The jury members of the "RFI Challenge App Afrique" have selected the three finalists for the fourth edition from more than 400 entries received.
This year's competition aims to promote the integration of new technologies in the field of urban development and smart cities in French-speaking Africa. Open to all young African entrepreneurs, this edition rewards digital innovations (websites, applications, SMS services, etc.) that improve urban services and citizens' quality of life.
The three finalists, who have been invited to present their projects on December 9 in Dakar, Senegal, to a jury of professionals chaired by Emmanuelle Bastide, host of the TV show "7 milliards de voisins" (7 Billion Neighbors), are:
> Nadia Hillary Dassi for "Green Electricity" (Cameroon), a mobile application that enables people to produce green energy from their household waste.
> Ndeye Sira Thiam for "e-Bus" (Senegal), a mobile app that allows bus users to pay for their tickets using their phones.
> Kevin Sesse for "Mon Artisan" (Ivory Coast), a connected platform that allows users to request the services of local tradespeople (plumbers, electricians, carpenters, etc.).
The winner, who will receive funding to develop their project, will be announced on December 10 during the recording of the program "7 milliards de voisins" (7 Billion Neighbors), hosted by Emmanuelle Bastide, which will be filmed in front of a live audience at the French Institute in Dakar.
Through this competition, RFI aims to encourage and support innovation by stimulating and supporting young African entrepreneurs. ENGIE AFRICA, Société Générale, Africa Global Recycling, Schneider Electric, and African incubators for innovative companies are partners in the initiative. The first three editions focused on the areas of health (2016), girls' education (2017), and sustainable development (2018).