"Culture and creativity: a digital future" is the theme of the sixth edition of the AFD Digital Challenge, a competition dedicated to digital start-ups and associations operating in the cultural and creative industries in Africa.

Digital for a sustainable future

AFD Group is continuing to strengthen its support for African start-ups and digital actors for the sixth consecutive year. Since 2016, the AFD Digital Challenge has had the annual objective of identifying these projects, promoting them and accelerating 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.

Thanks to digital technology, the cultural and creative sector has a huge accelerator to support recovery and foster the creation of economic opportunities for African youth. In this context, creative entrepreneurship should be valued in the economic development strategies of African countries, with the potential to transform creativity and human capital into sustainable growth and development.

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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.

Tailor-made support

The 10 winning projects will receive financial support, but also support to accelerate their project and participate in the development of culture and creativity through technological and digital innovation in Africa. They will be supported by AFD through an "acceleration package" combining technical support and financial support of up to €45 000.

Selection phases

● An application review phase, validating the eligibility of applicants and pre-selecting 30 start-ups and associations on the basis of an analysis of the projects, their innovative nature, their economic model, their impact and the role of digital technology;

● An in-depth analysis phase by AFD experts of the pre-qualified projects;

● A final selection by the jury composed of AFD experts.

● Announcement of the results on Friday 19 May 2023.

Applications are expected until 24 February 2023, and should be submitted on this page.

Source : www.socialnetlink.org