Reference:
http://www.bbc.com
Application Deadline: 15 April 2016
Are you one of Africa’s youngest entrepreneurs? Do you know someone who may be?
The 2016 Anzisha Prize application window is officially open! The prize is open to any African national under the age of 22 with an active project, social venture or for-profit business based on the continent. The judging criteria for the prize has been refined for 2016 to better represent the entrepreneurial talent that the Anzisha Prize wants to uncover and support.
Hosted by the African Leadership Academy (ALA) in partnership with The MasterCard Foundation, the Anzisha Prize celebrates initiative and innovation. Now in its fifth year, the Prize has grown into one of the most sought after awards for young entrepreneurs on the continent.
‘Anzisha’ means ‘initiate’ in Swahili, and that is what the Prize is about. Africa’s solutions lies within its youth, and the Anzisha Prize is looking for young leaders between the ages of 15 and 22 who are using entrepreneurship to solve problems in their communities and inspire change.
Eligibility Requirements
You must be between 15 and 22 years old with an ID document or Passport to present as evidence. Anyone born before April 16, 1994 or after April 16, 2001 will not be considered.
You must be a national of an African country with a business based in Africa for African customers/ beneficiaries.
Your business must be up and running. The Anzisha Prize is not for great ideas or business plans – you must have already started, and be able to prove it! You have time to get started now and have tangible results to share before applications open.
Your business, invention or social project can be in any field or industry (science and technology, civil society, arts and culture, sports, etc.). Any kind of venture is welcome to apply.
Individuals who apply must be one of the founding members of a business (for example, 2 or 3 co-founders who started a business together). One person can apply for the Prize, on behalf of the team.
Fellowship Worth:
Value of the Fellowship- Additional investment of $8 000/ $10 000 in each fellow
Monetary Reward of a shared amount of $75 000
$2000 access to a world- renowned Entrepreneurial Leadership curriculum and training with the potential for further investment based on engagement and performance
$2 500 worth of rewards from consulting and mentorship services
$2000 worth of rewards from Global speaking events or Experts in Residence support
$1000 worth of rewards from Regional Indabas across the continent
$500 worth of equipment
Each fellow also gains access to the African Leadership Academy network.
Selection Criteria:
Relevance: Has the young entrepreneur identified a clear business opportunity or social need in Africa?
Effectiveness: Does the venture created by the young entrepreneur effectively respond to this relevant need or opportunity?
Jobs Impact: Has the venture created any jobs to date and does it have the potential to create more jobs with support from Anzisha?
Scalability: If the venture is a for-profit business, does it already earn revenues and does it have potential increase revenues with the support of Anzisha? If the venture is a not-for-profit enterprise, does it already reach beneficiaries and does it have the potential to reach many more beneficiaries with support from Anzisha?
Leadership Potential: Does the young entrepreneur have clearly demonstrated leadership potential and an ability to inspire others? Can this potential be accelerated by being part of the African Leadership Academy community?
Timeline:
Semi-finalists will be chosen on a rolling admissions basis, so get your application in early! If you have a very strong application, we could be visiting you very soon!
15 March 2016: Early Bird applications reviewed.
15 April 2016: Application Deadline.
July/ August 2016: Semi-finalist due diligence visits and and final selection.
September 2016: Anzisha Prize Finalists for 2016 announced.
November 2016: Anzisha Prize Week & Awards Ceremony.
Apply Now for the Anzisha Prize 2016
For More Information:
Application Deadline: May 6th, 2016.
African Entrepreneurship Award (AEA) 2016 powered by BMCE Bank of Africa.
Do you have a business idea that will create jobs and improve lives in your region?
Applications are now been accepted for the 2nd edition of the African Entrepreneurship Award. What does that mean for you?
The African Entrepreneurship Award, powered by BMCE Bank of Africa, offers a mentoring journey for business ideas that can impact and improve lives in Africa. The goal of the African Entrepreneurship Award is to inspire African entrepreneurs – living in Africa and abroad – to develop businesses across the African continent, creating jobs that improve lives.
The Award partners with entrepreneurs, business leaders and leading academics from Africa, Asia, Americas, UK and Europe. These partners are mentors who provide coaching to African entrepreneurs at every step of this journey.
Eligibility
You, the entrepreneur, must meet the following criteria as you submit your business proposal:
You must be a citizen of an African country
You must be a minimum of 18 years old as of October 1, 2016
Your business must be applicable in an African country
Your business proposal must include a technological component (digital, machinery, computers, ICT, automated processes, field related technologies, etc.)
Your business must be for profit.
Your business must be relevant to one of these categories:
Education – positively impact education in Africa
Environment – positively impact the environment in Africa
Uncharted – a high-impact business venturing into unexplored territory or untested markets
Additional Information
You can submit a proposal as a resident of any country worldwide – keeping in mind that you must be a citizen of an African country
For example, a resident of the United Arab Emirates with Egyptian citizenship is eligible for this Award
Your business can operate in any African country even if you are not a citizen of that country
For example, you can submit a proposal for a different country in Africa than your personal, African citizenship (e.g. a Ghanaian citizen can submit a proposal for a business in Liberia)
You can submit a proposal for a business already in operation
Your business can operate across borders in multiple African countries
Your business should demonstrate the potential to scale beyond one region in Africa to pan-African impact
You can operate in multiple countries, but you will be asked to designate a primary community in Africa that will benefit or be impacted by your business.
Categories:
Your business proposals will be reviewed in one of our three categories:
Education, Environment, and Uncharted
Education is essential to equip Africans in the 21st century. As 11 million young Africans enter the job market every year, we are looking for business ideas that will impact education with the potential to scale across Africa.
It means you could…
The Environment is critical to ensure Africa works together in all sectors to promote innovations that will protect the livelihood of current and future generations. As 11.3 million hectares of land are ravaged every year by poor agricultural systems, over-grazing, and deforestation, we are looking for business ideas that will impact the environment with the potential to scale across Africa.
Uncharted means unexplored, not yet attempted. What is so difficult to do in your community that no one has tried before? Like explorers and inventors throughout history, what will propel Africa into a stronger position in the 21st century? We are looking for business ideas that boldly go where no one has gone before in Africa.
Benefit from personalized, online mentoring over the next few months by people in your region, across Africa and around the globe
Learn by reading relevant advice proven to help African entrepreneurs,
Join a new network that can lead to new customers and investors, and
Have an opportunity to share in the $1M Award.
Apply Now for the BMCE Bank of Africa -African Entrepreneurship Award 2016
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the BMCE Bank of Africa -African Entrepreneurship Award 2016
Credit :
www.opportunitiesforafricans.com
A solar-powered bus described by its Ugandan makers as the first in Africa has been driven in public. Kiira Motors' Kayoola prototype electric bus was shown off at a stadium in Uganda's capital, Kampala. One of its two batteries can be charged by solar panels on the roof which increases the vehicle's 80km (50 mile) range.
The makers now hope to attract partners to help manufacture the bus for the mass market.
Can Africa lead the way on renewable energy? Africa's new breed of 'solar-preneurs preneurs' Kiira Motors' chief executive Paul Isaac Musasizi told BBC News that he had been "humbled" by the large and positive reaction to the test drive.
People have been excited by the idea that Uganda is able to produce the concept vehicle, or prototype, and Mr Musasizi said he wanted it to help the country "champion the automotive, engineering and manufacturing industries" in the region.
He also hopes that it will generate employment, predicting that by 2018, more than 7,000 people could be directly and indirectly employed in the making of the Kayoola. But backing from international companies, which make vehicle parts, is essential for the project to take off. The vision is that by 2039 the company will be able to manufacture all the parts and assemble the vehicle in
Uganda.
The 35-seat bus is intended for urban areas rather than inter-city use because of the restrictions on how far it can travel. If it is mass produced, each bus would cost up to $58,000 (£40,000), which Mr Musasizi says is a a competitive price. Kiira Motors grew out of a project at Uganda's Makerere University, which is now a shareholder in the company, and it has also benefitted from government funding.
Reference
[1] Uganda's Kiira Motors unveils 'Africa's first solar bus, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa
[2] Photo credit Kiira Motors
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