NextBillion - A WDI Publication

Africa’s Innovation Generation: Dynamos and Mobile Wiz Kids

Leapfrogging PCs, Africa’s burgeoning generation of mobile tech-savvy entrepreneurs is bursting with ideas and practical inventions, from African apps for smart phones to software solutions that address uniquely local challenges. In this installment of Mobile Message, Kenya-based Erik Hersman, a co-founder of Ushahidi , a free and open source platform for crowdsourcing information and visualizing data, writes about ...

Source

National Geographic (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Afrilabs Links Entrepreneurs, Startups, Tech Communities in Africa

Erik Hersman, director of operations at the non-profit Ushahidi, today announced the launch of a network of startup incubators and tech communities throughout Africa. Dubbing the new ven...

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Nestle to Invest $1 Bln in Africa Over Next 2 Years

LAGOS (Reuters) - Nestle, the world’s biggest food group, said on Thursday it would invest 1 billion Swiss francs expanding capacity in Africa over the next two years. Chief Executive Paul Bulcke made the comments at the opening of a 12 billion naira factory to produce Maggi seasoning cubes in the southwestern state of Ogun in Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa’s second-biggest economy. "This latest investment is proof of our commitment to Africa in which we will invest 1 billion...

Source

Reuters Africa (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Hopes and Fears on EU?s Africa Aid

By Elena L. Pasquini Mohamed Ibn Chambas has mixed feelings about the emerging collaboration of China and Europe to help Africa meet the Millennium Development Goals. While he welcomes such a partn...

Source

Devex News (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Nigeria: New Bakassi Chairman Talks Tough

Calabar - THE newly sworn-in Chairman of the New Bakassi Local Government Area, Dr. Ekpo Bassey has pledged his administration’s commitment to fighting poverty to a stand-still by building capacity of the youths and providing micro-credit to them to boost their businesses. Bassey who announced his plans in Calabar Monday after being sworn-in as chairman of the New Bakassi Local Government Area by the Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke his administration would collaborat...

Source

allAfrica.com (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Shoe Company Hopes to Kick-start Manufacturing in Africa

Made in Africa is not something you hear about very often. But Tal Dehtiar is trying to change that with his business, Oliberte, which he says is the first international company to market casual shoes made entirely in Africa. A Native-born Canadian, Dehtiar is one of a growing number of social entrepreneurs who want to do good while doing well. He launched his company two years ago, with an aim to make -- and sell -- shoes for the fashionista with a conscience. "For that man...

Source

CNN (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Farm-Africa to Launch 150 Branded Veterinary Stores Across Kenya

More than 300,000 farmers in Kenya will have access to better animal healthcare with the nationwide launch ofa chain of veterinary stores offering standardised medical products for livestock. Farm-Africa has received funding to establish a network of 150 stores throughout the country over the next four years. The franchise is believed to be the first ...

Source

Guardian.co.uk (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Online Matchmaker Fights Poverty by Funding Businesses

A Danish entrepreneur is trying to end poverty in Africa through microcredit -- funding African businesses by connecting them with investors from around the world. Tim Vang is the co-founder of MYC4, a web-based marketplace that lets investors bid to provide loans to small and medium-sized African businesses. Bidders compete in an online auction, with those offering money at the lowest interest rates financing the loan. Typically, around 50 investors will part fund a single loan. ...

Source

CNN (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa