By Adama M. Sesay
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Africell have entered into a strategic partnership to strengthen digital connectivity for young innovators in Sierra Leone and The Gambia, a move expected to boost youth-led innovation and entrepreneurship in both countries.
The agreement was formalized on Thursday, 29 January 2026, in New York, and focuses on supporting UNDP’s Timbuktoo University Innovation Pods (UniPods)—high-tech maker and innovation spaces hosted within public universities. Under the partnership, Africell will provide 4G MiFi devices, high-speed internet access, and Internet of Things (IoT) tools to innovators operating within the UniPods.
These resources are expected to enable students and young entrepreneurs to design, test, and scale technology-driven solutions that address both local and global development challenges, while helping to overcome one of the region’s most persistent barriers to innovation—reliable and affordable internet access.
Speaking on the collaboration, Ziad Dalloul, Group Chief Executive Officer of Africell and President of the Africell Impact Foundation, said the partnership aligns with Africell’s mission to empower Africa’s next generation of innovators.
“This collaboration combines Africell’s connectivity expertise with UNDP’s innovation network,” Dalloul said. “By equipping UniPods in Sierra Leone and The Gambia with our internet services, we are investing in young Africans and helping to transform talent into sustainable enterprises.”
Beyond infrastructure support, the partnership will also roll out joint innovation and accelerator programmes aimed at increasing youth participation in the UniPods and strengthening their long-term social and economic impact. These initiatives will build on existing programmes of the Africell Impact Foundation, including robotics training, entrepreneurship development, and digital skills programmes delivered through learning centres across West Africa.
The collaboration forms part of UNDP’s broader Timbuktoo initiative, a flagship programme designed to strengthen Africa’s home-grown innovation ecosystem. The initiative includes UniPods, Policy Labs, and sector-focused innovation hubs in major African cities, all aimed at unlocking investment and growth opportunities for African startups.
Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant United Nations Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa, underscored the importance of digital inclusion in Africa’s economic future.
“Digital inclusion is critical to Africa’s innovation future,” she said. “This partnership expands access to connectivity and gives young innovators the tools they need to turn ideas into impactful solutions. When we invest in young people and remove barriers, we accelerate inclusive growth and competitiveness.”
UNDP’s UniPods continue to play a vital role in equipping African youth with the skills, tools, and networks needed to transform ideas into market-ready solutions. The partnership with Africell is expected to further strengthen this mission, positioning young innovators in Sierra Leone and The Gambia at the forefront of Africa’s digital transformation.
