Intelligent SME.tech Issue 43 | Page 55

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// REGIONAL ROUND-UP // AFRICA | APAC | EUROPE | MIDDLE EAST | NORTH AMERICA AFRICA

LAUNCH OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TO SUPPORT DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN THE SUSTAINABLE COCOA SECTOR

Orange , in partnership with the European Union and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit ( GIZ ), announced the launch of the DigiGreen & Agri project , an ambitious initiative to promote digital innovation for a transition to a more sustainable and inclusive economy . The overall objective of this project is to contribute to the creation of decent jobs , support the development and financing of start-ups within the ecosystem and promote sustainable investments .

Initiated as part of the Team Europe Initiatives for sustainable cocoa and the low-carbon transition , the DigiGreen & Agri project focuses on the development of entrepreneurship , enhancing youth employability across the entire value chain of cocoa and sustainable agriculture , through digital technology . There will be a particular emphasis on youth in rural youth , women , girls and people with disabilities through the Orange Digital Centre in Côte d ’ Ivoire .
This ambitious partnership benefits from joint funding of € 7.6 million and aims to achieve several strategic objectives :
• Improving professional skills : the project aims to strengthen the professional skills of young people and women in the digital sector by offering them new opportunities in the constantly changing labour market .
• Entrepreneurship promotion : DigiGreen & Agri will support the creation and strengthening of strong digital start-ups and micro , small and medium enterprises ( MSMEs ), thus fostering innovation and economic growth .
• Development of sustainable digital solutions : the partnership will strengthen the capacities of start-ups and MSMEs to develop and market innovative digital solutions , thus contributing to the modernisation and innovation of sustainable agriculture sectors , low-carbon transition and corporate social responsibility .
• Acceleration of the growth of seed start-ups : a seed fund will be dedicated to financing the most promising start-ups . Orange and GIZ will draw on the expertise of the Digital Africa programme to provide funding to start-ups in the ecosystem to enable them to develop their activities and accelerate their growth .
By working closely with local stakeholders , Orange , the European Union and GIZ are committed to supporting young talent , promoting entrepreneurship and catalysing economic development in the most vulnerable communities .
Orange and GIZ are collaborating under the develoPPP programme , which is implemented on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development ( BMZ ). The DigiGreen & Agri project is supported by the special initiative , Decent Employment for a Just Transition , and cofinanced by the European Union .
Francesca Di Mauro , Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Côte d ’ Ivoire , said : “ I am delighted to attend the launch of this DigiGreen & Agri project , which places youth employability at the heart of its objectives , by proposing the development of new digital solutions for sustainable agriculture and the green economy and the creation of quality jobs . This project reflects the European desire to strengthen smart , clean and secure links in the digital sector , one of the pillars of the Global Gateway strategy .” �
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