Google Africa

Google Africa has released a new website specifically for Africa. http://www.google.com/africa/
The New website clearly outlines Google Africa's mission which includes:

• Reducing access as a barrier to all potential users
• Making the Internet relevant and useful to Africans
• Helping strengthen an Internet ecosystem in Africa that is vibrant, and sustainable and self-sufficient in the long-term

More to that, the website has links to great resources for developers, universities, tech businesses, those seeking  jobs to mention but a few. 

Google Africa has been around for some time now, in Uganda, we have had activities like G-Uganda that brought together tech enterpreneurs and developers, mapping competition and mapping party for the universities within Uganda. Google Global Caches are operational at some ISPs within Uganda and the Google University programme has been initiated within Universities in Uganda starting with Makerere University. 

Google Technology User Groups (GTUGs) are more like the LUGs (Linux User Groups) now, promoting the use of Google technologies and ICTs to businesses and individuals. You can join your local gtug by visiting the website http://kampala.gtugs.org

We believe Google will have great things for Africa in 2011.

Apps for Development Information Meeting

The World Bank is hosting an information Session to shed more light on the apps for development competition at Rwenzori House on 21st December 2010.

The apps for development competition challenges the public to create innovative software applications that move the world bank closer to solving some of the world's most pressing problems. The World Bank has opened up it's data and APIs for the world to use, license free and with very little restriction.

The Competitions has two simple rules:
1. Your app must use some data from the World Bank open data catalog
2. Your app must in some way address (or reference) one of the Millenium Development Goals.

The apps created are 'not' for the world bank - the people who create them retain the Intellectual Property.

Apps that are commercially viable are completely fine too, all that stays with the creator.

Therefore, give the competition a try http://appsfordevelopment.challengepost.com/

In order to attend the information session, please visit http://appsfordevelopmentkla.eventbrite.com/

Venture Capital for Africa

VC4Africa is an initiative whose aims is to connect entrepreneurs and members of the business community in Uganda.  As a developer or tech entrepreneur, one can utilise this opportunity to come up with a business idea, design a prototype and put it up, get feedback  and entice investors http://www.vc4africa.biz/ventures

Apps for Development Contest

In April 2010, The world Bank introduced the apps for development Competition. A competition that enables you use the world Bank's open data to create an application that creates awareness of the MDGs or contribute to progress towards an MDG. How far have you gone with your application? Does it use any of the world bank datasets? If you are a developer, it would be nice of you to take part in this competition. Get more details at http://appsfordevelopment.challengepost.com/