ICTworks by Inveneo

VC4Africa has been looking for the right time to host a VC4Africa meetup in Dakar. In partnership with JokkoLabs and BantaLabs, we are pleased to have found the right combination. Please join us on February 11th! JokkoLabs is kind enough to open up their space for us.

Sign up for this free event!

As with all VC4Africa Meetups, the event will simply be a place for members to meet one another and share thoughts and ideas. No speeches, no agenda, nothing planned. The loose structure allows for lots of networking. Just remember, everyone is expected to pay for their own drinks : )

VC4Africa Senegal Meetup
Time: February 11, 2011 from 6pm to 8pm
Location: JokkoLabs
Street: 1er espace de coworking d’Arique de l’Ouest ! Jokkospace 65-66 Résidence Machala Nord Liberté 6 extension
City/Town: Dakar

Let us know if you will attend and If you want to help out please add your name to the list and help spread the word!

The World Bank's Open Data initiative is intended to provide unfettered access to the World Bank's data catalog, including databases, pre-formatted tables and reports. Our friends at Online Africa have taken this data and made an interesting table:

ICT Expenditure as a Percent of GDP in African Countries

I was quite surprised by Senegal taking the #2 spot, just behind Morocco, for four years in a row - 2005-2008. At an average of 10% of GDP, Senegal's ICT investments easily beats South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, and the world average. Yet, we don't hear much about Senegal's ICT investments.

Might that be due to a language barrier - all their news is in French - or is this another case where the World Bank data doesn't match the expected reality?

Regardless, Senegal's ICT investments indicate there is opportunity in Francophone Africa.

L’Etat du Sénégal a décidé de créer un fonds d’investissement pour les TIC ainsi qu’un incubateur d’entreprises en TIC. Cette tentative a pour objectif de promouvoir l’insertion professionnelle des jeunes, de développer les ressources humaines dans le secteur et de soutenir les entreprises innovantes. Un plan d’action pour la mise en œuvre de ce fonds sera établi cette année.

Pour en savoir plus: http://www.lesoleil.sn/article.php3?id_article=54949

Are you looking for a new information technology job in Senegal, Ghana, or Uganda? Then check out Google's openings across the African continent:

Google Africa Jobs

Google is expanding our Business Development team in Africa. Associates are self-starters who will work closely with the wider Google team on new product initiatives and key strategic relationships.

In order to succeed in this group, you must be entrepreneurial, creative, open-minded, and adaptive. When interacting with internal and external clients, you need to be persistent, action oriented, and highly collaborative. You are a top performer who possesses good judgment and has a deep interest in the internet technology industry, Google products, and Africa.

• Account Strategist - Johannesburg
• Agency Relationship Manager - Johannesburg
• Business Development Associate - Accra
• Business Development Associate - Dakar
• Business Development Associate - Kampala
• Geographic Supervisor - Nairobi

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