Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AfriConEU (The first Trans-continental Networking Academy for African and European Digital Innovation Hubs)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2021-02-01 al 2022-07-31
The AfriConEu project aims at strengthening and reinforcing the digital innovation ecosystems in Africa by targeting existing Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) and supporting them through capacity building and networking activities. African DIHs are playing a central role in the development of digital entrepreneurship and by raising their capacities to tackle the challenges they face they will be more effective in driving digital innovation forward. To achieve its mission, the AfriConEU project connects DIHs from Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania with DIHs from Europe with the aim to:
(i) facilitate knowledge and experience sharing,
(ii) drive the development of mutually beneficial partnerships and
(iii) support the creation of collective projects for boosting digital economy, empowering youth and fostering innovation and growth.
To realize its mission the project is developing, testing and validating the “AfriConEU Networking Academy”, an innovative mechanism for connecting and sharing best practices, experiences and resources between DIHs in Africa and between DIHs in Africa and EU, in a comprehensive, replicable and self-sustaining way. Through two flagships programmes, the AfriConEU Networking Academy intends to empower and enable African DIHs to best serve their local industry, boost their start-up ecosystem and empower the youth population with the necessary skills to thrive in a digitalized world.
(i) facilitate knowledge and experience sharing,
(ii) drive the development of mutually beneficial partnerships and
(iii) support the creation of collective projects for boosting digital economy, empowering youth and fostering innovation and growth.
To realize its mission the project is developing, testing and validating the “AfriConEU Networking Academy”, an innovative mechanism for connecting and sharing best practices, experiences and resources between DIHs in Africa and between DIHs in Africa and EU, in a comprehensive, replicable and self-sustaining way. Through two flagships programmes, the AfriConEU Networking Academy intends to empower and enable African DIHs to best serve their local industry, boost their start-up ecosystem and empower the youth population with the necessary skills to thrive in a digitalized world.
AfriConEU is planned in five distinct but interlinked phases:
✓ Phase 1: Context and state of the art analysis;
✓ Phase 2: Development of the AfriConEU Networking Academy and its two flagship programmes (Capacity Building + Trans-Continental Partnership Development) through participative design techniques;
✓ Phase 3: Academy roll-out implementation and assessment;
✓ Phase 4: Community development and results uptake;
✓ Phase 5 (horizontal phase): Communication and dissemination.
The project has already concluded Phase 1 and 2, and is currently implementing Phase 3, 4 and 5.
During Phase 1 and 2, the following specific objectives (SO), activities and results were achieved:
#SO1: Explore the digital innovation ecosystem in Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, and Tanzania and analyse local DIHs needs so as to create tailormade programmes for transforming local hubs into catalysts for digital transformation and entrepreneurship.
Task - Local context and needs analysis [Status: concluded]
-- In depth interviews with DIHs managers, entrepreneurs, policy makers from Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania to analyse the local innovation ecosystems: 60 interviews;
-- Online survey of targeted innovation ecosystem stakeholders to records needs and challenges of DIHs: 298 responses;
-- Roundtable discussions in Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania with representatives from startups, SMEs, DIHs, government, investor networks etc: 4 roundtables –165 participants;
Task - Exploration of existing initiatives and good practices for enforcing DIHs [Status: concluded]
-- In-depth interviews with trainers of existing capacity building programmes targeted to DIHs from Africa and Europe: 20 interviews;
-- Interviews with trainees (i.e. DIHs managers and staff) of existing capacity building programmes targeted to DIHs from Africa and Europe: 162 interviews;
-- Number of DIHs Capacity Building programmes identified and listed in the project’s online database: 51;
-- Report analysing the local innovation ecosystem in Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana and Tanzania: Report in D2.1.
#SO2: Develop the Flagship Programme on Capacity Building for African DIHs and support thus their further development as well as their potential to drive the digitalization process.
Task - Design of the Capacity Building Flagship Programme [Status: concluded]
-- Capacity building sub-programmes covering DIHs business models, multi-actor approach, technology transfer, startups finance and digital skills: 4 subprogrammes designed.
Task - Development of the training tools [Status: concluded]
-- Capacity building webinars: 20 webinars designed;
-- Online repository of capacity building resources and ready to use training material: 1 repository available in project website;
-- Local networking and knowledge sharing workshops: 12 workshops designed;
-- Online Masterclasses for supporting African DIHs potential: 8 master classes designed.
#SO3: Develop the Flagship Programme on Trans-continental Partnerships Development and enforce cooperation on an equal footing between African and European DIHs.
Task - Challenges and opportunities of EU-Africa partnership building [Status: concluded]
-- Online focus groups & number of participants discussing challenges and opportunities for EU - Africa partnership building: 4 focus groups organised - 101 participants;
Task - Development of the Trans-Continental Partnership Development Flagship Programme [Status: concluded]
-- International participative design workshop among DIHs, experts, investors, entrepreneurs, etc. to discuss the design of the Trans-continental Partnership Development programmes: 1 workshop organised;
-- Trans-continental partnership development sub-programmes covering thematic issues such as investment and market opportunities in Africa, youth and employment opportunities etc: 4 subprogrammes designed;
-- Design thinking thematic bootcamps between DIHs and innovation stakeholders from Africa and Europe: common program for 4 Design Thinking Bootcamps designed (1 per African country), to be organised in July 2023.
-- International Brokerage event between DIHs, entrepreneurs, investors and the African Diaspora communities in Europe: 1 Event in Italy, with parallel sessions in Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda, to be organised in November 2022.
-- Capitalisation and celebration event: 1 event designed, to be organised in October 2024.
The project is now its Phase 3, 4 and 5. It has started the organisation of the Networking Academy activities, having implemented 9 activities.
The news on the project activities can be consulted in the project website and social media: https://africoneu.eu/
✓ Phase 1: Context and state of the art analysis;
✓ Phase 2: Development of the AfriConEU Networking Academy and its two flagship programmes (Capacity Building + Trans-Continental Partnership Development) through participative design techniques;
✓ Phase 3: Academy roll-out implementation and assessment;
✓ Phase 4: Community development and results uptake;
✓ Phase 5 (horizontal phase): Communication and dissemination.
The project has already concluded Phase 1 and 2, and is currently implementing Phase 3, 4 and 5.
During Phase 1 and 2, the following specific objectives (SO), activities and results were achieved:
#SO1: Explore the digital innovation ecosystem in Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, and Tanzania and analyse local DIHs needs so as to create tailormade programmes for transforming local hubs into catalysts for digital transformation and entrepreneurship.
Task - Local context and needs analysis [Status: concluded]
-- In depth interviews with DIHs managers, entrepreneurs, policy makers from Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania to analyse the local innovation ecosystems: 60 interviews;
-- Online survey of targeted innovation ecosystem stakeholders to records needs and challenges of DIHs: 298 responses;
-- Roundtable discussions in Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania with representatives from startups, SMEs, DIHs, government, investor networks etc: 4 roundtables –165 participants;
Task - Exploration of existing initiatives and good practices for enforcing DIHs [Status: concluded]
-- In-depth interviews with trainers of existing capacity building programmes targeted to DIHs from Africa and Europe: 20 interviews;
-- Interviews with trainees (i.e. DIHs managers and staff) of existing capacity building programmes targeted to DIHs from Africa and Europe: 162 interviews;
-- Number of DIHs Capacity Building programmes identified and listed in the project’s online database: 51;
-- Report analysing the local innovation ecosystem in Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana and Tanzania: Report in D2.1.
#SO2: Develop the Flagship Programme on Capacity Building for African DIHs and support thus their further development as well as their potential to drive the digitalization process.
Task - Design of the Capacity Building Flagship Programme [Status: concluded]
-- Capacity building sub-programmes covering DIHs business models, multi-actor approach, technology transfer, startups finance and digital skills: 4 subprogrammes designed.
Task - Development of the training tools [Status: concluded]
-- Capacity building webinars: 20 webinars designed;
-- Online repository of capacity building resources and ready to use training material: 1 repository available in project website;
-- Local networking and knowledge sharing workshops: 12 workshops designed;
-- Online Masterclasses for supporting African DIHs potential: 8 master classes designed.
#SO3: Develop the Flagship Programme on Trans-continental Partnerships Development and enforce cooperation on an equal footing between African and European DIHs.
Task - Challenges and opportunities of EU-Africa partnership building [Status: concluded]
-- Online focus groups & number of participants discussing challenges and opportunities for EU - Africa partnership building: 4 focus groups organised - 101 participants;
Task - Development of the Trans-Continental Partnership Development Flagship Programme [Status: concluded]
-- International participative design workshop among DIHs, experts, investors, entrepreneurs, etc. to discuss the design of the Trans-continental Partnership Development programmes: 1 workshop organised;
-- Trans-continental partnership development sub-programmes covering thematic issues such as investment and market opportunities in Africa, youth and employment opportunities etc: 4 subprogrammes designed;
-- Design thinking thematic bootcamps between DIHs and innovation stakeholders from Africa and Europe: common program for 4 Design Thinking Bootcamps designed (1 per African country), to be organised in July 2023.
-- International Brokerage event between DIHs, entrepreneurs, investors and the African Diaspora communities in Europe: 1 Event in Italy, with parallel sessions in Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda, to be organised in November 2022.
-- Capitalisation and celebration event: 1 event designed, to be organised in October 2024.
The project is now its Phase 3, 4 and 5. It has started the organisation of the Networking Academy activities, having implemented 9 activities.
The news on the project activities can be consulted in the project website and social media: https://africoneu.eu/
AfriConEU aims to provide an unique opportunity for collaboration and development between different African and European stakeholders.
Through its differents activities, the project expects to contribute to the following impacts:
1. Further development of digital innovation hubs to the support of digitalisation of SMEs and traditional sectors in Africa contributing to a vibrant digital economy and new job opportunities.
2. Strengthening of innovation ecosystems for digital startups at the local level.
3. Support of youth employment programs by facilitating collaboration between European and African DIHs and startups.
4. Enhancement of entrepreneurial and innovation skills of ICT professionals and start-ups in selected African countries.
5. Sustainable uptake of results within the targeted countries, beyond the project completion date.
6. Reinforced international dimension of the ICT and Innovation aspects of Horizon 2020 and contribution to the implementation of the EC digital for development strategy.
7. Reinforcement of strategic partnerships between EU and African Digital Innovation Hubs in areas of mutual interest.
Through its differents activities, the project expects to contribute to the following impacts:
1. Further development of digital innovation hubs to the support of digitalisation of SMEs and traditional sectors in Africa contributing to a vibrant digital economy and new job opportunities.
2. Strengthening of innovation ecosystems for digital startups at the local level.
3. Support of youth employment programs by facilitating collaboration between European and African DIHs and startups.
4. Enhancement of entrepreneurial and innovation skills of ICT professionals and start-ups in selected African countries.
5. Sustainable uptake of results within the targeted countries, beyond the project completion date.
6. Reinforced international dimension of the ICT and Innovation aspects of Horizon 2020 and contribution to the implementation of the EC digital for development strategy.
7. Reinforcement of strategic partnerships between EU and African Digital Innovation Hubs in areas of mutual interest.