Africell has announced a partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to provide high-speed connectivity and digital tools to UniPods in Sierra Leone and The Gambia.
The collaboration will equip these university-based innovation spaces with 4G MiFi devices, high-speed internet, and Internet of Things (IoT) technology, giving young innovators the infrastructure needed to develop, test, and scale solutions for local and global development challenges.
“This collaboration plays to everyone’s strengths by combining Africell’s connectivity expertise with UNDP’s innovation network. By equipping the UniPods in Sierra Leone and The Gambia with Africell’s signature internet services, we are investing in young Africans and helping to turn raw talent into successful enterprise,” said Ziad Dalloul, CEO of Africell Group and President of the Africell Impact Foundation.
The collaboration also includes accelerator programmes and digital skills training, helping participants turn ideas into scalable solutions. UniPods are part of UNDP’s broader timbuktoo initiative, which supports African innovation ecosystems through university-based maker spaces, policy labs, and thematic industry hubs.
Supporting Skills and Innovation
Beyond connectivity, the partnership will extend to innovation and accelerator programmes aimed at increasing participation in the UniPods and deepening their social impact.
These programmes will leverage robotics, entrepreneurship, and digital skills training, building on the Africell Impact Foundation’s existing network of learning centres across West Africa.
The agreement aligns with UNDP’s broader timbuktoo initiative, which supports Africa’s home-grown innovation ecosystem through programmes including UniPods, timbuktoo Policy Labs, and thematic industry hubs in major cities.
By combining resources and expertise, UNDP and Africell aim to create a supportive environment where young innovators can turn ideas into market-ready solutions.
Investing in Africa’s Digital Future
UniPods serve as high-tech maker and innovation spaces within public universities, providing students with tools, mentorship, and access to networks that can transform ideas into viable enterprises.
“Digital inclusion is key to Africa’s innovation future. This partnership expands digital access and gives young innovators the connectivity they need to turn ideas into impactful solutions. When we invest in young people’s talents and remove barriers to opportunity, we accelerate Africa’s path to competitiveness, and inclusive growth,” said Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant UN Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa.
By integrating high-speed connectivity, Africell and UNDP are helping to bridge gaps in digital infrastructure that often hinder African startups from scaling effectively.
The collaboration is designed not just to provide infrastructure, but to foster sustainable innovation ecosystems.
With access to both digital tools and practical skills, experts say young innovators in Sierra Leone and The Gambia will be better positioned to develop solutions that address pressing local challenges while contributing to Africa’s broader economic and technological growth.
Talking Points
It is notable that Africell is providing high-speed connectivity to UNDP UniPods in Sierra Leone and The Gambia, giving young innovators access to reliable internet, IoT devices, and digital tools that are essential for developing and scaling solutions. This single intervention addresses a critical barrier for African startups: lack of consistent digital infrastructure.
At Techparley, we see partnerships like this as key to nurturing Africa’s innovation ecosystem. By combining Africell’s connectivity expertise with UNDP’s network of UniPods, the initiative creates opportunities for students to turn raw talent into practical, market-ready solutions.
Beyond infrastructure, the collaboration also integrates digital skills training and accelerator programmes, which can deepen social impact and build sustainable entrepreneurial capacity. However, its long-term success will depend on continued mentorship, ecosystem support, and engagement with local innovation networks.
As Africell and UNDP expand the initiative, there is potential to replicate this model across West Africa, giving more young innovators the tools and connectivity they need to transform ideas into viable businesses.
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