Learn more: www.afrilabs.com.    For more information, please contact:  For WFP – Tomson Phiri, tomson.phiri@wfp.org,  +211 928 008 037.

Intel Launches Second Edition of the Intel Community Reach Program to Bridge Africa’s Digital Divide and Foster AI Innovation

Intel Launches Second Edition of the Intel Community Reach Program to Bridge Africa’s Digital Divide and Foster AI Innovation Following the resounding success of its inaugural edition, Intel is pleased to announce the launch of the second edition of the Intel Community Reach Program (ICRP)—a transformative initiative aimed at driving digital inclusion and unlocking the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and broadband connectivity for underserved communities across Africa. With Africa’s internet penetration at just 38%—far below the global average of 68%—and a stark urban-rural digital divide, Intel CRP 2025 seeks for projects that can enable population in underserved areas (and or communities) in the member states of the African Union to have access to education including in STEM, healthcare, agriculture, environmental services, fintech solutions, or digital skills readiness; for financial, social and tech equity; using Artificial Intelligence (AI) – especially at the Edge with AI PC- and/or broadband connectivity. The program will identify impactful projects and allow them to get our technical, capacity building, and consultancy support. Intel invites organizations, enterprises, startups, SMEs, and institutions that are working towards alleviating social challenges using AI – especially at the Edge with AI PC and/or broadband connectivity to unlock Africa’s enormous digital landscape to apply. The program emphasizes women tech entrepreneurs, reinforcing Intel’s commitment to inclusive digital empowerment. Selected participants will receive technical support, capacity-building opportunities, and consultancy services, equipping them with the tools to scale their solutions and drive socio-economic impact. “At Intel, we believe in the transformative power of AI, which is improving every aspect of our lives across every industry. This program reaffirms Intel’s commitment to leverage the potential of AI to drive positive change in underserved African communities and beyond. We are excited about this opportunity to collaborate with AfriLabs to enhance access to STEM education and help foster innovation and advance technology for the betterment of society,” said Dr. Bienvenu Agbokponto Soglo, Director of Government Affairs Africa and Principal Engineer, at Intel Corporation. “The digital transformation of Africa is not just about connectivity—it’s about equipping people with the tools to innovate and create economic opportunities. Through the Intel Community Reach Program, we are enabling African entrepreneurs and innovators to harness the power of AI and broadband to drive real impact,” said Anna Ekeledo, Executive Director of AfriLabs. Interested organizations can submit their proposals [Here]. The deadline for the first round of applications is June 13, 2025.   About Intel Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) is an industry leader, creating world-changing technology that enables global progress and enriches lives. Inspired by Moore’s Law, Intel continuously advances the design and manufacturing of semiconductors to help address its customers’ greatest challenges. By embedding intelligence in the cloud, network, edge, and every kind of computing device, Intel unleashes the potential of data to transform business and society for the better. To learn more about Intel’s innovations, visit newsroom.intel.com and intel.com.   About AfriLabs AfriLabs is a pan-African network of over 500 innovation hubs across 53 African countries, designed to drive sustainable economic growth across the continent through investment, innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship. To learn more about the program and AfriLabs’ participation, contact Goodness at goodness@afrilabs.com. For general information, visit www.afrilabs.com. For media inquiries, please contact pr@afrilabs.com and comms@afrilabs.com.

Uniting Innovation: The Future of Africa’s Tech Landscape

Uniting Innovation: The Future of Africa’s Tech Landscape As Africa’s tech ecosystem continues to evolve, the need for unity and collaboration has never been more pressing. The AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2024, which will take place from November 5th to 8th, 2024, under the theme “Uniting Innovation,” promises to bring together innovators, policymakers, and industry experts to shape the future of Africa’s tech landscape. According to a joint report by Google and the International Finance Corporation titled “e-Conomy Africa 2020”, the internet economy in Africa is projected to reach $180 billion by 2025, accounting for 5.2% of the continent’s GDP. This growth is driven by increased internet access, urbanization trends, and a vibrant startup ecosystem (IFC).  At this year’s AfriLabs Annual Gathering (AAG), AI emerges as a pivotal theme. AI has the potential to dramatically enhance these projections. McKinsey & Company estimates that AI could boost Africa’s GDP by up to $1.2 trillion by 2030. Already, AI applications in healthcare, finance, and other sectors are demonstrating significant impacts, from improving diagnostic accuracy to enhancing financial inclusion. Discussions at AAG 2024 will focus on strategies to harness AI’s transformative power, aiming to accelerate economic growth and foster sustainable development across the continent (McKinsey & Company). Another critical track is sustainability, a theme that resonates deeply in Africa, where the impact of climate change is already being felt. Innovators and policymakers will come together to discuss how technology can be used to drive sustainable development and build resilient economies. For instance, renewable energy sources like solar and wind power have the potential to reduce carbon emissions by up to 70% in Africa, according to the United Nations. The future of work is another area of focus, as Africa grapples with the challenges of unemployment and skills development. The conversation at AfriLabs will center around how innovation and technology can create new opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship. The African Development Bank estimates that digital technology could create up to 230 million jobs in Africa by 2030, with a significant portion of the workforce engaged in the gig economy (Global Institute). Healthtech, fintech, and edtech are also on the agenda, as Africa’s innovators showcase solutions that are revolutionizing healthcare, finance, and education. For example, mobile health (mHealth) solutions have improved healthcare outcomes in Africa, with a study by the World Health Organization showing that mHealth interventions have increased vaccination rates by up to 20% in some countries. Beyond technology, the AfriLabs Annual Gathering emphasizes unity and collaboration. It seeks to unite diverse perspectives to drive innovation and sustainable development in Africa’s evolving tech ecosystem. Join us at the AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2024 and be part of the conversation that will shape the future of Africa’s tech landscape.

The Imperative of AI Infrastructure Investment for Africa’s Digital Future

The Imperative of AI Infrastructure Investment for Africa’s Digital Future As we approach a new era powered by artificial intelligence (AI), the need for strong internet infrastructure in Africa has never been more important. The AI Startups Mapping in Africa report by AfriLabs, funded by the Gates Foundation provides a sobering but positive assessment of the continent’s AI readiness, with an average index of 26.91. This figure, which is far below the halfway point, emphasizes the vital need for further efforts and expenditures to boost AI activity across the continent.   Bridging the AI Readiness Gap   Despite Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, and Tunisia leading with index values above 40, none have achieved 50. This suggests that even the most advanced African countries are still in the early phases of AI development. Without substantial improvements in digital infrastructure, Africa risks falling further behind in the global AI race.   The surge in AI applications necessitates an increase in high-performance computing (HPC) capabilities, such as GPUs and TPUs. These components are essential for developing and deploying complex AI models that rely on massive datasets and intricate computations. Over the past decade, global investments in digital infrastructure have soared, driven by factors like smartphone penetration and the rise of cloud computing. However, Africa must ramp up these investments to meet the evolving demands of AI.   The Role of Digital Infrastructure   Effective AI infrastructure is multifaceted, encompassing hardware and software elements that provide a broad range of capabilities. From data storage and cloud computing to robust communication networks and secure power connections, each component is crucial for unlocking AI’s full potential. For Africa, building this infrastructure is not just about technology; it’s about creating a foundation for innovation and socioeconomic development.   Several initiatives are already underway, African countries are adopting digital strategies aimed at fostering an environment conducive to digitalization. Tech giants such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are investing in African data centers, rapidly expanding the continent’s hosting capacity. For instance, the establishment of the Tanzania National Internet Data Center (NIDC) exemplifies how government and private sector collaboration can enhance AI capabilities. By providing scalable storage and AI services, the NIDC is helping Tanzanian entities to leverage AI without the need to develop services from scratch.   Specialization in AI Subfields   African AI startups are showing remarkable focus in various AI subfields, which is crucial for addressing the continent’s unique challenges. The report highlights that 30% of AI startups in Africa specialize in Machine Learning, followed by Deep Learning (17%), Natural Language Processing (15%), Computer Vision (12%), Generative AI (10%), Reinforcement Learning (9%), and Robotics (7%). This specialization is pivotal for driving innovation in sectors like healthcare, finance, and agriculture, where AI can significantly improve outcomes.   However, the growth in AI subfields also brings to light the urgent need for better infrastructure. As AI algorithms become more complex, the demand for computational power increases. Without the necessary digital backbone, these startups may struggle to scale their solutions and achieve their full potential.   The Path Forward   Africa’s digital infrastructure development requires a concerted effort to enhance digital infrastructure. This means investing in state-of-the-art data centers, expanding cloud computing capabilities, and ensuring reliable and fast communication networks. For instance, Tanzania’s licensing of public data centers from the private sector reflects a positive trend, but it must be scaled up to meet the high computing demands brought by AI.   Governments across Africa must prioritize creating a safe and secure foundation for AI development. This involves not only building the physical infrastructure but also implementing policies that promote innovation, protect data privacy, and ensure cybersecurity. By doing so, Africa can create an ecosystem where AI can thrive, driving socioeconomic development and positioning the continent as a significant player in the global AI landscape.   The future of AI in Africa holds immense promise, but realizing this potential hinges on the continent’s ability to build and sustain robust digital infrastructure. The AI Startups Mapping in Africa report serves as a clarion call for action. By addressing the current gaps and investing strategically in AI infrastructure, Africa can unlock unparalleled opportunities for innovation and development, ensuring that it does not just participate in the AI revolution but leads it.   In the words of many experts, the time to act is now. The benefits of AI are too significant to be overlooked, and the costs of inaction are too high. Africa’s digital future depends on the steps we take today to build a foundation that can support the technologies of tomorrow.   📖 Read more in our report: bit.ly/AI-Report-2 

African youth-led innovations secure funding to transform adolescent mental and reproductive health at Youth Connekt Africa Summit 2023

African youth-led innovations secure funding to transform adolescent mental and reproductive health at Youth Connekt Africa Summit 2023 Nairobi, Kenya 11th Dec 2023: AfriLabs, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), participated at the Youth Connekt Africa (YCA) Summit 2023, held from December 8th to 12th in Nairobi, Kenya.    The annual summit centered around the theme “Youth Innovating a Borderless African Renaissance” offered a platform for policy discussions, storytelling, networking, and entrepreneur-focused programs, including a marketplace and investor meetings.   In pushing for the advocacy on Mental Health and Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (ASRHR), Afrilabs and UNFPA launched a project in July 2024 that seeks to address the interconnected challenges of mental health and ASRHR.   Afrilabs organised a pitch competition event at the YCA summit and thus showcasing the two winners and overall  outcomes of the hacklab at the Summit. Ten finalists drawn from Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda competed for the top prize at the pitch event held on the sidelines of the Youth Connekt Africa Summit 2023.   The innovative solutions presented at the Summit stemmed from a 3-day online bootcamp organized by Afrilabs in October.    Two Remarkable solutions emerged from young innovators across the continent, proposing novel approaches to positively impact the lives of adolescents and youth in the fields of mental health and reproductive health.   A rigorous evaluation process, led by a jury featuring representatives from AfriLabs’ network of experts, culminated in the selection of two winning solutions. These outstanding projects not only secured $20,000 each in scale funding but also earned exclusive business incubation support that will be facilitated by Afrilabs through their extensive network of innovation hubs.   Standing at the forefront of empowerment through digital media, Selma Ndasilohenda Iyambo from Namibia claimed the top spot with her groundbreaking youth podcast. Delving into the realms of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and mental health, the podcast also serves as a powerful tool for uplifting young mothers and fostering community impact.  On the heels of this achievement, Tilitonse Concept, led by Tapiwa Penama from Malawi, emerged as the second-place winner. Functioning as a comprehensive hub, it empowers the youth residing in Malawi’s Dzaleka camp with valuable insights into mental health and crucial Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (#SRHR) choices.    Together, these innovative solutions embody a vision for positive change, demonstrating the transformative potential inherent in forward-thinking initiatives.   In closing, the Youth Connekt Africa Summit 2023 has not only been a gathering of minds but a testament to the resilience and creativity of Africa’s youth.      Afrilabs, in partnership with UNFPA, has spearheaded initiatives that address critical aspects of adolescent health, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of innovation. The winning solutions, forged through collaboration and determination, pave the way for positive change, echoing the potential of technology and creativity to transform lives. As we reflect on this summit, let it be a reminder that the journey towards a brighter, healthier future is powered by the ingenuity and passion of the continent’s youth, whose ideas continue to shape the trajectory of Africa’s progress.    Over the last 2 years of collaboration between AfriLabs and UNFPA over 200k USD has been given to over 9 innovators turned startups to scale their efforts in fighting against harmful practices through establishment of social impact businesses.   For more information on our participation at the Youth Connekt Africa Summit 2023 – Mental Health and ASRHR Hacklab Final Pitching please contact baluku(@)afrilabs.com.

AfriLabs’ Latest Expansion Heralds Exciting New Opportunities for Africa’s Digital Economy

We at AfriLabs are thrilled to announce our continued expansion as we work towards building thriving innovation and digital economies throughout Africa. Our latest addition, the Kingdom of Eswatini, as well as the five new cities of Matsapha, Zanzibar, Baidoa, Ota, and Musanze, have joined our community. As the largest pan-African association of innovation enablers, we are excited to increase our reach and impact. We are proud to welcome Novation City in North Africa, Privilege Access and Eureka Geo in Central Africa, Cube Zanzibar, Thousand Hills Hub, Somaliland Innovation Zone (SIZ), Southwest Innovation Hub, and Kabarak University Innovation and Business Incubation Center in East Africa, and Moolu Venture Lab, The Stalwart Hub, Platinum Hub, Ubulu Africa, Hebron Startup Lab, WAN-Hive Ghana, Green Tech Innovation, and Royal Science and Technology Park-Business Incubator (RSTP) in West and South Africa to our association of hubs. These additions will strengthen our efforts to achieve a fully digitalized Africa by 2030, as we continue to connect our hub members to a network of other stakeholders, lead innovation policy advocacy, and increase their capabilities through funding, collaborations, and knowledge sharing. We aim to enhance local African innovation ecosystems and provide better support for creating investment-worthy digital startups and businesses. We are optimistic about the impact our continuous expansion will have on Africa’s innovation and digital sector. As Mayssa Mrabet, our Director of Community, says, “AfriLabs will continue nurturing, supporting, and celebrating innovative ecosystems across the continent.” Our new members are equally excited to be a part of our growing network. Mely Monique, the Founder and CEO of Eureka Geo in Cameroon, states, “Becoming a member of AfriLabs is a unique chance for us to be part of the African digital ecosystem and access numerous opportunities.” Suleiman, Co-founder and Director of Cube Zanzibar, Tanzania, agrees, “This partnership amplifies our impact, aligning our island’s unique strengths with AfriLabs’ vision for a flourishing African innovation landscape.” We are looking forward to celebrating this growing community and plotting the way forward for the continent’s innovation growth at our Annual Gathering in Kigali from October 11-13. This year’s theme aims to accelerate Africa’s digital economy, and with the strength of the AfriLabs community, we invite you to join us. Don’t miss out – learn more and be a part of this year’s Gathering here: https://afrilabsgathering.com.

UNFPA in collaboration with AfriLabs launches its Incubation Programme to support ideas tackling FGM and Climate Change

Following the successful training at the UNFPA Climate and FGM HackLab (virtual bootcamps), 6 innovators were selected as winners in a follow-up pitch event and have been invited to participate in the UNFPA Incubation Programme.  UNFPA in partnership with AfriLabs will leverage AfriLabs’ existing pipeline of innovation hubs across the locations of the innovators to provide a robust and intensive 6-month incubation programme, which will entail capacity-building activities focused on product and business development of the selected innovations, and support with resources and opportunities to produce full-fledged viable and scalable innovations and solutions. The selected hubs will provide incubation services to the UNFPA Climate and FGM HackLab top innovators via online and offline channels throughout the programme. UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office, under the flagship Safeguard Young People Programme, launched the Climate HackLab project in May 2021. The HackLab is a climate innovation project that aims to build climate resilience and generate innovative climate adaptation solutions led by young people, especially women and girls. The UNFPA FGM HackLab project aims to empower young people and offer them the opportunity to be game-changers and drivers of a sustainable green future. The project targets young innovators, especially women and girls, who have innovative solutions that will accelerate efforts toward UNFPA’s goal of ending gender-based violence and harmful practices by 2030. Meet the selected innovators and startups Agnes Kimweri is a Laboratory Technologist and founder of Agki Medical Laboratory company in Tanzania. By using free carbon immersion electric motorcycles Agki medical lab offers mobile clinics for anaemia patients especially pregnant women and children under five age living in rural communities by providing affordable haemoglobin tests, health education and drugs such as folic acid for those with low blood levels.  Agripa Maposa is the CEO and founder of Tivwane Money Solution, a registered company in Zambia that supplies financing and training to help small farmers grow their way out of hunger. To combat climate change which causes all forms of malnutrition, poverty and hunger amongst smallholder farmers in Zambia and Africa at large, Tivwane Money Solution provides Agriculture Asset-Based Loans such as solar irrigation equipment systems for small-scale farmers to increase their farm production.  Joseph Mulabbi is the Team Lead of AXCES Mobile System based in Uganda. Health Mobile Application, to connect beneficiaries with medical services providers. The idea aims to improve access to health services (health, social, legal) for victims of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Dirug Samuel Yugoro is the Team Lead of Big Family 360 Foundation based in Nigeria. This is a mobile app that enhances access to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) services and information by way of referral through mobile technology & survivors can access services anonymously.  Roukiatou SEDGO is the Team Lead of Afriyan Burkina based in Burkina Faso. It is a website, which will allow the dissemination of the testimonies of victims, written or audiovisual; and provide medical and psychological help for these victims.  Deborah NANSANGA is the Team Lead of HERstory based in Uganda. A mobile application to collect and analyse crowdsourced, anonymous reports of FGM practices identifying patterns and key insights to increase awareness, transparency and public accountability and improve policy and tactical precision with data-led insights.  AfriLabs, being the largest pan-African community of innovation centres across Africa with 353+ hubs that operate in 50 African countries selected a member hub in each of the innovators’ countries to carry out the incubation programme. Meet the selected hubs Ennovate Hub, Dar Es Salaam & Mwanza, Tanzania – Ennovate Hub is an incubator and co-creation space with the fundamental objective to facilitate entrepreneurship development across the continent, inspire innovation in designing today’s solutions for the future, support early-stage entrepreneurs to scale and become investment-ready and to build collaborations across the startup value chain to strengthen startup economic activities. Jacaranda Hub, Lusaka, Zambia – Jacaranda hub has an independent body that oversees the management and runs a not-for-profit business model. They are an Incubator and Accelerator focused on social impact, youth engagement and skill acquisition and get most of their funds from Africa. North-East Humanitarian Innovation Hub, Yola, Nigeria – North-East Humanitarian Innovation Hub developed an ecosystem of innovation close to conflict and natural disaster-affected people by co-creating solutions with them and with humanitarian service providers to address the protection and assistance challenges that have remained so far neglected to address in the recovery rebuilding of the North East. Burkina Business Incubator (BBI), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – The Burkina Business Incubator Association (BBI) is an incubation centre for SMEs, a framework for the maturation of ideas for innovative projects and training in business creation, business development, a real common working space. Its main purpose is the promotion of entrepreneurship through the selection of innovative and high-potential projects and their support from ideas to launch through the economic model, studies, training of the promoter, mobilisation of resources and the creation of the company. BBI prioritizes projects from the following areas: Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Agro-Industry, Tourism and Hospitality, Renewable Energies and Environment, and Crafts. Stay with us as we share more updates on the journey of these admitted startups. For further enquiries, kindly send an email to taiye@afrilabs.com.

AfriLabs partners with Zayed Sustainability Prize for an African workshop in Rwanda to attract more entries

AfriLabs, the largest pan-African network of technology and innovation hubs with over 340 members across 52 African countries, is set to host an awareness session in Rwanda on June 27, 2022, to encourage local participation in the 2023 edition of the Zayed Sustainability Prize.  As the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) pioneering global award for recognising excellence in sustainability, the Prize’s US$3 million annual fund rewards winners US$600,000 in each of the Health, Food, Energy, and Water categories. While the Global High Schools category is split into six world region winners, with each school receiving up to US$100,000 to start or further expand their project. Inspired by the sustainability and humanitarian legacy of the UAE’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Prize has, since its inception in 2008, awarded a total of 96 winners whose solutions or student-led school projects have positively transformed the lives of 370 million people around the world. The Health, Food, Energy, and Water categories reward organisations that are already delivering impact and improving living and working conditions with their products and services. In the Global High Schools category, the Prize supports student-led projects in one or more of the four categories (Health, Food, Energy and Water) with the students actively involved in the planning, implementation, and monitoring processes.   Rwanda’s emerging innovation ecosystem and its thousands of entrepreneurs have the opportunity to showcase their work and impact to an international audience through the Zayed Sustainability Prize. Established in 2011, AfriLabs builds a community around rapidly emerging tech hubs – innovation spaces that serve as meeting points and communities for developers, entrepreneurs, and investors.    AfriLabs’ Executive Director, Anna Ekeledo, said: “AfriLabs is indeed excited to be joining forces with the Zayed Sustainability Prize, a global award that recognises and rewards the achievements of those who are driving impactful, innovative, and inspiring sustainability solutions across Health, Food, Energy, and Water sectors. We will leverage our expertise in stakeholders’ engagement and organising national and pan-African events to host awareness sessions and workshops in Rwanda to raise awareness about the prize and encourage more African innovators to enter and potentially benefit from this opportunity.” The awareness session will provide attendees including organisations and high schools with a practical tutorial on how to apply for the Prize and inform them about the benefits of participation – for themselves as entrants and the country.  Applicants are encouraged to submit their entries by July 6, 2022. To qualify for consideration, submissions should demonstrate the following three core criteria: Impact: Significant and tangible outcomes on the quality of people’s lives. Innovation: Distinctive characteristics that positively transform lives and have the potential to catalyse opportunities that will have a disruptive positive impact. Inspiration: The potential to scale up project outcomes, over the next decade, and the ability to inspire others. For the Global High Schools category, their projects should be designed to deliver a positive educational impact, including providing access to quality education and ensuring students are given key skills and capabilities to achieve their goals. Like the other categories, each project should demonstrate new and innovative approaches and be inspirational to others. In the Global High Schools category, however, students may propose to solve a combination of challenges across all Health, Food, Energy, and Water categories; not just focusing on one. Winners will be announced at the 2023 Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards Ceremony on January 16, 2023, as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW). For more information, visit www.ZayedSustainabilityPrize.com.

Intel and AfriLabs collaborate to support the African Deep Tech Startup Ecosystem

AfriLabs is excited to announce that we have partnered with the global manufacturer of advanced integrated digital technology platforms, Intel to gain a deeper understanding of the African deep-tech startup ecosystem and identify pathways in which Intel can extend their support to deep tech startups on the continent. The startup scene in Africa has experienced incredible growth in recent years, and this is partly a result of several significant interventions by stakeholders to enable entrepreneurship and innovation in local ecosystems. AfriLabs and Intel’s collaboration hopes to sustainably build on the work done and set a framework for future interventions. “To give more impactful support to the startup ecosystem in Africa, we need to consider specialised capacity building. Different kinds of startups need different kinds of support, and the AfriLabs partnership with Intel explores learning more about how we could better support deep tech ventures. I am particularly excited about this collaboration and how it would lay the foundation for deeper interactions between the ecosystem and big global tech players like Intel.”  Anna Ekeledo, Executive Director, AfriLabs said during her opening remarks. At the official partnership agreement signing ceremony on the 24th of May, 2022, Intel was represented by Maurits Tichelman, Vice President SMG & GM EMEA Territory, Intel (virtual), Dr Bienvenu AGBOKPONTO SOGLO, Director, Government Affairs Africa and EMEA CTO Liaison, Intel (onsite), Kate Hach, Head of Program, Intel Ignite’s accelerator (virtual) and the Emerging Markets Director for Government and Education of Intel Corporation, Mr Sven Beckmann (virtual). “As part of our desire to support the African Startups Ecosystem, Intel is looking to learn from and harvest new technology disruptions that will help position Intel’s Business in Africa in areas such as Healthcare, Fintech, Agriculture, E-commerce, Mobility, Hardware/IoT that are enabled by Intel Technologies.” said Maurits Tichelman, Vice President SMG & GM EMEA Territory, Intel during the signing ceremony. “It is in this regard, that we are signing a collaboration agreement with AfriLabs” he continued. Anna Ekeledo, Executive Director of AfriLabs, Daniel Chinagozi, Member of the AfriLabs Board, Ajibola Odukoya, AfriLabs COO, Nekesa Were, Director of Strategy, AfriLabs, Felista Aku, Partnerships Manager at AfriLabs and other members of the AfriLabs team represented the AfriLabs. A cross-section of high-level local and regional innovation ecosystem key players was also present. The partnership will leverage AfriLabs’ pan-African reach to map startups and ecosystem stakeholders and provide recommendations for future modes of collaboration that will ensure continuous deal flow and establish a presence for Intel. Dr Bienvenu AGBOKPONTO SOGLO, Director Government Affairs Africa & EMEA CTO Liaison, Intel also spoke about the organisation’s ambition: “As Intel looks ahead to the next decade, our ambitions and opportunities have never been greater to unleash the power of data and help advance integrated corporate responsibility strategies in which companies use collaborative models to drive increased value creation and societal impact.”   A prominent outcome of this partnership is that African startups in deep-tech will be introduced to Intel programs: Intel Ignite and Intel OneAPI for startups. A hybrid workshop focused on these programs was held after the signing ceremony with several startups from across the continent in attendance.   Stay tuned as we share more about the activities of this partnership and how you can be a part of it. For more information, reach out to Felista Aku at felista@afrilabs.com.

Celebrating Africa’s Trade Genius and Mapping the Future of Intra-African Trade

Africa has a rich history of trade that we should celebrate and learn from. As Africans eager to do business across the continent, we stand on the shoulders of our ancestors who perfected trade across the region and the continent, like Mirambo of the Nyamwezi of Tanzania, and King Kaleb of Aksum of Ethiopia and Eritrea leading well-known trading civilisations that transacted with their neighbours as well as foreigners.  Think of our ancient and famous trading cities such as Kilwa Kisiwani and Sofala off the Eastern coastline. Indeed, the art and practice of trade that is rooted in African genius and history, influenced the whole world. From the Mutapa kingdom’s trade, that stretched from Zimbabwe across to Mozambique, to the city of Gao in West Africa whose trade routes reached Cairo in North Africa, Africans traversed deserts, rivers, forests and oceans in pursuit of business solutions for Africa and the world – think of the Sahara trade route that was part of the original silk road – reaching ancient Afghanistan, Iraq and China!  “We must tell these stories because this is where we will find ourselves. And to know that we are descendants of innovative, successful, culturally shrewd business people.. from craftspeople to diplomats, to engineers to doctors to philosophers, to educationalists. Colonialism robbed us of these stories, it robbed us of our dignity and we only get this dignity back by realising that our history began long before the scramble for Africa”. Mona Nya Our organisation, infrastructure, communication and ability to regulate how we traded, what we traded and with whom we traded were key centuries ago. This enabled us to successfully manufacture goods at production centres that we built, and trade them within our communities and with traders from China, Europe and so on. This was our trade genius. We always understood the value of intra African and global trade and for a long time, we did it effectively. However,  there were failures along the way, which saw Africa lose her raw materials, put up boundaries and lose trust in her own people.  AfriLabs, Mozilla and Omidyar Network were honoured to host Brian Kagoro, Mona Nya, Adetola Onayemi, Bismark Addo and José Luis Tavares Semedo for a conversation that reflected on this rich history and shared ideas for how we could collectively ensure successful modern-day intra African trade.  Watch Brian Kagoro’s keynote here. We concluded that to set us up on the right path to successful intra-African trade, one of the more important issues to determine was our larger ‘WHY’ to keep us on mission and educate our movement,  interactions and decisions. “We are in a generation where hundreds of years of miseducation and schooling have taught our people that when they approach the global market they do so from a point of inferiority, or catch up or trying to mimic that external world. So in the absence of a larger WHY, a purpose that drives us, a consciousness, a self-belief and self-confidence, we are likely to be caught up in what we are seeing as Europe and American myths”.  – Brian Kagoro The future of intra African trade is in our hands and its success is dependent on the actions of Pan Africans from all spheres from financial and development institutions, to civil society, corporates, innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers, historians, national governments and so on working towards Africa’s economic development, self-sufficiency and dignity. For their part, Africa’s innovators continue to show their capacity to innovate world-class products and services and build world-class businesses. Acquisitions, taking companies public, successful fundraises, improved livelihoods, digitalisation across African entities, demand for skill and knowledge, regional and Pan African scale of businesses and steady increase of local funders for local businesses are a testament to the fact that the African innovation ecosystem has been gearing up for Pan African domination and is ready for a new wave of exponential growth fueled in part by the supportive structure that AU member states have now promised to provide through the African Continental Free Trade Area. Historically, we are a people willing to put in the work to contribute to long term development whether technological or economical. At AfriLabs we showcase this in the way our member hubs and partners preserve our history, protect our innovations, produce new innovations continuously and provide holistic support to innovators across the continent.  Members like the Media Innovation Network that is supporting creative storytellers and Baraza Media Lab that’s working to strengthen Kenya’s media ecosystem are ensuring that innovation stories are told well and preserved. Association of Startup and SME Enablers of Kenya, Ghana Hubs Network and Innovation Support Network have been at the forefront of leading policy agendas by ensuring that the needs and rights of the innovator are top of mind when crafting national innovation policies. These networks are also amplifying the voices of their hub members to increase national collaborations and catalyse sustainable growth of their national innovation ecosystems. Hubs across the continent are supporting manufacturing processes and connecting customers to hardware, engineering and manufacturing companies to increase Africa’s capacity to produce finished goods. Check out this Nigeria Hardware Ecosystem Map championed by Clintonel Innovation Centre among others. Gearbox on its part offers  prototyping facilities, training in manufacturing, fabrication and design as well as mentorship, investment opportunities and community development.  Our partners Liquid Technologies are working with hubs like Innovation Village, Bongo Hive and others by offering critical infrastructures like high-speed connectivity and cloud services, and supporting gaming and IOT as avenues for African innovators to create.  AfriLabs member hubs across the continent are providing holistic support to innovators across the continent by offering open, safe spaces for community-led innovation, mentorship, care to ensure mental health, programs to develop entrepreneurship skills and grow businesses, and connections to private and public sector actors. Our hubs are now working towards facilitating cross border trade by creating amongst them a masterpass that gives entrepreneurs business support in 347 hubs spread across 52 African countries, and this network continues to