The IDEA D4D Hub Project hosts the first innovation days in Mozambique as part of a series of events in Burkina Faso, Uganda, and Morocco. The innovation days are intended to bring together stakeholders from the private and public sectors, as well as institutional organizations, civil society organizations, and academia, in order to collectively develop solutions to the challenges of the digital transformation process in each of the four countries.
Over 50 participants from Mozambique’s digital ecosystem gathered in Maputo to discuss challenges, share best practices, and co-create solutions to advance the country’s digital transformation.
The IDEA Project seeks to facilitate cross-continental digital ecosystem collaboration. Furthermore, it aims to strengthen African civil society organizations and academia to participate in inclusive digital transformation through innovation days, capacity building, and synergy creation.
Mr. Constantino Sotomane, National Director of Information Systems, Studies, and Projects at the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Higher Education spoke on behalf of the Mozambican government, saying, “The Government of Mozambique has always considered information and communication technologies as catalysts for socio-economic development for every individual in the country.”
During the opening ceremony, Mrs. Paula Vasquez-Horyaans, Head of Cooperation at the European delegation, stated, “This type of initiative represents the type of collaboration that the European Union would like to establish with the youth globally, but also in Mozambique.”
Mrs. Lucrezia Biteete, the IDEA project coordinator, stated at the launch of the innovation days, “The innovation days are a tool to create impact and collaboration locally and accelerate the dialogue about digital transformation in Mozambique.” We are thrilled, to begin with, Mozambique and look forward to expanding to other countries.”
The IDEA project objectives are centered on assisting and strengthening the role of ICT/digitalization stakeholders (civil society and academia) in engaging and actively contributing to multistakeholder dialogues for human-centered digital transformation. Another goal is to encourage the development of collaborative digital innovations in response to societal challenges impeding the development of an inclusive digital society.
