Hello Skunks, This maybe interesting. *THE CHALLENGE* *Orange** launches the African Social Venture Prize.* The project aims at promoting social innovation for development, thanks to information and communication technologies, through financial and management support to new businesses. *Rewarding ventures using technology for development purposes* The African Social Venture Prize will reward three projects or enterprises addressing needs of the ‘bottom of pyramid’ market in Africa through technology. The digital projects range from e-health and mobile banking to digital and mobile applications for education or agriculture. They therefore represent huge opportunities for social development. *An initiative part of a larger Innovation strategy and Corporate Social Responsibility policy* Orange has commercial operations in 17 countries in Africa. This project is at the crossroads of its Corporate Social Responsibility policy and its Innovation strategy. By promoting social ventures, Orange aims at raising awareness about the role that Information and Communication Technologies can play in development. ------------------------------ *Prizes :* The 3 winners will receive a financial grant (25K€, 15K€, 10K€) and they will also benefit from a 6-month mentoring by management experts. ------------------------------ *How to participate :* Participants, regardless of nationality, must be more than 21 years old, can either be students, entrepreneurs or companies in activity since June 2008. The businesses or projects submitted are required to target at least one of the African countries of Orange’s footprint. Their core business has to use technology in an innovative way to enhance living conditions of local populations. The African countries of Orange's footprint are Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Uganda, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Botswana. ------------------------------ * Application will be possible from :* June 8th to September 30th 2011. Contact : orange.socialventure@starafrica.com For more details(rules,tips,prizes and application form,visit http://www.starafrica.com/en/news/orange-african-social-venture-prize/applic...