By Kadijatu Bangura, Daily Scope Reporter
Orange has commemorated 15 years of fostering impact entrepreneurship by announcing the winners of the Orange Social Ventures Prize (OSVP) at a prestigious ceremony during the Mobile World Congress in Kigali, Rwanda.
This year’s OSVP, now in its 15th edition, recognized five startups chosen from a competitive field of 70 finalists across 17 countries, highlighting their creativity and significant social contributions. Each winner will receive support from the Orange Digital Center to help accelerate project development and facilitate market expansion.
The OSVP International Grand Prize rewards initiatives that demonstrate measurable social or environmental impacts, strong potential for scalability, and innovative use of technology. The winners include:
- 1st Prize (€25,000): Sand to Green (Morocco) – An agritech platform focused on developing profitable and regenerative agroforestry systems to promote sustainability.
- 2nd Prize (€15,000): E-Blood Bank Makila (Democratic Republic of the Congo) – A digital platform that connects hospitals, blood banks, and donors, providing secure payments and rapid blood deliveries via drone or motorcycle.
- 3rd Prize (€10,000): N’Zassa Fund (Ivory Coast) – A gamified mobile application that transforms micro-donations into engaging experiences, supporting local NGOs through mobile money.
In addition, two special awards were presented:
- International Women’s Prize (€20,000): Proverdy (Tunisia) – An AI platform designed to help companies measure, manage, and reduce their carbon footprints, offering compliant reporting and certified offset projects.
- Prize Coup de Coeur (€10,000): Maarifa (Botswana) – An AI-driven online learning platform that provides personalized and accessible educational resources to enhance academic success.
Since its inception in 2011, the OSVP has exemplified Orange’s dedication to encouraging technological innovation for sustainable development and social inclusion. Yasser Shaker, CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa, remarked on the prize’s evolution, stating, “In 15 years, POESAM has become far more than an award… it stands today as Africa’s leading platform for innovation, empowering entrepreneurs to turn challenges into opportunities.”
The enthusiasm surrounding the prize continues to grow, with nearly 17,600 applications received since its launch and an impressive 82% increase in participation this year compared to the last. This edition underscored the rising trend of impact entrepreneurship and the vital role of women in driving technological advancements across Africa and the Middle East.
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