Kigali – AfriLabs is proud to announce its collaboration with esteemed organizations to host this year’s AfriLabs Annual Gathering in Kigali from October 11 to 13. Lead partner GIZ Make IT, alongside Africa’s Business Heroes, Digital Africa, AEDIB-NET, Unlock Aid, and Visa Foundation, have joined forces under the banner of the AfriLabs Annual Gathering to accelerate the growth of Africa’s digital economy, paving the way for a prosperous future.
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The annual flagship event, the AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2023, is scheduled to take place in Kigali, Rwanda, from Wednesday, October 11 to Friday, October 13. This event’s primary objective is to foster the expansion of Africa’s digital economy by harnessing the collective strength of the AfriLabs community. This dynamic community includes innovation hubs, policymakers, development organizations, corporations, academia, and other stakeholders within Africa’s technology and innovation ecosystem.
According to Anna Ekeledo, Executive Director of AfriLabs, “The convergence of these diverse stakeholders at the AfriLabs Annual Gathering in Kigali, aimed at accelerating Africa’s digital economy, reflects our continent’s commitment to enhancing our circumstances. I am enthusiastic about the exceptional content featured in this year’s event, heralding the onset of more impactful interventions for the innovation ecosystem.”
The event comprises six tracks: Investor, Climate Change and Adaptation, Creative and Technology Intersection, Policy and Data-Driven Africa, Gender Inclusion, and Hub Solutions & Sustainability. These tracks delve into topics such as funding gaps, sustainable climate action, cross-sector collaborations, policy-related challenges, gender diversity, and tech hub support for startups.
Read More: AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2023: Accelerating Africa’s Digital Economy
AfriLabs is particularly delighted about its ongoing partnership with GIZ Make IT in Africa for the Annual Gathering. GIZ Make IT in Africa will host a panel discussion on “Open Innovation” within the Hubs sustainability track during this year’s Annual Gathering. Additionally, they will launch the Open InnovaVisa Foundation is committed to improving equitable and efficient access to capital at various stages of business growth, fostering inclusive economic growth, and advocating for gender-diverse and inclusive small businesses. In collaboration with Visa Foundation, AfriLabs launched the RevUp women initiative earlier this year. This initiative has provided capacity building, training, and mentoring for female business owners across Africa. Visa Foundation will participate in the Annual Gathering’s panel discussion on ‘Innovating Pathways to Bridging the Gender Gap’ within the gender inclusion track.
Digital Africa focuses on promoting more inclusive and sustainable development by equipping Africa’s tech entrepreneurs with the capabilities to design and scale up groundbreaking innovations for the real economy. AEDIB-NET aims to strengthen a shared African-European digital innovation ecosystem by supporting local digital innovation and startup ecosystems in Africa. Digital Africa and AEDIB-NET will collaborate with AfriLabs for this year’s Annual Gathering to host a session on “Research and Development for Digital Transformation: Shared Insights from Africa and the Diaspora” within the policy and data track.
Unlock Aid, the world’s leading alliance of social innovators driving policy changes to achieve the UN’s sustainable development goals by 2030, has partnered with AfriLabs for this year’s Annual Gathering. Their aim is to drive policy changes and bring innovators together to lead transformation and shift the narrative of the African innovation and technology ecosystem. They will host a round table meeting at this year’s AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2023.
Africa’s Business Heroes strives to identify, support, and inspire the next generation of African entrepreneurs working towards a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future. Through this partnership, AfriLabs and Africa’s Business Heroes reaffirm their commitment to unlocking Africa’s entrepreneurial potential and contributing to the goal of transforming the continent into a fully digitized Africa by 2030.
The diversity of the 8th edition of the AfriLabs Annual Gathering reflects the significant progress made in recent years towards positive change across Africa’s innovation economy. The AfriLabs Annual Gathering promises immense potential and opportunities. Don’t miss the chance to leave your mark on history and redefine the future of innovation and technology in Africa. Register today at www.afrilabsgathering.com.