digital economy - Afrikan Heroes

Ecostart Launches Call For Cleantech Projects In Morocco

June 23, 2020

Ecostart has launched a call for projects in Morocco with the aim to support startups working in the green and digital economy in the country. The initiative is supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the German international development cooperation agency. Interested project leaders have until July 7, 2020 to apply.

“The Covid-19 crisis shows us the urgent need to change our lifestyles, and to rethink our economic and social model. It is an opportunity to rebuild a fairer and more sustainable economy. It is about enabling entrepreneurs to exploit new niches linked to the green economy and to develop economically sustainable and competitive businesses contributing to an economy and a society more resilient in the face of crises ”, explain the organizers of Ecostart.

Here Is What You Need To Know

The Ecostart call for projects is for green startups Morocco.

The purpose of this competition is to highlight and support self-entrepreneurs, micro-enterprises, start-ups and researchers who act in favor of a green economy.

Ecostart is supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the German international development cooperation agency, as part of its Taahil Al Mokawalat program (TAM III).

GIZ organizes the competition in partnership with the National Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (Maroc PME) and with the Moroccan Agency for Energy Efficiency (Amee).

Ecostart is also part of the Morocco-European Union cooperation program for “competitiveness and green growth” (Pacc).

How Ecostart Will Support Successful Startups

Ecostart aims to train 50 entrepreneurs over a period of 3 months, then to reward 10 winners with a financial price to support their investment in the fields of energy efficiency, that is to say solutions for the building or the energy audit.

The competition also concerns entrepreneurs working on renewable energies (solar, wind, biomass, etc.) and on waste management with recycling or recovery solutions.

Entrepreneurs working in the field of water and liquid sanitation can also participate in Ecostart.

They will have to propose concrete projects on the purification of water or on the reduction of water consumption.

The competition also aims to support entrepreneurs offering ecological solutions for transport and eco-mobility, sustainable building, sustainable agricultural transformation processes, Green IT and digital solutions, services related to the green industry, as well as for eco-solutions that can contribute to the management or response to economic or health crises such as the Covid-19.

The entrepreneurs selected after the Ecostart call for projects may also receive financial support for the acquisition of equipment, materials and digital solutions at a cost of 500,000 Moroccan dirhams (over 46,000 euros). The program also plans to pay more than 46,000 euros for 10 winners of the Ecostart initiative.

What Sort Of Projects Are Wanted?

To apply you must meet the following conditions:

Be a self-entrepreneur, a micro-enterprise, a start-up or a researcher
operating in Morocco.

Have a green project in the initial development phase.

Have a prototype or other elements proving your concept.

Have an environmental impact or potential impact.

Want to have access to an innovative support program and network of entrepreneurs.

Not currently benefit from CCG and Maroc PME funding.

How And When To Apply

Project leaders interested in Ecostart have until July 7, 2020 to apply.

Application may be made by following this link https://ecostart.business/

For more information on the competition, click here.

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer

Lagos to Host Global Technology Leaders on Digital Economy

January 28, 2020

Wale Olokodana, Microsoft Business Group Director

As technology convergence manifests in different platforms, over 500 IT professionals from enterprise organizations across West Africa will convene in Lagos on February 21, 2020 for MainOne’s 5th annual gathering of its flagship event, Nerds Unite, themed: “Enabling the Digital Economy”.

This year’s event will showcase the launch of its Managed Cloud Services in partnership with Microsoft and Hewlett Packard Enterprise Operated by Selectium. The event will feature presentations and panel discussions on Cloud adoption, Cloud migration and all things Cloud with MainOne and its global partners.

Featuring over 10 speakers from global tech companies and West African Corporate organizations, #NerdsUnite2020 is designed to facilitate discussions on trending developments in the IT sector to help professionals deliver increased value to their organizations. The event’s keynote addresses will be given by Ernest Sales, CEO Hewlett Packard Enterprises Operated by Selectium and Wale Olokodana, Microsoft Business Group Director.

Speaking on expectations for this year’s event, Tayo Ashiru, Head of Marketing MainOne says, “For the past 4 years, Nerds Unite has delivered powerful technology insights and networking opportunities for organizations and tech enthusiasts alike. This year we expect that with our panel of dynamic speakers, partners and launch of our Managed Cloud Services, the energy around Nerds Unite 2020 will be electrifying. These developments will help accelerate the digital transformation across all sectors and the ICT ecosystem in West Africa, supported by technological innovation and world class partners.”

With over 3,000 participants since inception, Nerds Unite has showcased leading technology solutions available locally and globally and has hosted major players in the international and local IT industry. This year’s edition is set to further empower the tech ecosystem with the industry’s latest developments, centering on unique perspectives on Cloud Computing targeted at C-Level executives and IT professionals of blue-chip organizations across West Africa.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

Terrestrial fiber infrastructure investments key to enabling the growth of Africa’s digital economy

July 2, 2019

The dialogue centered on the notion that the development of the terrestrial network is key to growing the digital economies of all African countries.

Experts at the 2019 ‘Africa Panel Session’ of the International Telecoms Week (ITW), held recently in Atlanta, USA discussed the importance of infrastructure investments in local internet exchanges and terrestrial networks as being instrumental to facilitating the development and growth of Africa’s digital economy.

Presenting on the theme “Enabling Africa’s Digital Economy”, Principal Analyst at TeleGeography, Patrick Christian, evaluated the African digital economy, noting that the study of global trends show Africa maintaining its position as the fastest growing region in internet usage through data volumes remain shockingly lower than other parts of the world.

Mr.Christian, underscored the importance of the role content providers such as Google, Microsoft, and Facebook, play in driving Internet traffic and the expectation that their traffic on the continent will increase with the growth of Africa’s digital economy. It is expected that having more content beginning to reside and be exchanged within Africa, will add tremendous benefits to the ecosystem.

A panel that included high-level representation from MainOne, Google, Avanti Plc, Angola Cables, CSquared Africa, and WIOCC engaged in compelling discourse that highlighted these and other key factors for development in Africa’s digital economy. The dialogue centered on the notion that the development of the terrestrial network is key to growing the digital economies of all African countries.

A point further emphasized by MainOne’s CEO, Funke Opeke, who stated that the organization is currently working in Lagos State of Nigeria to enable digital transformation through the deployment of 2500km of fibre across the State, adding to the almost 1000km of fibre currently deployed.

Opeke stated, “Our immediate focus is to ensure we have fibre to the towers, fiber to schools, health care facilities, and other government agencies, fiber to the enterprise/business districts, and with a density to reach within 1km of the majority of citizens in Lagos. We envisage having network density whereby over 60% of the population is within 1km of fibre access with the planned deployment.”

The 2019 Africa Panel session at ITW co-sponsored by MainOne continues to provide a platform for key global players to share perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of telecoms development on the African continent. This year makes it the 8th time in a row that MainOne has sponsored the session.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.

Afrikan Heroes

Tag: digital economy