Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Launches Partnership to Boost African Startup Ecosystem
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the "Partnership to Boost the African Startup Ecosystem" program. This triangular initiative, jointly led by the Tunisian Ministry of Communication Technologies, Smart Tunisian Technoparks (S2T), and JICA, will run from 2026 to 2028 and aims to strengthen startup ecosystems in Africa.
Eight Countries Represented in the First Session
The program will bring together participants from several African countries each year to develop and manage startup ecosystems. The first session is scheduled for December 2026, with eight African countries represented.
Tunisian Startup Act as a Foundation
The program explicitly builds on Tunisia's experience, starting with the Startup Act, a legal framework that organizes support for young startups in the country. The goal is to promote innovation, accelerate digital transformation, and foster more inclusive economic growth at the African level. The initiative will also serve as a networking platform between African and Tunisian innovation actors and Japanese experts.
Implications for the Regional Ecosystem
For African project leaders, this partnership allows for the expansion of the pool of trained and structured startups, starting with the first promotion of eight countries. For investors and regional funds, a better legal structuring of ecosystems, based on the Startup Act model, reduces part of the perceived risk and facilitates the identification of entrepreneurial opportunities in still under-explored markets.
This initiative is expected to have a positive impact on the African startup ecosystem, promoting innovation, economic growth, and cooperation between African countries, Tunisia, and Japan.
