The Regional launch event was a testament to the collaborative effort and shared vision of the participating organizations. Keynote speeches, panel discussions, and networking sessions created a dynamic atmosphere that highlighted the importance of digital skills and innovation for East Africa’s future. To ensure inclusivity, we leveraged live streaming and Zoom links, allowing virtual attendees, such as Denaya Dennis from Koneta Hub in South Sudan, to actively participate. This approach created an inclusive and immersive experience for all participants.

“Digital skills is crucial for the East African Community, and the power of collaboration is undeniable when the East African Community works together with academia, entrepreneurship support organizations, hubs, and government entities within the innovation ecosystem.”— a representative from GIZ

The Digital Skills for an Innovative East African Industry (dSkills@EA) project is more than just a series of programmes; it is a movement towards a brighter, more innovative future. As we continue to nurture talent and empower minds, we look forward to seeing the remarkable transformations that will shape the East African digital landscape.

“The Regional Launch has highlighted the potential of the digital innovation initiative to create more jobs Opportunities in East Africa by 2025, when we collaborate by involving academia, industry, government, and ESOs we will successfully tackle youth unemployment through capacity building, mentorship, and regional cooperation.”- Mercy Kimalat-ASSEK CEO

ASSEK extend a heartfelt gratitude to the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the 7 East African Communities, E4Impact Foundation, Ennovate Ventures, Aclis, and Koneta Hub. Your commitment to fostering digital innovation and skills development is truly commendable and vital for the future of East Africa.

Our Next Steps

We will be commencing our 8 Week Capacity Building Training on the 25th of June 2024, for the selected Young Innovators. This significant milestone represents a major step towards empowering young innovators and enhancing the entrepreneurial capacity of East African university students. The programme aims to strengthen the capabilities of innovators and equip university incubation centers with essential knowledge for innovation management and commercialization, fostering a robust ecosystem for bringing innovations to market.

To fully equip our young innovators, the following modules will be offered: Design Thinking, Business Modelling, Marketing, Sales and Negotiation, Financial Accounting, Commercialization, and Intellectual Property Protection. Furthermore, we will host demo days, pitch simulations, and a graduation ceremony before proceeding to the Cross-Border Tour. “This is a significant achievement for GIZ and the entire East African community. Let us join hands collaboratively to ensure that we have digitally empowered young innovators who will lead us into a dynamic digital revolution.” -GIZ Representative.

To further expand the young innovators’ network and market linkages, cross-border tours in different EAC countries are planned. These tours will connect innovators to the broader innovation ecosystem, unlocking the full potential of digital innovations to drive economic growth and resilience.
The creation of this platform for peer-to-peer networking and community building serves as a hub for young innovators across the EAC. It provides a space for sharing best practices, overcoming challenges, and learning from one another’s experiences. Innovators from diverse sectors and backgrounds come together not just to learn but to inspire and uplift each other, forging stronger networks and fostering a sense of belonging.
According to the World Bank, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) contribute up to 60% of total employment and up to 40% of national income (GDP) in emerging economies, including East Africa. Through capacity-building programs, young innovators are expected to gain employment opportunities, strengthen the innovation ecosystem by 20%, and promote economic growth by increasing productivity and fostering competitiveness.
We extend our collective appreciation to our partners, the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), for their efforts in reducing the digital divide across the seven East African countries.

By implementing this transformative Capacity building programme across the seven East African Community Partner States, we aim to create a generation of visionary entrepreneurs who can drive substantial economic growth and development in the region. This initiative will significantly contribute to the development of a vibrant and strong ecosystem for innovation, where knowledge, skills, and resources are readily available. Equipping university incubation centers with essential knowledge for innovation management and commercialization ensures that these centers can effectively support and nurture young innovators, providing them with the resources and guidance needed to bring their pioneering innovations to market.