AfriLabs, a pivotal network organization fostering innovation and entrepreneurship across Africa, in partnership with the African Union (AU), has inaugurated the second iteration of the AU Tech Fellowship initiative. This initiative builds on the formidable achievements of its inaugural edition, aiming to further leverage technology and innovation for the socio-economic advancement of the continent.
With a membership surpassing 430 entities, AfriLabs brings together a dynamic and comprehensive assembly of technology hubs, startups, investors, and other critical stakeholders within the innovation ecosystem. The AU, embodying the collective voice of 55 member states, strives toward realizing an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa, propelled by its citizens and constituting a vibrant presence on the global stage.
The launch of the AU Tech Fellowship emanates from the AU’s ratification of the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (DTS) during the 36th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council. This forward-looking strategy is anchored in harnessing digital technologies to catalyze integration, economic expansion, job creation, and the eradication of poverty, setting the stage for transformative initiatives such as the AU Tech 2.0.
The fellowship is meticulously designed to scout and position highly skilled technology innovators across the continent. These fellows are integrated within diverse AU units and organs to assimilate their operational frameworks, pinpoint existing challenges, and innovate groundbreaking solutions. Since its establishment in 2021, the program has recorded remarkable achievements, with fellows engineering 12 innovative products and spearheading the launch of the African Union digital portal, thereby revolutionizing the commission’s service delivery mechanisms.
Furthermore, the fellowship has significantly bolstered the AU’s internal capacities while simultaneously nurturing a more intimate collaboration between the AU and the vibrant African innovation ecosystem.
