U.S. – Africa Tech Challenge

The U.S. State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC) invites you to the U.S.-Africa Tech Challenge which will take place virtually in two parts on April 28-29 and May 11-12, 2021. The U.S.-Africa Tech Challenge provides an opportunity to build and support the capacity of partner nations and civil society organizations to push back on disinformation and propaganda through the identification of innovative technologies in the counter-propaganda and disinformation space in Africa.

You are first invited to Part 1 of the U.S.-Africa Tech Challenge on April 28-29 which will feature the technology demonstrations. Eight organizations from across Africa, selected through a public call-for-submissions process, will present their solutions against disinformation and propaganda to a panel of judges and a closed audience. Up to three winners will be selected to receive funding totaling $250,000 USD. We hope you will join us as part of the closed audience for this two day event which will take place from 8:00-11:00 EST / 12:00-15:00 GMT each day.

We then invite you to Part 2 of the U.S.-Africa Tech Challenge on May 11-12 which will be held as part of East Africa Com, one of the premier events for digital communications. This forum will provide an opportunity for virtual networking and partnership-building, including through a number of panels, workshops, and roundtable discussions. The winner(s) of the Tech Challenge will be announced in a special showcase of the U.S.-Africa Tech Challenge on May 11, which will then be followed by a panel discussion on counter-disinformation challenges and opportunities across Africa.

The event is being led by the GEC’s Technology Engagement Team (TET), in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the European Union, Twitter, Ushahidi, Park Advisors and Disinfo Cloud, and Informa.

Please register using the link below and by no later than April 21, 2021.The U.S. State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC) invites you to the U.S.-Africa Tech Challenge which will take place virtually in two parts on April 28-29 and May 11-12, 2021. The U.S.-Africa Tech Challenge provides an opportunity to build and support the capacity of partner nations and civil society organizations to push back on disinformation and propaganda through the identification of innovative technologies in the counter propaganda and disinformation space in Africa.

You are first invited to Part 1 of the U.S.-Africa Tech Challenge on April 28-29 which will feature the technology demonstrations. Eight organizations from across Africa, selected through a public call-for-submissions process, will present their solutions against disinformation and propaganda to a panel of judges and a closed audience. Up to three winners will be selected to receive funding totaling $250,000 USD. We hope you will join us as part of the closed audience for this two day event which will take place from 8:00-11:00 EST / 12:00-15:00 GMT each day.

We then invite you to Part 2 of the U.S.-Africa Tech Challenge on May 11-12 which will be held as part of East Africa Com, one of the premier events for digital communications. This forum will provide an opportunity for virtual networking and partnership-building, including through a number of panels, workshops, and roundtable discussions. The winner(s) of the Tech Challenge will be announced in a special showcase of the U.S.-Africa Tech Challenge on May 11, which will then be followed by a panel discussion on counter-disinformation challenges and opportunities across Africa.

The event is being led by the GEC’s Technology Engagement Team (TET), in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the European Union, Twitter, Ushahidi, Park Advisors and Disinfo Cloud, and Informa.

Please register no later than April 21, 2021.