Call for projects: Digital Lab Africa

Interested applicants should start sending their applications on 15 November.

The call is open to producers, start-ups and students from sub-Saharan Africa. Foreign nationals who wish to apply have to ensure that their project is mostly implemented locally.

DLA is looking for projects at the initial stage of development, in need of partners and financial support as well as innovative in terms of narration, content or technologies.

Selected projects will receive a R42 000 ($3 000) and a DLA incubation pass to accelerate their projects. In addition, the innovators will be mentored by French and African experts to ensure they benefit from the expertise of several ecosystems.

“The French Embassy and the French Institute in South Africa are pleased to launch the third call for applications of DLA alongside two new high-quality partners: the Digital Content Hub of Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct and the Agence Française de Développement,” the ambassador of France to South Africa, Christophe Farnaud, said. “The ecosystem of Tshimologong offers a very promising and dynamic environment for this third edition.”

DLA is also partnering with DISCOP for the upcoming incubation programme.

“DISCOP is committed to empowering young creators and enriching Africa’s multiscreen ecosystems," DISCOP CEO Patrick Zuchowicki said. "Our partnership with the DLA is a great way for DISCOP to address the numerous gaps across the development of a sound multimedia sector in Africa.”

Last year, DLA received more than 700 entries from some 30 sub-Saharan countries. Since the beginning of the initiative, 15 projects from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia have been awarded and incubated.

DLA is French-backed incubation platform set up by the French embassy and French Institute in South Africa in 2016. The project is managed by Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct with the support of the French Development Agency.

For more information visit the Digital Lab Africa official website.