The Digital Skill for an Innovative East Africa Industry (dSkills@EA) Regional Launch

The Digital Skill for an Innovative East Africa Industry (dSkills@EA) Regional Launch A group photo of the Digital Skills for an Innovative East African Community Regional Launch.
What does it take to Ignite a Digital Revolution in East Africa? Imagine a future where East Africa stands at the forefront of digital innovation, where young Innovators transform industries and drive economic growth? This vision is becoming a reality through the ambitious initiatives launched by the Digital Skills for an Innovative East African Industry (dSkills@EA) project.
On 14th June , 2024, The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Association of Startups and SMEs Enablers of Kenya (ASSEK) and a consortium of Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) that includes: E4Impact Foundation, Ennovate Ventures, Aclis, Koneta Hub and Cinolu HUbs officially launched the Digital Innovations for Business Resilience in the EAC – Innovators Sprint Up Programme and the Digital Skills Training Programme at Radisson Blu Hotel in Upper Hill.

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.