Pan-African innovation hubs network AfriLabs has launched the AfriLabs Capacity Building Programme (ACBP), aimed at providing hub managers and staff with the skills they need to increase their impact.
Founded in 2011, AfriLabs is a network of 174 technology innovation hubs across 45 African countries, with a mission to support the growth of these hubs and their communities to raise high potential entrepreneurs that will stimulate economic growth and social development in Africa.
The organisation has been expanding its operations of late, notably launching a matching fund in partnership with the African Business Angel Network (ABAN), and is now set to roll out the ACBP, a EUR2 million (US$2.23 million), 36-month intensive capacity-building programme for hubs, funded by the Agence française de développement (AFD).
With hub founders on the continent and their staff lacking access to Africa-tailored content, models and best practices for hub management and startup support, considering the unique and challenging African business environment, AfriLabs is addressing this through the new initiative.
It will include 30 physical workshops in 15 convening African cities, in partnership with Afric’Innov and ABAN, as well as 12 quarterly Hubs Learning Weeks, a series of peer to peer virtual capacity building webinars. It will also feature a full Hub Management Certification Course in partnership with a major African University, toolkits on business development and investment management, and SDG meetup grants, among other things.
The goal is to train 600 hub managers across Africa online and via practical physical workshops.
“Never before has a Capacity Building project of this scale, depth and level of engagement been executed in the African innovation hub space! We are fully committed to working together as a Community to ensure maximum success and impact for hubs and startups within and outside the AfriLabs Community,”said Anna Ekeledo, executive director at AfriLabs.
