The International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) celebrated the success of its CAP Innovation program in Dakar on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, showcasing a diverse cohort of entrepreneurs from across the Francophone world.
Out of an initial pool of 3,100 applicants from 49 countries, eight winners were selected to present projects that address critical regional challenges, ranging from solar-powered electric tricycles in Benin to offline EdTech platforms in Senegal and AI-driven agriculture in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Secretary General Louise Mushikiwabo opened the ceremony by emphasizing that youth entrepreneurship is a core policy for the OIF, backed by rigorous mentorship and financial awards of up to €10,000 for top winners.
The featured projects are deeply rooted in practical realities rather than theoretical concepts, offering immediate solutions to employment, education, and environmental issues. Entrepreneurs like Femi Abel Tankpinou of Benin and Moustapha Diop of Senegal demonstrated high market demand for their services, with the former managing a burgeoning fleet of green urban transport and the latter achieving a 97.2% academic success rate through his Jangalma platform. Other innovators, including Jovianne Birindwa of the DRC and Borivath Tan of Cambodia, presented tech-driven solutions for rural crop protection and school-aged nutrition, highlighting the wide geographic and sector-specific reach of the initiative.
The high-level jury, along with Senegalese Minister of Industry and Trade Serigne Gueye Diop, praised the strategic vision and resilience of the participants. Minister Diop noted that such innovation is essential for Africa’s technological catch-up and encouraged a shift away from overly academic education toward practical, sovereign inventions. By building bridges between the private sector and these young innovators, the OIF aims to transform natural creativity into viable, market-ready businesses that can drive social transformation throughout the Francophone space.
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