By 2050, more than half of the world’s population growth will be in Africa, currently, the continent is home to six out of the ten of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

Many African countries have been undergoing a remarkable economic recovery since the mid-1990s. How to sustain and accelerate the current growth recovery is the most important strategic development question facing African countries today. Entrepreneurship, with its focus on opportunities, is often seen as one of the cornerstones of poverty alleviation and economic growth in Africa: Entrepreneurship is a vital component in innovation and the creation of a self-sustaining domestic economy. Young entrepreneurs and change makers will be the ones creating African solutions to African challenges; creating jobs, enabling social mobility and driving the regional economy. Entrepreneurs are also key to economic diversification and the development of a robust, lasting SME sector.

The development of entrepreneurship in Africa is reflected in the Africa Economic Outlook 2017: between 2015 and 2030, 29 million new entrants are joining Africa’s labour force. 22% of Africa’s working-age population are starting new businesses - the highest rate in the world. Firms with fewer than 20 employees and less than 5 years’ experience provide the most jobs in Africa’s formal sector. 44% of African entrepreneurs start businesses to exploit opportunities in the market, while 33% do so because they cannot find other jobs. African women are twice as likely to start start a business than women elsewhere in the world. African entrepreneurs are only 31 years old on average. African entrepreneurs are also innovative: 20% of new African entrepreneurs are introducing a new product or service.

The Pan-African University (PAU) was established with its goal to contribute to sustainable development in Africa and to prepare “a new generation of change makers properly trained to take the best advantage of African human and material resources, imbued with the common vision of a peaceful, prosperous and integrated Africa.” This also includes the creation of “solutions and innovations to the challenges identified in Agenda 2063 by development-oriented research”.

PAU was designed by African Union as a leading academic and research institution in order to accelerate the continent’s social and economic development.

PAU pursues excellence through the production of competent human resources – including policymakers, engineers, entrepreneurs, professionals and researchers – by creating relevant research-based and practice-laden learning experiences and delivering graduates who demonstrate entrepreneurial and leadership skills, dedicated to tackle African challenges.

PAU currently has four operating institutes across the continent, plus one institute under development:

• The Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation (PAUSTI), hosted by the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya (Eastern Africa);
• The Institute for Life and Earth Sciences (including Health and Agriculture (PAULESI), hosted by the University of Ibadan in Nigeria (Western Africa);
• The Institute for Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences (PAUGHSS), hosted by the University of Yaounde II in Cameroon (Central Africa);
• The Institute for Water and Energy Sciences (including Climate Change (PAUWES), hosted by the University of Tlemcen in Algeria (Northern Africa); and
• The Institute for Space Sciences (PAUSS) to be hosted by a Consortium of Universities led by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in the Republic of South Africa (Southern Africa) – still to be launched.

The Pan African University Institute of Water and Energy Sciences (including Climate Change) (PAUWES) holds a unique position in understanding the Pan-African dimension of scientific problems and is especially suited to find solutions to the challenges faced in different African countries with regards to water, energy and climate change. PAUWES is developing strategies for tapping into the advantage of its PanAfrican perspective without losing focus of specific national and regional problems. This is particularly important at the interface between research and education as Master students are capable of finding innovative solutions to challenges in their home countries and local communities.

At PAUWES we aim to train, not only some of the best students OF Africa but rather the best students FOR Africa. PAUWES vision is to prepare a new generation of Entrepreneurial African “Solutionners” for the Africa we want.

At PAUWES, first activities promoting entrepreneurship have already been implemented, partly driven by a very engaged student community. PAUWES currently offers Master’s programmes in Energy Engineering, Energy Policy, Water Engineering, and Water Policy.

In this light, PAU established a Pan African University entrepreneurship hub to be hosted at PAUWES first and other hubs in the four other institutes, aiming to promote entrepreneurial mindset and ventures within PAUWES, PAU the university, and its partners.

PAU as a leading institution of higher educations in Africa hold a large number of students and alumni who intend to launch their own businesses. In addition, companies launched by those with a higher education have proven to create more jobs than other businesses.

Through the Pan African set-up with students from across the continent, the strong spirit of international cooperation, combined with technical, soft and language skills acquired in the study programmes, the PAU entrepreneurship hub has the potential to significantly contribute to innovations across borders, and the continued development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem on the continent. In doing so, the hub contributes to the implementation of the PAU strategy, especially towards the achievement of the PA strategic plan’s objective 1.1: “PAU students are employed in public, private and academic sectors in relevant jobs in the areas of the study programmes or start their own enterprises upon graduating.”

Through the promotion of innovation, youth entrepreneurship and employment, the hub also supports PAU’s contribution to achieving Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goalstogether stakeholders from different regions and sectors, fostering innovation and knowledge transfer, the hub furthermore contributes to the promotion of African integration, enhanced framework conditions for youth employment on the continent, as well as business developments beyond borders. In addition to pan-Africanism, the hub’s operations are guided by environmental and social sustainability, as well as gender equality and diversity.

PAU aim to form a network of hubs that combines entrepreneurial facilities and resources partnering with a strong network of Hubs through the continent, to strengthen the student entrepreneurs’ businesses to ensure that they can survive and grow, thus contributing to increased employment at the continent level.

The hub’s mission is to provide PAU students and partners with the mindset, skills, tools, and a network to develop as Africa’s successful innovation-driven entrepreneurs.

The hub will furthermore help facilitate a dialogue on youth entrepreneurship promotion in Africa.

The hub will catalyze the creation and development of start-ups, as well as innovation transfer.

The hub’s long-term vision is thus to create a pan-African network of innovators and entrepreneurs contributing to a social, economic and ecological transformation on the continent

Furthermore, the entrepreneurship hub will shall a pivotal role in facilitating the dialogue on entrepreneurship promotion in Africa, and hence contribute to the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Africa. The hub will therefore provide a platform for the policy and stakeholder dialogue on good practices of entrepreneurship promotion and the role of higher education on the continent.

Vision: A pan-African network of innovators and entrepreneurs contributing to a social, economic and ecological transformation on the continent.

Mission: Contribute to the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Pan African University and Africa.

Objectives:

1. Equip PAU students & staff with entrepreneurship skills and mindset
2. Promote transformative research, education, innovation, and business start-ups in PAU
3. Facilitate entrepreneurial dialogue and knowledge transfer between PAU other initiatives

Guiding principles

Pan Africanism

Embedded in the structure of the Pan African University and linked to a network of stakeholders from different regions and sectors, the entrepreneurship hub’s values and actions are guided by the African Union’s vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa.

Environmental and social responsibility

The hub strives to create socially and environmentally conscious entrepreneurs from the start-up phase to becoming sustainable and investable businesses with long-term environmental and socioeconomic impact.

Gender equality and diversity

The entrepreneurship hub is committed to the promotion of gender equality, diversity and inclusion at all levels, in all functions, and throughout all services provided.

The services offered should also respond to the requirements for young graduates endeavouring to start entrepreneurial ventures: Skills and mindset, support in the business case development and funding, as well as linkages to future partners, investors and clients.

PAU Entrepreneurship Hub is offering the following service lines responding to these needs and associated with the hub’s specific objectives.

Education & innovation

Objective : Foster innovation and entrepreneurial skills

Activities  :  - Establish entrepreneurship as a transversal theme in curriculum

- Facilitate entrepreneurship courses, trainings & certificates

- Transformative education and teaching innovation

- Support entrepreneurial master theses and projects

- Facilitate innovation challenges and competitions

Pre-incubation & business development

Objective : Support the creation of start-ups and university spin-offs

Activities  :  - Provide mentorship to PAU start-ups and spin-offs

- Business development and financial planning support

- Advise on intellectual property (IP)

- Provision of offices, creative working space and laboratory facilities

- Connect business partners

- Facilitate business funding and investment

Events, network & outreach

Objective : Facilitate pan-African dialogue, events and knowledge exchange on

entrepreneurship

Activities  :  - Facilitate continental youth entrepreneurship dialogue

- Contibute to developing policy recommendations & frameworks

- Cooperation with other entrepreneurship initiatives

- Coordinate Advisory Panel

- Organisation of excursions, meetings & events

- Business network management (incl. alumni)

- Communication & PR

EVENTS :

The Research-2-Practice Forum

This PAUWES events aims to provide a platform for experts/scientists, education leaders, decision makers, entrepreneurs, private and public sector, policy makers, civil society actors and institutions interested or active in applied and practice-oriented research for development to discuss state of the art, challenges and innovative solutions in the areas of renewable energy, water and climate security and build strategic partnerships. http://pauwes-cop.net/res2prac/

Africa Talk Jobs

The African Union Commission (AUC), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and Business Africa organized an experts and practitioners dialogue on youth entrepreneurship promotion from 30-31 October 2018 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The dialogue was convened within the framework of the Africa Talks Jobs Dialogue Platform that was launched in October 2017 at the inaugural conference on Equipping Youth with Adaptive Education and Skills for Employment and Entrepreneurship.

PAU Entrepreneurship Hub Coordinator, Dr Amazigh Dib, made a presentation about the PAU(WES) Entrepreneurship Hub concept note.

From the recommendation to the African Union of this forum was, in the field of Partnership, Collaboration and Networks of Entrepreneurs, Private Sector and Investors :

"Support and promote the Pan African University Entrepreneurship Hub as a continental hub for skilling and linking young entrepreneurs across the continent and foster the collaboration with existing entrepreneurship hubs, business networks and the diaspora."

http://africatalksjobs.africa/

Innovating Education in Africa Expo

The Innovating in Education Expo, organised by the African Union Commission in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Senegal and several partner organisations and agencies across Africa, was held from 4th – 6th October 2018 in Dakar, Senegal. The Expo was to show case technical and social innovations in education and training across Africa, with the main objective of establishing a multisectoral platform for experience sharing on relevant innovations that provide solutions to education challenges in Africa. The event also aimed at raising the visibility of education innovators and innovative practices so that they can be supported, upscaled, replicated or further developed. The format of the event included demonstrations, presentation of technical papers on innovation and exhibitions by the Acamedia, practitioners and policy makers.

The following AU Member States were represented by Ministers and Senior Officials responsible for Education: Senegal, Botswana, Central African Republic, Djibouti, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Algeria, Malawi, South Africa, Chad, the Gambia, Guinea, and Madagascar. A range of agencies including UN agencies, international and national government and non-state organisations, private sector and individual experts were present. There was a total of 300 participants

PAU Entrepreneurship Hub Coordinator, Dr Amazigh Dib, made a presentation about " PAUWES Skills, Employability & Entrepreneurship" explaining the strategy of the PAUWES Employability & Entrepreneurship Unit and also about the new workshop introduced in the curriculum review process : "Curriculum review Workshop with Practionners" to have the input from the private and public sector at the beginning of the Curriculum review process and the analysis of the survey for practionners.

PAU(WES) Higher Education Management Study Trip to South Africa “A Quality Journey”

This one-week study tour at Western Cape, 3-7 December 2018, was a learning journey for PAU(WES) staff to gain insights from South African universities about various ways to develop and improve educational interventions and to share learning about building excellence in higher education. Specific focus areas include programme management, teaching and learning, student services, private sector cooperation, entrepreneurship, communications and marketing and research.

PAU(WES) staff had visited several South African universities in the Western Cape; this includes campus visits to Stellenbosch University (SU), the Sustainability Institute (SI), University of Cape Town (UCT) and Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and meetings with faculty from University of the Western Cape (UWC).

Afrilabs Gathering 2019

The AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2019 will be focusing on connecting players of the African innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, which includes hubs, innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, academia, venture capitalists, development agencies, investors, governments as well as business development organisations, creatives amongst others. The main goal will be to build collaborative and sustainable systems and create synergies that will pave the way for the African innovation ecosystem to thrive and develop the African continent.

The Gathering will host over 350 leaders and decision makers of these stakeholder groups.

The 3-day gathering will feature panel discussions, keynote addresses, presentation sessions, multiple parallel workshops, local ecosystem tour, networking sessions, and open floor exhibitions. Each session and dialogue will be focused on thematic topics such as driving investment for African startups and job creation through entrepreneurship, working with research institutions and universities on converting research to innovation, and strengthening institutional frameworks and networks that drive synergies between the media, corporate, creative, technology sectors among others.

The AfriLabs Annual Gathering annually engages people and organisations passionate about building the future of African innovation, solving development challenges and supporting technology driven enterprises on the continent.

PAU Entrepreneurship Hub Coordinator, Dr Amazigh Dib, was one of the panelist of the  Research to Innovation: Bridging the Gap between Research Institutions, Universities and Hubs panels, he shared his experience and vision on how innovation is the key to today’s global society pressing, complex challenges across many domains—including  health, environment, climate change and social justice. Science (including social sciences), technology, arts, and humanities have critical roles to play in addressing these challenges and building a bright and prosperous future.

WORKSHOPS AND BOOTCAMPS :

‘’Never did it seem more obvious that we depend on scientific, technological and social innovation to tackle current and future challenges and that such innovation and sustainable solutions will most likely emerge from building bridges across countries, cultures, disciplines, and institutions.

Universities and their partners in regional innovation systems join forces to build such bridges across institutional and disciplinary boundaries, look for new collaborative formats and spaces in order to address shared challenges, and shape their own changing roles in the process.’’

Curriculum review workshop with Practionners

PAUWES organised a workshop with practionners coming from various industries and African institutions and also alumni to understand and specify the skills and capabilities that need to be embedded in the existing curricula in order to make the PAUWES graduates appeal to potential employers and to narrow the gap between academic curricula and practical skills needed by the job market but also to ask about the new trends in the fields of water, energy and climate change.

‘’A research carried out by the Carnegie Institute of Technology shows that 85 % of your financial success is due to skills in “human engineering,” your personality and ability to communicate, negotiate, and lead. Shockingly, only 15 % is due to technical knowledge. Additionally, Nobel Prize winning, Daniel Kahneman, found that people would rather do business with a person they like and trust rather than someone they don’t, even if the likeable person is offering a lower quality product or service at a higher price. You should make an investment in strengthening your EQ (Emotional Intelligence) and MQ (Moral Intelligence). This is why at PAUWES we offer to every class two important bootcamps : Leadership bootcamp and entrepreneurship bootcamps digging deeply in the notions of empathy and and entrepreneurial mindset.’’

Leadership Bootcamp

from 8th to 10th January 2019 by Rachel Nyaradzo Adams

The leadership boot camp will take PAUWES Students through the three components of leadership: Leading Self, Leading Others, and Leading Change. Each section will provide the latest research and tools and will offer an opportunity for embodied learning and practice. Under Leading Self, students are given tools for developing a deeper relationship with yourself so that they can harness their authentic power. Students will also learn to appreciate their strengths and accept their weaknesses. Under Leading Others, students will learn how to create social safety so that others around them can thrive, grow and develop. Students will learn about how different personality types function, how diversity trumps ability and the importance of growing women in today's workforce. Finally, under Leading Change, students will learn how to assess the current states of organizations and how to use influence and inspire in order to design exciting and sustainable shifts. The facilitator draws from neuroscience, ontology, anthropology and psychology to create deep learning and facilitate shifts.

Entrepreneurship Bootcamp

from 6th to 8th January 2019 by Angela Coetzee

The entrepreneurship boot camp aims to ignite some interest in entrepreneurship and to unlock a hunger for being entrepreneurial. The first part of the boot camp will look at some of the current trends on the continent, discussing the needs and opportunities of the future Africa. The second part of the course will shift focus to what it means to be entrepreneurial in business, government and civil society. The facilitator considers entrepreneurship as a transversal skill, and will therefore covers content that develops an entrepreneurial mind-set – a combination of 21st century skills and thinking that unlock particular attitudes and behaviours. These includes having a growth mind-set (versus a fixed mind-set) and a hunger for lifelong learning, applying critical thinking skills to problem solving and equipping students to spot opportunities and generate ideas.

‘’The university is now expected to combine responsiveness to current problems with the ability to engage in long-term research. It is expected to address incremental as well as disruptive innovation challenges, in networks that combine academic perspectives with innovation needs of businesses and public agencies.’’

Design Sprint Workshop

April 2019 at PAUWES  By Kneilwe Munyai from Cape Town University, Design Thinking Expert and Angela Coetzee from Sustainability Institute

An exciting event in partnership with Sustainability Institute, the Design Sprint is an immersive learning through doing approach to solving wicked problems in diverse multidisciplinary team. Design Sprints quickly align teams under a shared vision of trying to understand a wicked problem that needs solving with deliverables. Ultimately, it is a tool for identifying the right problem to be solved while also equipping participants with a variety of skills tools and frameworks for problem solving. Teams will be facilitated through a process where they will be introduced to some of the key principles co-creation and collaboration, needs driven human-centered innovation to ensure that teams are designing the ‘right thing right’.

TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATION

Kaospilot Training : The Art & Craft of Designing and Facilitating Learning Spaces

‘’Kaospilot is a hybrid business and design school, a multi-sided education in leadership and entrepreneurship. Our teaching programmes are not designed simply to shape students to fit the future, but to help them create it.

Kaospilot centre on students’ potential to develop and to achieve – tapping into their creativity, giving it a direction, creating a setting that will get them there and navigate the uncertainties that will follow. Kaospilot provide space and a place where creatives and potential change-makers can develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes and competencies they need to fulfil their values and visions. Kaospilot build the frameworks within which creative minds can become creative leaders.’’

PAUWES partake into a three-day masterclass for educators & trainers to explore experiential ways of learning in order to inspire, facilitate and design for creativity, innovation & risk in learning spaces & education aiming to explore and expand the professional development of higher education teachers / lecturers to increase the creativity & innovation of learners through the facilitation of learning spaces. Through imaginative interpretation, “hacking” and creative application of your curriculum, new pedagogical and methodological processes will be explored which will challenge and update the elementary approach to learning and content delivery.

Hi5 for success workshop series

At PAUWES we aim to graduate not only the best students OF Africa but also the best students FOR the Africa we want, not only engineers and policy makers but also entrepreneurial solutionners dedicated and equipped with the right tools and mindset to tackle African challenges.

Through one of our must successful partnership, now in its third year, we provided our students in collaboration with Sustainability Institute (a leading expert institution in navigating the transition towards social justice and change in complex futures in Africa, and forms an institutional base for some of the top academics in the field, whom research and practice maintains a strong focus on sustainable African futures, through their student, faculty and consulting research), the Hi5 for success workshop series

which aim to strength the employability and professional skills of our students, teach them to lead with impact, capacitate them with innovation management methodology, entrepreneurial mindset and provide them with the right tools to forge their own future for a brighter Africa.

Schneider Electric’s Go Green in the City global competition

PAUWES students Zvirevo Chisadza and Cynthia Tariro Mutsindikwa –both energy engineers originally from Zimbabwe– won Schneider Electric’s Go Green in the City global competition held in Atlanta, USA, November 11-16, 2018. Prior to that they had been selected as the finalist for the Middle East and Africa Region. Their project titled “Organic Photovoltaic Greenhouses (OPGs)” was selected the global winner, chosen out of over 24,000 young innovators, and top 10 finalist teams who participated in the competition. Together, Zvirevo and Cynthia created an organic photovoltaic greenhouse system that can generate sustainable energy off-grid, increasing crop production: a step forward in the global fight against hunger. Over 815 million people are affected by food shortages globally, and powered greenhouses are a solution to increase crop production with the potential of reducing hunger by 20%. However, green houses consume large amounts of energy, making them costly and unsustainable. This project aims to increase world food production while lowering agricultural carbon emissions, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals. Thanks to this ambitious project, the two winning PAUWES students received job offers from Schneider Electric, and an all-inclusive international trip to two cities of their choice (where Schneider Electric has offices)

2019: The Challenges of Global Health

The Geneva Challenge, an international competition for graduate students, was launched in 2014 under the patronage of the late Kofi Annan and with the generous support of Ambassador Jenö Staehelin. This contest aims to present innovative and pragmatic solutions to address the main challenges of today’s world. The idea is to gather contributions that are both theoretically grounded and offer pragmatic solutions to a relevant international development problem stemming from an interdisciplinary collaboration between three to five enrolled master students from anywhere in the world.

Five prizes will be distributed; one in each of the following categories:

• Universities located in Africa
• Universities located in Asia
• Universities located in Europe
• Universities located in North America and Oceania
• Universities located in South America

The 2019 edition aimed to address challenges facing global health. Out of 100 project entries submitted by 410 students from teams hailing from all over the world, 16 teams were chosen as semi-finalists. The jury selected five finalist teams, one per continent (based on the location of the university), who were invited to defend their project at Graduate Institute Geneva.

Source : https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4949&v=Zdud2ZAJ7t8

Source : https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=24&v=i7VjvClw3N0

RUWAFIKI PAUWES Team win the THIRD PRIZE EX AEQUO 

RURAL WATER FILTRATION KIT - IMPROVING GLOBAL HEALTH THROUGH SAFE DRINKING WATER

RUWAFIKI  is a project that seeks to develop a household water treatment kit composed of crushed moringa seeds, saw dust and filter paper. The kit also consists of other accessories, including a funnel, stirring stick, latex gloves and a user manual (in Luganda language) with visual instructions on how to use the kit.

The PAUWES team include :

• Francess Gbolare Awunor (Nigeria)| Water policy track
• Margaret Sima Kironde (Tanzania ) | Water policy track
• Claydon Mumba Kanyunge (Zambia) | Water policy track
• Oludare Sunday Durodola (Nigeria) | Water engineering track
• Victo Nabunya (Uganda ) | Water engineering track

RUWAFIKI

Water is vital for human health and well-being, and it is required for achieving sustainable development. However, water can cause devastating effects as a pathogen carrier, transmitting diseases to a large population. Water-borne diseases continue to be a global health challenge and are most prevalent in developing countries, especially in rural areas. Water-borne diseases are caused by the consumption of contaminated water containing pathogens like viruses, bacteria, parasites and protozoa, and in some instances, the water may contain heavy metals like lead, zinc and mercury, which can cause neurological illnesses.

Our project, Rural Water Filtration Kit (RUWAFIKI), seeks to develop a household water treatment kit composed of crushed moringa seeds, saw dust and filter paper. The kit also consists of other accessories, including a funnel, stirring stick, latex gloves and a user manual (in Luganda language) with visual instructions on how to use the kit. A prototype of the kit has been made containing all of the accessories and dimension. Our proposal has explored, in detail, the conditions of Makondo Parish in Uganda where we aim to first implement our solution, as the area faces many challenges related to water-borne diseases.

RUWAFIKI is an innovative solution, enabling households in Makondo to filter collected water so as to remove pathogens, improve odour and water colour, and resulting in a reduction of the burden of waterborne diseases in the area. The kit is portable, easy to use and very affordable. The project will be implemented in Makondo in cooperation with various local and international partners. Various performance tools and indicators will be used to monitor and evaluate the performance of the project in Makondo. RUWAFIKI directly supports the identified targets of the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): no poverty, good health and well-being and, clean water.

Simuka-Phakama Green enterPRIZE Innovation Challenge

The Simuka-Phakama Green enterPRIZE Innovation Challenge is being implemented in collaboration with local business development service (BDS) providers to offer financial and non-financial services to innovative green and growth oriented small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to grow their businesses.

The Innovation Challenge is a platform for green enterprise innovation and development to ensure Zimbabwe thrives by empowering citizens and businesses, particularly women and youth, to drive the creation of green and decent jobs.

The Innovation Challenge is being run by the International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe, the Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. This business competition is part of the Green enterPRIZE Innovation and Development Programme for Zimbabwe, supported by the Government of Sweden.

Was awarded Best Young Entrepreneur in the frame of the Entrepreneurship Awards.

The project of Blessing was related in the field of sanitation, raising the entrepreneurship banner high.

Across the country, more than 250 people registered their green businesses or ideas through the Green enterPRIZE web platform. Of those, 117 completed applications for the challenge. Judges shortlisted 90 contestants and invited them to small group training sessions, where contestants discussed and developed their business plans. The 28 winners and runners-up are set to receive financial support, one year of business development services, or both.

Source : https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---africa/---ro-addis_ababa/---sro-harare/documents/image/wcms_686611.jpg

Solar Decathlon Africa

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is a collegiate competition of 10 contests that challenge student teams to design and build full-size, solar-powered houses. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends design excellence and smart energy production with innovation, market potential, and energy and water efficiency.

The first African Solar Decathlon will be held in September 2019 in the green city Mohamed VI of Benguerir, Morocco. The competition is about conceptualizing low energy-consuming buildings that reach the bid of net zero energy buildings. In order to emphasize the significance of Solar Decathlon AFRICA, the contestants have to integrate regional sustainable raw materials while working on the components of the building, where it is strongly recommended to enhance the African specificities. Contestants from around the globe are invited to compete in building solar-powered houses that are highly energy-efficient, affordable, and comfortable to live in.

The competition’s goal is to contribute to the knowledge and dissemination of solar and sustainable housing, with the following basic objectives : Raise awareness of participating students on the benefits and opportunities of renewable energies and sustainable construction and challenging them to think creatively to develop innovative solutions that contribute to energy savings.

A team of PAUWES students (from 4th and also 5th cohort) who dare to participate to the selection of one of the hardest international technological challenges targeting a noble aspiration : make a better and sustainable world for all human kind. And THEY HAVE BEEN SELECTED !

They build Jua Jamii, a team of young and ambitious Pan African students using innovative solutions to tackle housing deficits in Africa, they became decathletes at the Solar Decathlon Africa 2019, Marrakech, Morocco. Jua Jamii’s aim is to contribute towards the development of green and energy efficient buildings that embraces the unique Pan African diversity. They integrate local materials and innovative technologies to provide smart and flexible homes to communities. Jua Jamii is purposive about both AU and UN Agenda 2063 and 2030 respectively, with a focus on 10 Sustainable Development Goals.

Jua Jamii believe the quality of life in African communities can be improved leading to the development of sustainable cities in Africa.

As many of our graduates, they proudly bring the name of PAUWES and PAU on an international stage.

They get a honorable ranking for their first participation to this kind of international challenge.

• Nasreddine NEMMICHE (Algeria) |Energy Engineering track at PAUWES | Co-founder
• Mohammed BENTAALLAH (Algeria) | Energy Policy track at PAUWES | Co-founder
• Harold Ogwal relation (Uganda) | Energy Policy track at PAUWES | Solar Pv System Designer
• Janvier Kamundala (RDC) | Energy Engineering track at PAUWES | Project Engineer
• Annastazia Rutatina (Tanzanie) | Water Engineering track at PAUWES | WATER MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT
• Donald Abonyi (Nigeria) | Energy Policy track at PAUWES | Health and Safety Officer
• Angela Okuley (Ghana) | Energy Engineering track at PAUWES | Electrical Engineer
• Imane BOUKHATEM (Algeria) | Energy Engineering track at PAUWES | Co-founder
• Francis SADEU (Cameroon) | Energy Engineering track at PAUWES | Project Manager
• Emaediong Umoeka (Nigeria) | Energy Engineering track at PAUWES | Finance Officer
• Sarpong Hammond Antwi (Ghana) | Energy Policy track at PAUWES | Communication and Sponsoring Assistant
• EbunOluwa Oyesina (Nigeria) | Energy Policy track at PAUWES |
• ShalliRosena P.Mbwette (Nigeria) | Engineering track at PAUWES | Electrical Manager
• Docile Utashi Ciraane (Burundi) | Energy Engineering track at PAUWES | Civil Engineer
• John Twesige (Uganda)| Water Policy track at PAUWES | Civil Engineer
• Sohaib Gahhal (Algeria) | UoT | in charge of Aquaponic System
• Zakaria Abdennour (Algeria) | UoT | Architect
• Mohamed DJELAD (Algeria) | UoT | Architect
• Ben Amar Rahmi (Algeria) |  Architecte agréé, Urbaniste, Designer
• Abderrahamne Hadj-Tahar (Algeria) | Élève ingénieur en Génie industriel: management industriel et logistique
• Nassim Benammar (Algeria)  | UoT | Architect

Source : https://www.instagram.com/p/B2vDGyggW2y/

Source : https://www.instagram.com/p/B24zPIsgKb3/

Source : https://www.instagram.com/p/B2vAvdWgxly/

PAU Innovation Challenge

PAU has launched the PAU Innovation Challenge is aiming to raise your awareness about innovation and entrepreneurship at PAU and to give you the opportunities to share creative ideas by getting the support to develop a quality-driven business concept and planning.

https://pau-au.africa/news-events/calendar/pau-innovation/pau-innovation-en