The DOEN Foundation, Hivos Foundation and The Indigo Trust, announce the launching of a new joint fund that will support technology hubs around Africa with an aim to empower more sustainable entrepreneurship on the continent.

Technologies have huge potentials to contribute to significant social changes within societies in Africa. These technology solutions are often developed and marketed through local entrepreneurs. The fund aims to increase the number of these entrepreneurs and the  quality and quantity of applications being developed in African countries.
This will be established by financially supporting Tech Hubs in Africa that enable aspiring entrepreneurs with a social mission to develop their business plan, identify potential investors and turn ideas in to reality.

A Tech Hub is an innovation space such as: Hubs, labs, libraries, hacker spaces, maker spaces, tele centres, coworking spaces. All provide opportunities to:
(1) engage with people, ideas, and technologies,
(2) experience participatory culture, and
(3) acquire  the literacies and skills needed to prosper in the 21st century
(4) support entrepreneurs in the creation of new applications and solutions which solve societal challenges

The  fund will disburse €373,000 on the continent in its first year, May 2014 to March 2015.  Support will be given to Hubs operating in Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria South Africa Tanzania Uganda Zambia and Zimbabwe.

About the members:

The DOEN Foundation supports entrepreneurial organisations that are strongly focused on creating, developing and implementing innovative initiatives in clear relation to their environment.

Hivos is an international development organisation guided by humanist values. Together with local civil society organisations in developing countries, Hivos works to contribute to a free, fair and sustainable world.

The Indigo Trust is a UK based grant making foundation that funds technology-driven projects to bring about social change, largely in African countries. The Trust focuses mainly on innovation, transparency and citizen empowerment but also supports projects across other social sectors including health, education and agriculture.

Guest blog by Hivos, DOEN Foundation & Indigo Trust.