AFD Group continues to strengthen its support for African start-ups and digital players for the sixth consecutive year. Since 2016, the annual objective of the AFD Digital Challenge has been to identify these projects, promote them and accelerate their development. This latest edition of the AFD Digital Challenge is dedicated to digital technology for cultural and creative industries. The Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) are not only a place for entertainment, they are also a major lever for economic and social development. The role of these industries goes beyond their mere potential for wealth creation, as they actively participate in strengthening social cohesion, inclusion, the valorisation of African cultures and the emancipation of citizens.
Does your digital project
support the development of
culture and creativity in Africa?
45 projects
supported and funded
45 countries targeted
300 applications
The mandate assigned to the Agence française de développement (AFD) in 2018 on CCIs reflects the ongoing efforts launched by the CICID in 2016 that acknowledges the transversal role of culture in meeting the SDGs goals. The Cultural and Creative Industries include the sectors of activity whose main purpose is the creation, development, production, reproduction, distribution or marketing of goods, services and activities with a cultural, artistic and/or heritage content. The cultural and creative sector has a huge accelerator potential to support recovery and foster economic opportunities for Africa's youth, thanks to digital technology. In this context, creative entrepreneurship must be valued in the economic development strategies driven by African countries, with the potential to transform creativity and human capital into sustainable growth and development.
All projects submitted must respect both the six targeted sectors and the three transversal issues mentioned below:
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The six principal sectors of activity of the Cultural and Creative Industries
1 Cultural and natural heritage: museums, historical places, archaeological sites, cultural landscapes, natural heritage
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2 Performing arts and festivities: performing arts, live music, dance, festivals, fairs and celebrations
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3 Visual arts and crafts: fine arts, photography, crafts
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4 Books and press: books, newspapers, magazines, libraries, book fairs
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5 Audiovisual and interactive media: film, TV and radio, streaming, podcasts, video games
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6 Design and creative services: architecture, fashion design, graphic design, interior design, advertising.
Digital and/or technological solutions addressing one of the following three issues:
Promoting inclusive access to cultural and creative content via digital media
The valorisation of African cultural heritages and heritages through digital technology
The transformation and professionalisation of the modes of production and consumption of cultural and creative goods and services via digital technology
Your digital project involves one of the six main sectors of activity of the Cultural and Creative Industries (mentioned above)
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Your project offers a digital solution to one of the following three challenges
- Transformation of the modes of production and consumption of cultural and creative goods and services
- Enhancing the value of African cultural heritage and legacies
- Promotion of inclusive access to cultural and creative content
Your project is currently in the seed phase (prototyping or beginning of commercialization with an indicative annual turnover of 0 to 18 000€), or in the acceleration phase (economic model and user market established with an indicative annual turnover of 18 000
to 250 000€/year
Your project has a legal structure based in one or more African countries
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Your project has a sustainable and autonomous economic model
Digital technology is at the heart of your solution
You are a start-up, an association
and meet our eligibility criteria?
The 5th edition of the AFD Digital Challenge targeted digital projects that promote climate and biodiversity in sustainable cities, according to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 13, 14 and 15.
Johannes Goudjanou - Premium Hortus
Bénin
Premium Hortus, a platform specializing in e-commerce of organic products, agro-ecological production and support for producers. Developed in the form of web-based, mobile, blockchain, big data and cleantech applications, Premium Hortus allows more than 100,000 users to subscribe, and sign-up for healthy food to be delivered to their homes.
Agence Française de Développement (AFD) implements France’s policy on international development and solidarity. Through its financing of NGOs and the public sector, as well as its research and publications, AFD supports and accelerates transitions towards a fairer, more resilient world. It also provides training in sustainable development (at the AFD Campus) and other awareness-raising activities in France. With our partners, we are building shared solutions with and for the people of the Global South. Our teams are at work on more than 4,000 projects in the field, in the French Overseas Departments and Territories, in 115 countries and in regions in crisis. We strive to protect global public goods – promoting a stable climate, biodiversity and peace, as well as gender equality, education and healthcare. In this way, we contribute to the commitment of France and the French people to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Towards a world in common.
