COOPERATION: ANIMA and Business France launch the “REA-BRIDGE Africa” project to connect French and African ecosystems

This project aims at participating in the strengthening and development of the African ecosystem. The goals are also to bring closer the French and African entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems, and to perpetuate the links between countries.

As part of the Fonds de Solidarité pour les projets innovants, les sociétés civiles, la francophonie et le développement humain (FSPI) from the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, ANIMA and Business France are launching the project “REA-BRIDGE Africa: a platform for African Entrepreneur Networks“. As stated in the main objectives of the French presidency regarding the African continent, this project aims at participating in the strengthening and development of the African ecosystem. The goals are also to bring closer the French and African entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems, and to perpetuate the links between countries.

To officially launch this project, ANIMA organized a conference on Monday, July 5th, 2021, gathering the 15 embassies concerned by the initiative, officials from the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, members of the Presidential Council for Africa, our partners in the targeted countries, Business France and ANIMA.

This event was the opportunity to present our action plan, discussed during individual interviews conducted by ANIMA with African Entrepreneurs Networks (REAs) from 15 countries (South Africa, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Gambia, Ghana, Madagascar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, Central African Republic and South Sudan) but also to announce the upcoming launch of our REA-BRIDGE Africa platform and to complete the needs’ identification, especially for training and mentoring.

During this event, the REAs were able to confirm their will to be connected to each other for the exchange of good practices and to set up a more in-depth work with the diaspora. They also expressed their need for implementing a sustainable action, especially through the work with other actors: AFD and different initiatives, Choose Africa, Pass Africa, Meet Africa, API, Flat6Labs, etc.

Finally, the next steps were presented, including:

– August 2021: unveiling of the REA-BRIDGE Africa visual identity

– as of September 2021: launch of the REA-BRIDGE Africa website

– September 2021: start of the first events and consultations