Key Takeaways:
- Strategic Partnership: Orange, in collaboration with the European Union and GIZ, introduces the “DigiGreen & Agri” project, aimed at promoting digital innovation for sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
- Focus on Cocoa and Agriculture: The initiative will enhance entrepreneurship and employability in the cocoa value chain and sustainable agriculture sectors through digital technologies.
- Empowerment Through Education: The project emphasizes skill development for youth, especially women, girls, and people with disabilities, through the Orange Digital Center in Côte d’Ivoire.
- Financial and Technical Support: With a joint funding of €7.6 million, the project includes a seed fund to support promising startups and MSMEs in the ecosystem.
Orange, in partnership with the European Union and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), has announced the launch of the “DigiGreen & Agri” project. This initiative is designed to foster digital innovation that aids the transition to a more sustainable and inclusive economy, particularly within the cocoa and broader agricultural sectors in Côte d’Ivoire.
Project Overview
Objectives and Funding
The “DigiGreen & Agri” project aims to:
- Create Decent Jobs: The project seeks to generate employment opportunities within the digital and agricultural sectors by fostering skill development and entrepreneurship.
- Support Startups and MSMEs: The project will strengthen small to medium enterprises and startups through development programs and financial aid, enhancing their innovation capacity and market presence.
- Promote Sustainable Investments: The initiative will encourage investments that support sustainable practices and technologies, contributing to the low-carbon transition in agriculture.
With a substantial backing of €7.6 million in joint funding, this project is set to make significant strides in achieving its goals.
Strategic Focus
- Skill Improvement: Training programs aimed at young people and women will enhance professional skills in the digital domain, making them competitive in the evolving job market.
- Entrepreneurship Enhancement: The project will aid in the creation and growth of digital startups and MSMEs, driving economic growth and innovation.
- Sustainable Digital Solutions Development: Startups will receive support to develop and deploy digital solutions that modernize and innovate sustainable agricultural practices.
Impact and Implementation
Economic and Social Development
Francesca Di Mauro, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, expressed enthusiasm about the project’s launch: “This project places youth employability at the heart of its objectives, proposing the development of new digital solutions for sustainable agriculture and the green economy and the creation of quality jobs. It is also the result of an excellent collaboration between the private and public sectors in Team Europe format.”
Innovation and Support for Startups
Axel Klaphake, Director of Division GIZ, highlighted the cooperative format’s novelty and scope: “This unprecedented cooperation format…will reach a very broad target group and create synergies with other cooperation programs currently in place in Côte d’Ivoire. Technical and financial support for startups will help create jobs and build the capacity of young entrepreneurs to come up with innovative ideas to strengthen the agricultural sector, especially the sustainable cocoa sector.”
Jérôme Hénique, CEO of Orange Middle East & Africa, and Mamadou Bamba, Managing Director of Orange Côte d’Ivoire, both reaffirmed Orange’s commitment to sustainable development and digital transformation in the region. They emphasized the pivotal role of the Orange Digital Centers in this transformation, offering free, open innovation ecosystems focused on empowering youth and vulnerable populations.
