FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lizette Olmos Godfrey
Media Relations
[email protected]
Dakar, Senegal
– The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) is proud to announce its first-ever Pan Africa Conference in Dakar, Senegal, from February 11 to 13, 2025. Hosted in Dakar, a thriving hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in West Africa, this transformative event will unite thought leaders, innovators, funders, and changemakers to explore bold solutions and catalyze the future of innovative entrepreneurship across the continent.
The keynote speakers are Papa Madiaw Ndiaye, CEO and Founding Partner of AFIG funds and Mame Aby SEYE, Specialist in Territorial Development; Inclusive Economy and Innovative Entrepreneurship.
“The Pan-Africa conference will delve into crucial topics that are transforming Africa’s entrepreneurial scene as the future of youth, digital innovation, and the vital role of cultural enterprises in promoting entrepreneurship growth, “ said ANDE Executive Director Devin Chesney.
Through engaging discussions and collaborations, ANDE aims to amplify voices from the Global South and strengthen partnerships, marking a pivotal moment in rethinking international development.
For a comprehensive overview of the conference agenda, please visit here.
Schedule:
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
9:00 AM-9:30 AM/GMT
Welcoming Remarks from ANDE’s Executive Director, Devin Chesney
Keynote Speaker Panel
9:30 AM – 9:35 AM/GMT
- Brief sponsor remarks from ADA Microfinance
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM/GMT
Opening Panel:
Bridging the Gaps: Aligning DFIs, PE Funds, and Governments to Strengthen Africa’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem.
- El-hadj Bah, DFI Chief Policy Economist at African Development Bank Group, Côte D’Ivoire
- Mame Aby SEYE , Specialist in Territorial Development; Inclusive Economy and Innovative Entrepreneurship
- Papa Madiaw Ndiaye CEO, AFIG Fund/Chairman EcoBank, Senegal
- Jeremy Hajdenberg, Co-Directeur Général / co-CEO at Investisseurs et Partenaires, Paris
- Said Sako, Co-founder & Partner – Comuniti Capital (Moderator)
11:30 AM-1:00 PM/GMT
ANDE / Omniverse Collaboration: EDC, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Bank of Industry, National Council of Arts, IGC
- Jerome Adonis, Head of Marketing and Communications
- Shawn Theunissen, CEO and Founder, Entrepreneurship to the Point
- Letlhogonolo Ntsondololwana, Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist
- Maphefo Sipula, Head of Research and Impact, Entrepreneurship to the Point
2:00 PM-3:15 PM/GMT
Lack of financial data is for MSMEs one of the main barriers for access to finance. Today, more and more digital start-ups and Fintechs are offering easy and accessible solutions to help SGBs build up a financial history and establish relationships with financial institutions.
In this breakout session, we aim to delve into critical questions surrounding the emergence of new digital tools for accounting and financial management, including:
- What key features define an effective and user-friendly tool?
- What incentives drive the adoption of these tools?
- How can collaborations among stakeholders enhance the uptake and impact of these tools?
4:15 PM-5:15 PM/GMT
From Policy to Practice: Bringing Meaningful Policy Changes to Drive Inclusive and Female Entrepreneurship Pan-Africa
This interactive session gives participants the opportunity to explore policy challenges facing women and young entrepreneurs with a global and local lens. YBI’s framework identifies and addresses barriers to inclusion across the world. FATE Foundation’s flagship report reveals critical insights into Nigeria’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, highlighting opportunities for growth, innovation and policy reforms to drive sustainable development. Participants will explore themes and challenges across both reports and use real world examples and challenges to create actionable, specific policy aims that can be applied to drive inclusive entrepreneurship.
- Adenike Adeyemi, FATE Foundation
- Freya Bottomley, Membership Development Manager
Wednesday, February 12th
9:00 AM-10:00 AM/GMT
Opening Remarks:
Facilitating a collaborative and inclusive ecosystem to enable market success for young green entrepreneurs in the waste value chain
- Catherine Mwangi, Country Representative, VSO Kenya
- Jeff Otieno, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Manager, Waste to Work Project, VSO Kenya
Through this conference, ANDE is continuing to work towards its vision of building thriving, localized entrepreneurial ecosystems across the continent. By promoting collaboration and sharing knowledge, the 2025 Pan-Africa Conference will catalyse inclusive entrepreneurship, driving social and economic development while enhancing Africa’s role in the global sustainability movement.
Join us in creating a lasting impact, empowering African entrepreneurs, and building a prosperous, resilient future for both Africa and the world.
February 13, 2025
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM/GMT
Join ANDE for various offsite excursions in Dakar
For more information and to register, please visit Media Registration. Please submit your registration in order to be approved for a media pass. Please note that you must be an accredited journalist, and the press pass will only grant access to designated spaces and events. All registrations are subject to conference media committee approval.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Lizette Olmos Godfrey
Media Relations
The Aspen Institute
[email protected]
ANDE Communications POC in Senegal:
Christine Anene
[email protected]
Batsi Mphahlele
[email protected]
About ANDE:
ANDE is a global network of organizations that propel entrepreneurship in developing economies. ANDE elevates its members’ capacity to support Small and Growing Businesses (SGBs) through evidence-based practices. ANDE focuses on building resilient ecosystems that support diverse entrepreneurs, fostering local, inclusive economic growth and global prosperity.
About the Aspen Institute
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has a campus in Aspen, CO, as well as an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.