Fresh Partnership on Innovation Targets Health, Educatun

AFRICAN technology hubs network AfriLabs has partnered the pan-African ICT 4 Social Innovation Network, founded by SPIDER and iHub, to unite key sectors for digitally advancing development in health, education and rights across the continent.
The partnership between AfriLabs, which has more than 50 members across 20 African countries, and the ICT 4 Social Innovation Network, which has a membership of over 35 organisations and companies working towards sustainable development goals through ICTs, aims to promote African tech solutions to bridge divides in several areas.
These include access to quality education, health and rights, and to bring social innovation to scale for greater good under the Social Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
“Social Innovation is borne out of creatively approaching the hindrances which stall development, whether in making sure that children access quality education irrespective of where they live, online security for rights advocates, or professional development for health workers,” said Anne Salim, network manager for ICT 4 Social Innovation.
“The ICT 4 Social Innovation Network already shares some of its members with AfriLabs, we are delighted to extend this partnership and confident that our alignment will bring new innovative solutions to the table.”
AfriLabs head of secretariat Anna Ekeledo said African tech hubs were at the forefront of technical solutions tailored for the African continent.
“By joining forces with the ICT4SI Network, we make sure that synergies of knowledge, opportunities and resources are strategically joined for greater impact and sustainability,” she said.
The ICT4SI Network will host its third Annual Conference in Abuja, Nigeria, the city home to the AfriLabs headquarters, on October 26
By Maureen Akello, East Africa