The Apps4Africa 2012: Business Challenge, an Africa-wide competition to encourage the development of mobile, web, and desktop applications (“apps”) that help address the challenge of youth unemployment in Africa.
The Apps4Africa competition began in late 2009 as an annual program that aimed to support African social entrepreneurs using technology to solve societal problems.
The Apps4Africa 2012 Business Challenge is promoting African solutions to youth unemployment through entrepreneurship and skill matching, while highlighting support for economic growth and opportunity.
In coordination with Appfrica International, the U.S. Department of State, through the Bureau of African Affairs, will bring together civil society, academia, and the private sector to support African technology innovators in creating apps that promote job creation, help businesses connect with potential employees, and tackle other challenges faced by African job-seekers. Through this competition, we seek to promote the use of technology as a means of youth empowerment; support the development of civil society and private-sector networks; and highlight African solutions to local employment challenges.
After the launch at Demo-Africa 2012 in Nairobi, Apps4Africa 2012: Business Challenge will be split into three regional competitions: East Africa, West and Central Africa, and Southern Africa. Seven regional brainstorming sessions — in Uganda, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Ghana, Senegal, and Nigeria — will bring together prospective apps developers, universities, businesses, and members of civil society to help identify needs, form networks, and explore solutions.
The competition is open to any company, startup or innovator living and working in Africa.