IKOUĒ Developers Conference 2024 (IDC24)

At IKOUĒ, we are building an ecosystem in service of employment, entrepreneurship and the inclusion of the diaspora in the progress of the Central African Republic. On 23 February 2024, we held our first event, a round table on the theme: How can technology become a lever for valuing human capital and for economic development in the Central African Republic?

This panel marked an important step in our approach of collaboration and dialogue with the various local and international stakeholders.

We came out of this event enriched, with new perspectives to strengthen our impact in the Central African Republic and within its diaspora. The success of the IKOUĒ project rests on our ability to weave solid partnerships and to mobilise a broad range of support, with a view to creating lasting opportunities for all. It was a memorable day that laid solid foundations for our shared future.

Motivations

The IKOUĒ project began with the training of developers. To blow out our first candle, we wanted to organise an event that inspires and motivates the developer community with an important message: you have the potential to transform your country.

Our approach is to always prove ourselves through the quality of the content we offer.

For this event, we wanted to emphasise IKOUĒ’s concrete achievements in just one year and while self-funded. We firmly believe in every individual’s ability to contribute positively to the development of our country. We therefore highlighted the progress made and the challenges ahead, encouraging everyone to take an active part in this collective adventure.

The conference

The 2024 developers conference (IKOUĒ Developers Conference - IDC24), held on 10 July 2024, aimed to present the progress of IKOUĒ’s initiatives in support of employment, entrepreneurship and the inclusion of the diaspora in the Central African Republic.

This event brought together experts, entrepreneurs, developers and members of the diaspora to discuss the challenges and opportunities of technology in the Central African Republic. The exchanges were rich and constructive, offering new perspectives for the future. We were able to share our successes, our challenges and our ambitions for the years to come, while strengthening our network of partners and supporters.

The IKOUĒ initiatives

Our DNA and roadmap come down to these three axes: human capital, digital transformation and digital inclusion.

All the initiatives we set up aim to offer concrete solutions in these areas.

IKOUĒ Academy exists to build e-learning spaces that demystify digital careers. Our goal is to create the conditions for the transfer of skills in professional education, starting with developers and gradually expanding to other digital professions.

IKOUĒ Jobs exists to encourage recruitment in both directions. Our goal is to let recruiters more easily target the diaspora and to let diaspora business owners put Central Africans to work.

IKOUĒ Factory exists to support entrepreneurs. Our goal is to connect entrepreneurs and incubators for advice, support and investment.

IKOUĒ Connect exists to spotlight projects seeking investment. Our goal is to let the diaspora invest, in a climate of credibility, in high-potential projects.

Our commitment to small and medium-sized enterprises

Last June, the IKOUĒ team had the opportunity to run two workshops with entrepreneurs and managers of small and medium-sized enterprises. Out of these workshops came a crying need to help with connecting people and particularly the supply network. We want to help SMEs. IKOUĒ exists to build bridges and foster new opportunities.

It is in this spirit that, by the coming autumn, a directory of professionals will see the light of day to bring concrete answers to the issues that were presented to us. This directory will make it easier to connect the country’s various economic players and will help strengthen SMEs’ capacity to meet the challenges of the market.

The launch of Louma

To enable digital inclusion and activate several levers of economic development, the smartphone is unavoidable. We are one of those “mobile-first” (even mobile-only) countries. It is therefore a must. Any solution to propose must be mobile.

When speaking about the Central African Republic, the following expression often comes up: “Everything remains to be done.” Yes, there is much to do.

For one year, we worked on a solution with the following specifications:

• Think global and act local by setting up at home things that have proven themselves elsewhere.
• Not just do technology for the sake of technology, but offer a solution suited to local needs and stay attentive to the field.
• Adopt a “super-app” type approach to spare Central Africans from downloading several things.
• Connect people and create opportunities.

The result is LOUMA.

LOUMA was thus born on 10 July. It is a startup coming out of our IKOUĒ Factory programme. Although we launched this new startup, it will gradually grow on its own wings with its dedicated team and IKOUĒ as a partner.

There are great ambitions behind this project; this is only the beginning.

For more information, visit getlouma.com to download the application.

Our first developers challenge

It is with great pleasure that we announce the very first edition of the “IKOUĒ DEVELOPERS CHALLENGE”. The developer community plays an essential role in our strategy, and we believe the time has come to encourage more people to push their limits and to explore their ideas and their potential.

Until 15 October, we invite Central African developers to take part by proposing to us a digital concept (web or mobile application) in the following areas: agriculture, health, women’s networks, cultural heritage, financial education and micro-credit.

We will publish more on this on social media in the coming days. This challenge is a unique opportunity for developers to show their talent and to contribute to the development of innovative solutions for our country.

We will publish more on this on social media in the coming days.

The success of the event

The way this event unfolded and its impact are beyond anything we could have imagined and hoped for.

Under the high patronage of the Minister of Finance and Budget, this project was supported personally and strategically by the minister and his ministry, his excellency Hervé NDOBA, underlining its importance for the digitalisation and the building of human capital.

Furthermore, our long-standing partner, the Institut Pasteur de Bangui (IPB), reaffirmed its trust and its commitment alongside IKOUĒ. In addition, partners namely the ONI, BURVAL, ARCEP, CNSS, FAFECA, ACFPE, KADEÏ Vox, HORUS IMPACT, Tiane & Co., and Global Africa made significant contributions to support the vision carried by IKOUĒ.

This success is also possible thanks to the more than 300 people who came out for this event and who allowed us to write beautiful stories together, to initiate synergies.

The whole IKOUĒ team thanks you for taking the time to be part of this day, a historic one for us. For our first anniversary, we could not have hoped for a better gift of encouragement for the long road that still lies ahead of us.

Conclusion

While preparing this event, one of the names we wanted to keep was “Les journées tî IKOUĒ” (our days for everyone).

Given the fervour and the different profiles of people who showed up, “les journées tî IKOUĒ” naturally stands out as the name to keep for future editions.

A big thank you and see you next year! These days were a real success thanks to the commitment and participation of all. We look forward to seeing what the future holds and to continuing to work together for a better future in the Central African Republic.