Africa Dev Newsletter — Week of September 13, 2026

This Week in African Tech

Zoho Targets AI Coding Bottleneck With Agent Ready Catalyst Cloud Platform

Zoho is addressing one of the growing challenges in the AI era: helping developers build and deploy applications faster as software development becomes increasingly AI assisted. The company's Catalyst Cloud platform is designed around agent ready development, enabling businesses to integrate AI capabilities into applications while reducing complexity for developers.

Why it matters: As AI adoption increases, the advantage will not only come from using AI tools but from building the infrastructure that allows organisations to create, deploy and scale AI powered products.

Morocco's One Med Link Is Developing an AI Powered Workflow Health Data Platform

Moroccan startup One Med Link is building an AI powered healthcare workflow platform designed to improve how health data is managed, organised and used. The company is focused on reducing inefficiencies in healthcare systems by connecting medical workflows with intelligent data tools.

Why it matters: Healthcare systems across Africa face challenges around fragmented information and limited digital infrastructure. AI platforms that improve access, organisation and decision making could play an important role in modernising healthcare delivery.

South Africa's Injini Launches AI for Education Venture Builder Programme

South African education technology incubator Injini has launched an AI focused venture builder programme aimed at supporting startups developing solutions for education challenges. The programme reflects a growing focus on applying artificial intelligence to learning, accessibility and educational systems across Africa.

Editor's Pick

AI Infrastructure Will Decide Who Builds the Next Generation of Software

Opeyemi's Take

What stands out to me about this development is that the next stage of AI will not only be about who has access to artificial intelligence, but who has the ability to build with it. Tools that simplify AI development could lower the barriers for more companies and developers to experiment, create and launch new products.

For Africa, this is an important conversation. The continent has many problems that require new approaches, from healthcare and agriculture to finance and education. But solving these challenges will require more than adopting technology built elsewhere. It will require stronger infrastructure, better tools and more African builders creating solutions around local realities.

The future of AI will belong not only to those who use the technology, but to those who understand how to build with it.

— Opeyemi Olaniyan, Research & Content Associate

Grant Opportunities This Week

Global Environment Facility (GEF) & International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

The programme supports civil society organisations that are ready to scale or replicate proven environmental solutions. It is especially relevant to organisations working on biodiversity, climate resilience, land restoration and community led conservation, with an emphasis on measurable impact for people and ecosystems.

WHO Regional Office for Africa & TDR

These grants support implementation research that addresses practical public health challenges across the WHO African Region. The aim is to generate evidence that can improve how health interventions, services and programmes are delivered in real world African settings.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

The programme supports locally designed climate adaptation projects in mountain and highland communities where climate shocks, environmental degradation and ecosystem pressure are affecting livelihoods. Projects should strengthen local resilience while responding to clearly identified community needs.

Swiss Re Foundation

Shine for Cities supports early stage climate ventures developing solutions for more resilient and inclusive urban environments. It is particularly relevant to founders working on urban decarbonisation, climate adaptation, infrastructure resilience and services that improve quality of life in rapidly growing cities.

Western Cape Department of Social Development

This funding call supports nonprofit organisations delivering social development services across the Western Cape. Priority areas include services for older persons, persons with disabilities, families, children and youth, victim empowerment, substance use prevention, sustainable livelihoods and social relief.

Awards This Week

Organised by: The African Awards

The African Awards recognises Africans shaping business, culture, science, public life and society across the continent and diaspora. Selected individuals are included in a permanent annual list designed to give meaningful public recognition to African excellence.

Organised by: African Union Commission

The African Union is inviting young creatives to design the official visual identity for its 2027 Theme of the Year. The competition is built around continental integration, open African skies, new technologies, youth, connectivity and Agenda 2063.

Organised by: Innovation & Scale Forum

The awards recognise African companies, leaders, institutions and public sector actors that have demonstrated measurable cross border growth and impact. Categories span business growth, fintech, digital infrastructure, AI, leadership, investment, regulation and ecosystem building.

Organised by: The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa

South Africa's National Orders are the country's highest honours and recognise exceptional achievement, outstanding service, bravery, nation building and contributions with national or international significance.

Funding & Venture Opportunities This Week

Development Innovation Ventures / USAID

DIV provides staged funding to innovations that address development challenges and improve lives in low and middle income countries. The programme supports projects from early pilots through evidence generation and transition to scale.

Askya Investment Partners & Magna Collective

The programme supports high potential African AI startups with company building support, technical infrastructure, coaching, customer access and commercial growth guidance. It is designed to help AI ventures reach stronger product market fit and scale across African markets.

Injini, supported by Coefficient Giving

This eight month programme takes pre formed teams from the ideation stage through product validation, AI powered MVP development, user testing and incubation. It is focused on building practical education technology for African classrooms rather than adapting products created for different markets.

Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP)

The funding call supports high impact investments that strengthen agriculture and food systems in eligible low income countries. It is aimed at initiatives that improve food security, agricultural productivity, resilience and inclusive rural development.

Fellowships This Week

UNESCO & Government of Japan

The programme supports promising young researchers undertaking postgraduate research in Japan. The 2026 cycle focuses on heritage conservation and management, sustainable development and artificial intelligence, including interdisciplinary work linking these fields to governance, ethics and social context.

University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy

This full time 11 month fellowship combines intensive coursework in data, policy and analytical methods with a nine month placement at a research centre or policy institute. Fellows work on real social impact challenges in areas such as education, climate, public safety and health equity.

SHARPER Consortium

The fellowship provides funding, institutional support and multi country scientific mentorship for early career African investigators working on epidemic preparedness, outbreak analytics and resilient health systems. Fellows use the award to execute an independent research project and strengthen cross institutional collaboration.

Webinars & Events This Week

Organiser: DMFS Africa Forum

This strategic webinar looks at the infrastructure, partnerships and investment priorities needed for Africa's next phase of digital finance. Topics include payments, banking technology, AI, digital identity and financial market infrastructure.

Organiser: AfICTA

AfICTA's regional eConference examines how universal service funds and policy frameworks can help close Africa's connectivity gap. The session is relevant to discussions around broadband expansion, affordable access, digital inclusion and the effective use of public interest connectivity funds.

Organiser: African Solutions Network

This continental online forum brings together people working across policy, enterprise, research and innovation to discuss practical pathways for Africa's next decade. The emphasis is on realistic strategies that individuals, institutions and governments can move from discussion into implementation.