UNDP, Africell Partner to Boost Digital Connectivity for Young Innovators in Sierra Leone and The Gambia
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has partnered with leading telecommunications company Africell to expand digital connectivity for young innovators in Sierra Leone and The Gambia, a strategic move aimed at accelerating youth-led innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-driven development in both countries.
The partnership agreement was formalized on Thursday, January 29, 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 across Africa.
Under the agreement, Africell will provide essential digital connectivity infrastructure, including 4G MiFi devices, high-speed internet access and Internet of Things (IoT) tools to support students and young entrepreneurs operating within the UniPods. These resources are expected to significantly enhance the ability of young innovators to design, test and scale technology-based solutions to address local and global development challenges.
The intervention directly tackles one of the most persistent obstacles facing innovators in the region — limited access to reliable and affordable internet connectivity.
Speaking on the collaboration, Africell Group Chief Executive Officer and President of the Africell Impact Foundation, Ziad Dalloul, said the partnership aligns with Africell’s commitment to empowering Africa’s next generation of innovators.
“This collaboration plays to everyone’s strengths by combining Africell’s connectivity expertise with UNDP’s innovation network,” Dalloul said. “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 enterprises.”
Beyond infrastructure support, the partnership will also roll out joint innovation and accelerator programmes aimed at increasing youth participation in the UniPods and expanding their long-term social and economic impact. These initiatives will build on existing Africell Impact Foundation programmes, including robotics training, entrepreneurship development and digital skills courses delivered through its 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 encompasses UniPods, Policy Labs and sector-focused innovation hubs in major African cities, all aimed at unlocking investment opportunities and driving sustainable growth for African startups.
Assistant United Nations Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, highlighted the critical role of digital inclusion in shaping Africa’s economic future.
“Digital inclusion is central to Africa’s innovation agenda,” she said. “This partnership expands access to connectivity and equips young innovators with the tools they need to transform ideas into impactful solutions. When we invest in young people and remove barriers to opportunity, we accelerate Africa’s journey toward competitiveness and inclusive growth.”
UNDP’s UniPods continue to play a pivotal role in equipping African youth with the skills, tools and networks required to turn 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.
