Lubumbashi, DRC – May 12th, 2023 – AfriLabs, the largest association of technology and innovation hubs across Africa, has launched the French version of the AfriLabs Academy during the Ecosystem Event that concluded the AfriLabs Capacity Building Programme workshop at CINOLU, Lubumbashi, DRC. The launch marks a significant milestone in the Association’s efforts to build capacity among Francophone Africa hub managers and staff, entrepreneurship support organisations (ESOs) and other startup support structures.
The AfriLabs Academy is an integral part of the AfriLabs Capacity Building Programme, supported by AFD through its Digital Africa Seed Fund. The platform is designed to provide training and management skills to those supporting African startups and MSMEs in their communities. The content on the platform is co-created and certified by Strathmore University, with the platform developed based on a needs assessment undertaken by AfriLabs in 2019 to identify the needs of ESOs and hubs in Africa.
Speaking at the launch, Anna Ekeledo, Executive Director of AfriLabs, highlighted the importance of the French version of the AfriLabs Academy in supporting French-speaking African Innovation Ecosystems. “The launch of the French version of the AfriLabs Academy marks a significant step in our efforts to ensure that all African innovation communities have access to the resources and tools needed to build the capacity of African startups and MSMEs,” she said.
The AfriLabs Academy was first launched in May 2022, and since then, it has provided training and capacity-building support to over 500 hub managers and staff, ESOs and other startup support structures across Africa. With the launch of the French version of the platform, AfriLabs expects to extend its reach and impact even further, building capacity and supporting startups and MSMEs across French-speaking African countries.
To learn more about the AfriLabs Academy and the AfriLabs Capacity Building Programme, please visit www.academy.afrilabs.com.