Conexus Wins Orange Venture Prize
Monday, December 12, 2016
Orange CEO, Dr Patrick Benson hands over the award to Melissa Tafila
The Orange Social Venture Prize is an annual initiative from the Orange Group intended to showcase and support start-ups who use information and communication technologies (ICT) to innovate and make positive impact on communities in Africa and the Middle East.
The start-ups should offer innovative products or services that meet the needs of Africans in the fields of health, agriculture, education, energy, industry or trade.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...