Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) celebrated the 15th anniversary of its flagship initiative, the Orange Social Ventures Prize (OSVP), during a special ceremony at the Mobile World Congress in Kigali. The event honoured five exceptional startups that are using technology to address critical social and environmental challenges across the region.
Over the past 15 years, OSVP – previously known as POESAM – has evolved into Africa’s leading platform for impact-driven innovation, attracting more than 17,000 project submissions from across 17 countries.
“In 15 years, POESAM has become far more than an award. With over 17,000 projects received — including 3,000 this year alone — it stands today as Africa’s leading platform for innovation, empowering entrepreneurs who turn challenges into opportunities,” said Yasser Shaker, Chief Executive Officer of Orange Middle East and Africa.
Recognising the Region’s Brightest Changemakers
The 2025 OSVP International Grand Prize spotlighted startups combining technological innovation, measurable impact, and scalability. This year’s top three winners exemplify the diversity and creativity shaping Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape:
1st Prize (€25,000): Sand to Green (Morocco) – An agritech platform using data-driven agroforestry to transform arid land into sustainable, regenerative farms.
2nd Prize (€15,000): E-Blood Bank Makila (Democratic Republic of the Congo) – A digital health platform connecting hospitals, blood banks, and donors through a secure system featuring drone and motorcycle deliveries.
3rd Prize (€10,000): N’Zassa Fund (Ivory Coast) – An innovative gamified micro-donation app enabling users to support local NGOs through mobile money, turning charitable giving into a fun, community-driven experience.
Women and Innovation Take Centre Stage
In line with Orange’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, two special awards were presented this year:
International Women’s Prize (€20,000): Proverdy (Tunisia) – An AI-powered sustainability platform helping companies measure, manage, and reduce their carbon footprint while ensuring compliance and certified carbon offsets.
Coup de Cœur Prize (€10,000): Maarifa (Botswana) – An AI-based online learning platform offering personalised, accessible education aimed at improving academic outcomes for students across Botswana.
These initiatives underscore the growing leadership of female founders and AI-driven education in Africa’s innovation ecosystem.
A Growing Movement for Responsible Innovation
Since its creation in 2011, the Orange Social Ventures Prize has become a benchmark for responsible entrepreneurship in Africa and the Middle East.
This year alone, the competition saw an 82% increase in applications compared to 2024 — proof of the region’s accelerating interest in tech for good and sustainable business solutions.
Each winning startup will receive mentorship and incubation support through the Orange Digital Centre network, helping them scale their solutions and expand into new markets.
Fifteen Years of Impact: Orange’s Ongoing Commitment
With operations in 18 countries and 161 million customers across the Middle East and Africa, Orange MEA continues to champion digital inclusion, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.
Its flagship mobile financial service, Orange Money, is available in 17 countries and serves over 100 million users, supporting financial empowerment and cross-border transactions across the continent.
As Orange marks this 15-year milestone, the Group reaffirms its mission to support homegrown innovation and build a more inclusive digital future through technology and entrepreneurship.
