The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and telecom operator Africell announced a new partnership last week aimed at improving internet access at University Innovation Pods (UniPods), centres that support young entrepreneurs in Sierra Leone and The Gambia, according to Ecofin Agency.
The collaboration forms part of Timbuktoo, a UNDP-led initiative designed to strengthen innovation and attract investment into African startups.
Under the agreement, Africell will supply the UniPods with high-speed internet services, 4G MiFi devices and Internet of Things (IoT) tools.
This support is intended to give young innovators reliable digital access to build, test and scale their ideas into commercially viable products, while complementing the training and acceleration programmes already running at the hubs.
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“This collaboration plays to everyone’s strengths by combining Africell’s connectivity expertise with UNDP’s innovation network. By equipping the UniPods in Sierra Leone and The Gambia with Africell’s signature internet services, we are investing in young Africans and helping to turn raw talent into successful enterprise,” said Ziad Dalloul, CEO of Africell Group.
The partnership seeks to remove technical challenges that often limit early-stage entrepreneurs, making it easier for them to move from ideas to market-ready solutions.
Additional programmes linked to the initiative include training in robotics, entrepreneurship and digital skills, supporting its long-term social impact.
Timbuktoo aims to mobilise $1 billion to improve 100 million livelihoods and create 10 million decent jobs, with a focus on helping African startups grow sustainably and develop new technologies.
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