July 2023

We are excited to bring you a host of updates and new offerings through the East, West, and South Africa Chapter newsletters consolidated into one! Through this newsletter, we provide updates from our network, including sector opportunities, news, events and publications. We hope you find this Pan-African perspective helpful and informative and welcome any ideas or feedback on how we may further improve it.

Wish to have your content featured in the next one? Submit your event, fellowship, report, initiative, or opportunity via this form.

ANDE Highlights

Made in West Africa Creative Industry
On the 5th of July, 2023, the ANDE West Africa Chapter hosted a bilingual event tagged “Made in West Africa - Creative Industry”. This event convened over 60 ecosystem key players from across and beyond West Africa with the aim of examining the Senegalese enabling environment, reviewing the policies currently in place, and what needs to be done to transform the creative sector and stimulate economic growth in the region. The event also featured renowned speakers who led  discussions drawn from a power-packed agenda. The sessions included a Keynote Address by Dieynaba Thiam-Ka - Chief of Party USAID Entrepreneurship and Investment Program, an Opening Plenary moderated by Papa Mady Sidibé - Investment Professional -  DER, two breakout sessions which adequately addressed issues relating to gender, decent work and climate action in the creative sector, and a ‘Meet the Makers’ session which showcased up to 7 Creative Industry SGBs manufacturing in the region. In case you missed it, here is a sneak-peek of how the event turned out!

Africa Impact Summit Side Event: Linking investment strategies to gender and climate lens: Ensuring a credible impact thesis
ANDE Southern Africa and members, Allan Gray Orbis Foundation and Genesis Analytics, co-hosted a side event at the Africa Impact Summit, themed “Linking investment strategies to gender and climate lens: Ensuring a credible impact thesis” to address and discuss how investors can develop credible impact thesis that clearly articulate their intentions, theories of change, and expected outcomes related to gender equality and climate resilience.  This also presented delegates with an opportunity to connect with other professionals, investors, entrepreneurs and leaders as we discuss innovative solutions and investment opportunities on the continent.

ANDE East Africa Gender Lens Investing Learning Lab
ANDE East Africa, in partnership with Westerwelle Startup Haus Kigali and AMI, hosted a Gender Lens Investing Learning lab in Kigali, Rwanda. We hosted 29 participants with representation from GIZ, Renew Capital, Westerwelle Startup Haus Kigali, AMI, Inkomoko, Rwanda Development Board, Segal Foundation, NCBA Rwanda, Katapult, Ministry of ICT and Innovation Rwanda, Techno Serve, Farm Genix, H influitive farm, JCI Rwanda and Iwacu Grow Green ltd. The forum brought together Entrepreneur Support Organizations, Policy Makers, Investors, Donors, and Women Entrepreneurs to discuss and share insights on addressing financial access for women entrepreneurs in Rwanda. During the forum, we disseminated learnings from ANDE's Accelerating Investment into Women-led Enterprises: Comparative Study on Grant Making in the SGB Sector and Accelerating Gender Outcomes - Evidence from ANDE's Advancing Women's Empowerment Fund.

ANDE East Africa Ethiopia Members Dinner
On Friday 14th July ANDE East Africa invited ANDE members for the Ethiopia Membership Dinner that was held from 6:15 pm to 8 pm at Radisson Blu Hotel, Addis Ababa.
This dinner was a great time to network collaborate, share, and learn more about our members' current and upcoming events in Ethiopia and ANDE East Africa chapter’s activities.

ANDE Events

Strengthening South Africa’s Youth Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Learning Lab
Date: 27 July 2023, 8:30 – 13:30
Location: {Hybrid}, Johannesburg South Africa
In the context of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI), ANDE Southern Africa will host a Learning Lab workshop themed “Strengthening South Africa’s Youth Entrepreneurship Ecosystem”. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is supporting the Learning Labs on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The aim of this workshop is to learn from youth entrepreneurs and ecosystem actors about concerns, visions, and practical recommendations for how we can better serve our youth entrepreneurs particularly in townships. Click here to register or visit our website to learn more about our learning labs

Dissemination of Argidius’s SCALE Research and Tools: What We Know Works - SCALE-ing business development services  workshop
Date: 24 August 2023, 08:30 – 13:30
Location: {Hybrid}, Lusaka Zambia
Following the success of our first dissemination event, the ANDE Southern Africa Chapter will host the second Dissemination of Argidius’s SCALE Research and Tools: “What We Know Works - SCALE-ing business development services”, workshop in Lusaka Zambia. This workshop aims to disseminate a set of evidence-based considerations emerged from the research of the Argidius Foundation that distinguishes the cost-effective and impactful Business Development Services (BDS) programs from the less effective ones. The workshop will also showcase a set of associated tools and resources that entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) can utilize to maximize their impact. Visit our website to learn more and register to attend.

ANDE Annual Conference 2023
Date: 12 - 14 September  
Location: Accra, Ghana
This year’s conference is halfway to the 2030 target to achieve the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The theme, “Accelerating Action: Small Business Solutions and the SDGs,” will focus on key progress to date and what is still needed in small and growing business (SGB) ecosystems to help maximize contributions to the SDGs over the next seven years.
Learn more and register today!

New Members Showcase

West Africa Updates

Changemakers Innovation Challenge | ACT Foundation
Deadline: 31 July, 2023
The Changemakers Innovation Challenge is conceived by ACT Foundation as a response to the impressive work of community nonprofits, businesses and social enterprises in Africa who are leveraging technology/ digital tools to create social change in their communities. Learn more and apply here.

Aspiring Entrepreneurs Programme (AEP) | FATE Foundation
Date: 5 September - 2 November, 2023
The FATE Foundation’s AEP is Nigeria’s longest running entrepreneurship certificate programme and it is curated for entrepreneurs who want to gain the right knowledge, skills and support to start, grow and structure their business for exponential growth. The AEP will be delivered by experienced business leaders and entrepreneurs that have run and still run successful businesses and careers. Visit FATE Foundation’s website to learn more and apply today.

Digital Africa Conference and Exhibition 2023 | Digital Africa Global Consult
Date: 19-21 September, 2023
Location: Reiz Continental hotel - Abuja
The 11th edition of the Digital Africa Conference and Exhibition tagged "AI and Africa," promises to showcase the immense potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in driving Africa's digital revolution. By facilitating robust conversations and exploring real-world applications, participants will gain invaluable insights into harnessing AI's potential to address local challenges and drive sustainable development across the continent. Learn more and register here.

Save the Date - Social Innovators Programme and Awards (SIPA) 2023 | LEAP Africa
Date: 26-27 October, 2023
LEAP Africa’s SIPA 2023, will provide social innovators, a platform to showcase their innovative solutions, gain recognition for their impactful work, and connect with a network of like-minded individuals driving positive change. Kindly watch this space for updates regarding this event.

Calling Visionary Innovators in Inclusive Finance | ADA
Deadline: 31 July, 2023
Applications are open to join Innovators' Village during the African Microfinance Week (SAM) to unleash your potential; thrive in a dynamic ecosystem, collaborate with like-minded peers, gain unique visibility, meet impact investors and get the chance to be funded. Apply today.

Southern Africa Updates

Entrepreneurship Education in Africa (EEA) Summit | The Anzisha Prize
Date: 10 August, 2023
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
The Summit will explore and celebrate excellence and new approaches in youth entrepreneurship education and support. Educators, investors, policymakers and entrepreneurs from across Africa will gather in Johannesburg at the African Leadership Academy campus. The EEA Summit will allow delegates to delve deeper into entrepreneurship education and see the important work of very young entrepreneurs and the ecosystem that supports their efforts. Register here.

Scholarship Programme | Allan Gray Orbis Foundation
Deadline: 25, September 2023
The programme provides quality high school education, entrepreneurial development workshops and personal mentoring. South African Grade 6 learners can apply today to start their high school entrepreneurship journey in 2025. Apply here.

Promulgating The Future of The Johannesburg Tech Sector | Tshimologong Precinct
Tshimologong is excited to share with you an exclusive glimpse into their upcoming research project on the evaluation and network analysis of the Johannesburg tech sector. The primary objective of the study will be to identify the challenges and opportunities facing the sector in terms of talent retention, skills development, and access to finance. To do so, they have developed a short survey to gauge the insights of founders and key decision-makers at Johannesburg-based tech companies. Click here to complete the survey

GEC+ Africa | Global Entrepreneurship Network
The Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC+Africa) was initiated by the Global Entrepreneurship Network in 2017, and will now gather entrepreneurs and leaders from more than 50 African nations committed to advancing entrepreneurial activity throughout their own countries in Africa. GEC+ Africa will include other international thought leaders and practitioners globally who have become a part of GEN's global movement that advances entrepreneurship as a means of building economies and expanding human welfare. Click here to learn more.

East Africa Updates

Leadership for Growth Program | Amani Institute 
Are you ready to unlock your full potential as a dynamic leader? Take a look at Amani Institute’s Leadership for Growth program, an immersive, transformative experience that will ignite your leadership capabilities and empower you to lead effectively and drive innovation and growth.
Through interactive workshops, experiential learning, and real-world projects, you will develop a comprehensive toolkit to tackle complex challenges, inspire teams, and cultivate innovation in any context. Amani Institute has extended a 10% discount to all ANDE members that sign up for the program. Nomination closes on 1st September 2023 and classes begin on 22nd September 2023.
Click here to register.

Sector Events and Opportunities

Ecobank Fintech Challenge 2023 | Ecobank
Deadline: 21 July, 2023
The Ecobank Fintech Challenge identifies and partners Fintechs that are ready to scale and provides them with support and access to opportunities in Ecobank’s 35 African markets. The goal is to contribute to their growth as potential Pan African Fintech success stories. The Challenge is open to all Fintechs on the African continent. Learn more and apply here.

Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation 2024 | Royal Academy of Engineering
Deadline: 25 July, 2023
The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, founded by the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2014, is Africa’s biggest prize dedicated to developing African innovators, and assisting them to maximize their impact. It awards crucial commercialization support to ambitious African innovators developing scalable engineering solutions to address local challenges, demonstrating the importance of engineering as an enabler of improved quality of life and economic development. Learn more and apply here.

Webinar: Planning Just Transitions: A practical guide | Climate Investment Funds (CIF)
Date: 25 July  2023
The Climate Investment Funds (CIF) will host a webinar to launch its new Just Transition Planning Toolbox, a unique resource for planning just transitions to low-carbon economies that are equitable and socially inclusive. The event will introduce this new resource and bring together a team of experts to share insights from transition planning in different contexts around the world.

UNICEF Innovation Fund 2023 | UNICEF
Deadline: 28 July, 2023
The UNICEF Venture Fund is interested in learning about startups that are innovating in sectors that can positively impact the world’s most vulnerable children and youth. If you are developing a solution using data science, machine learning, virtual reality, blockchain or drones, they want to hear from you! They will contact shortlisted companies with a Request for Proposal to be considered for their funding opportunity. Apply here.

FAST Accelerator 2023 | Flapmax
Deadline: 31 July, 2023
FAST Accelerator, an initiative of Flapmax created in partnership with Microsoft, is dedicated to supporting and funding the next generation of African innovators. Our program combines business development, technology integration, funding opportunities, and community building to enable African startups to scale rapidly and sustainably. FAST Accelerator 2023 will connect startups to a vibrant ecosystem of over 500 corporate partners. By participating in the program, you’ll gain access to dedicated venture funding, a robust network, and invaluable mentorship opportunities. Apply here.

ASIP Accelerator Program – Cohort 4 | Startupbootcamp Afritech
Deadline: 8 September, 2023
Looking for the next generation of African Tech Startups disrupting major industry sectors! The program is open to startups in various sectors, including but not limited to FinTech, InsureTech, AgriTech, Climate-tech, eCommerce, Digital Health, GreenTech, Mobility, digitizing the informal economy and empowering artisans. Learn more and apply here.

Nominate A Young Entrepreneur for the Anzisha Prize
Applications for the 2024 Anzisha Prize Venture Building Fellowship are opening soon! Now’s the chance for you to nominate the top entrepreneurial talent (aged between 15-22 years old) in your community, class, or incubator for Africa’s biggest award for her youngest entrepreneurs. Applicants stand a chance to join our fellowship program, receive high-touch support and coaching for their business, qualify for bi-annual stipends, shadow programs, and a chance to win one of four grand prizes to the value of $10 000. Click here for more information.

Opportunity for Green Tech Entrepreneurs | Grindstone
Have you unlocked the potential of tech for a sustainable future? Grindstone is  looking for 15 Startups leveraging cutting-edge tech to reduce carbon emissions, optimize resources, and build smarter, greener communities. Green startups.  Apply now.

Sector Resources

Just Transition Planning toolbox | Climate Investment Funds
Founders guide to Fundraising | Briter
Catalyzing Change: Advancing Gender Mainstreaming in Local NGOs | ACT Foundation 
Empowering Economic Growth and Collaboration: Insights from the ANDE Panel Discussion on Argidius’s SCALE Report | ANDE Southern Africa

Career Opportunities

Senior program manager | African Management Institute | West Africa
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) |  Haské Ventures | West Africa