(Nairobi) – Kenya is set to launch two landmark initiatives—the Africa Centre for Competence in Digital and AI Skills and the timbuktoo GreenTech Hub—to foster innovation, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship across Africa.
The Kenyan government, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and timbuktoo Africa Innovation Foundation, has announced the establishment of two regional hubs. The Africa Centre for Competence in Digital and AI Skills will be based at the Kenya School of Government, while the GreenTech Hub will be hosted at Konza Technopolis. Both are slated to launch on Friday, December 6, 2024.
The Africa Centre aims to train 100,000 public servants from across the continent over the next three years, equipping them with essential digital and artificial intelligence (AI) skills. According to Ms. Anna Nylander of UNDP, the training will follow a cohort-based curriculum tailored to enhance digital proficiency, improve public service delivery, and promote regional collaboration.
Initially, participants will come from Kenya, Uganda, Cape Verde, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Nigeria, with plans to expand to other African nations next year. Nylander noted that the initiative seeks to revolutionize how public services are delivered, reducing inefficiencies and boosting governance through innovative digital tools.
Key Features of the Africa Centre for Competence
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Training Target | 100,000 public servants in three years |
| Focus Areas | Digital skills, AI applications, public service innovation |
| Initial Participating Nations | Kenya, Uganda, Cape Verde, Rwanda, Tanzania, Nigeria |
| Long-Term Goals | Increased productivity, citizen satisfaction, regional collaboration |
The timbuktoo GreenTech Hub will focus on fostering startups and promoting green industrialization. UNDP consultant Mercy Kimalat revealed ambitious plans to mobilize $1 billion to support 10,000 startups and scale 1,000 of them over the next decade. This initiative aims to create $10 billion in value and improve over 100 million livelihoods across Africa.
The GreenTech Hub will support renewable energy, green technologies, and climate innovations, with a focus on engaging youth, marginalized groups, and people with disabilities. Kenya was chosen for this hub due to its strong ICT infrastructure, commitment to renewable energy, and innovative ecosystem.
Timbuktoo Innovation Hubs by Sector and Location
| Hub Focus | Location |
|---|---|
| HealthTech | Kigali |
| Agritech | Accra |
| CreativeTech | Cape Town |
| MineTech | Lusaka |
| GreenTech | Nairobi |
| FinTech | Lagos |
| Manufacturing Tech | Addis Ababa |
| TradeTech | Cairo |
| EdTech | Dakar |
| SmartTech | Casablanca |
Kimalat emphasized the hub’s integration with universities to transform ideas into innovations, fostering a collaborative ecosystem instead of fragmented efforts. Aspiring participants were directed to apply via the UNDP’s official website.