DAY 2; we’re still rolling!!
Yesterday, Cohort 2 of the 250 Podcast Lab got into the real work.
More learning, More ideas, and we’re just starting.
#murika#250podcastlab#creatives
Safe to say that TODAY, we officially started our locked in 8 weeks of 250 Podcast LAB, Cohort 2 training.
Here's to the stories still waiting to be told!!
#murika#podcasttraining#creatives
You don’t need a background in media.
Swipe through the slides to check the criteria. (Spoiler alert: it’s incredibly simple).
The Essentials: Age 18–35, Based in Rwanda, Bilingual (Kinyarwanda/English), and be available
@RwandaICT@giz_rwanda@DigiCenterRW@malikshaffy#250Pod
The wait is officially over. Applications are open!
The 250 Podcast Lab is back for Cohort 2, and we are looking for the next generation of creators. If you have a perspective or a message that people need to hear, this is your ultimate launchpad.
Deadline: Saturday, 30 June
Happy International Girls in ICT day 🎉
Today, we celebrate the girls and young women across Africa who are shaping the future of technology and the growing ecosystem that supports them.
Through Ms Geek Africa, young women across the continent are turning ideas into solutions, gaining the skills, visibility, and support needed to shape Africa’s digital future.
We also recognize the partners, mentors, and institutions working to create pathways for inclusion, innovation, and lasting change.
The future of tech is inclusive. Let's continue to support and invest in the next generation of girls and women shaping Africa's digital future.
#GirlsInICT #MsGeekAfrica #DigitalTransformation #WomenInTech
@RealSmartAfrica@msgeekafrica
“AI is not a technology fix. It will not solve our problems. It is based on how we use the technology and build the skills with AI to solve challenges in the East African Community.”
Norman Schraepel, Head of Cluster Digital Transformation & Digital Economy, Cluster Coordinator, @giz_gmbh Rwanda
@normanschraepel@GIZAfricanUnion@eacgiz@DigiCenterRW@jumuiya@mfbenda #AI4EAC
Here is an overview of what we released
Text-to-speech model
Currently the highest-quality synthetic voice for Kinyarwanda.
https://t.co/fkfhI5U3Uh
KinyaCOLBERT Free
The first Kinyarwanda embedding/information retrieval model, essential for building RAG chatbots such as Tunga.
https://t.co/nlP0FAicPR
Voice Dataset
A dataset for training TTS and Speech-to-Text (STT) models.
https://t.co/t0fJO9ln2q
Information Retrieval Dataset
The data used to train the KinyaColBERT model.
https://t.co/STcG5im8D9
KinyaBERT
A foundational BERT-style model serving as the backbone for various Kinyarwanda NLP tasks.
https://t.co/mQ5RknE7X1
Source Code
All relevant code for the models and datasets mentioned above.
https://t.co/HcH4XwuBBT
Advancing Kinyarwanda AI through open-source innovation
We are proud to see the release of a suite of open-source AI models, datasets, and code developed through the Tunga Agricultural Chatbot initiative in collaboration with Rwanda Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, KiNLP, and the Ministry of Agriculture & Animal Resources.
From high quality Kinyarwanda text-to-speech to foundational NLP models and information retrieval systems, these resources mark an important step toward building inclusive, locally relevant digital solutions.
By making these tools openly accessible, this initiative contributes to strengthening Rwanda’s AI ecosystem enabling developers, researchers, and innovators to build solutions that are grounded in local language, context, and real-world needs.
This is what meaningful digital transformation looks like: open, inclusive, and built for impact.
#DigitalTransformation #AIforGood #OpenSource #KinyarwandaAI #GovTech #Rwanda
@RwandaAgri@c4ir_rw
📌We Are Hiring: Technical Advisor in Digitalization and IT Project Management
The Digital Delivery Unit (DDU) at the Digital Transformation Center (DTC) Rwanda is looking for a Technical Advisor in Digitalization and IT Project Management to support the implementation of large-scale digital solutions in collaboration with government partners.
The advisor will work closely with MINALOC and GIZ teams to support the development and implementation of digital systems that strengthen Rwanda’s social protection framework, including the Imibereho Dynamic Social Registry. The role involves managing IT projects from concept to deployment, coordinating service providers, and advising partners on digital solutions and system design.
We are looking for someone with strong experience in digitalization, IT project management, and collaboration with public institutions, who is passionate about using technology to improve public service delivery.
📍 Location: Kigali, Rwanda
🗓 Application deadline: 16 March 2026
If you are interested in contributing to Rwanda’s digital transformation journey, we encourage you to apply.
🔗Apply here: [Job opportunities | Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH]
As Ghana celebrates its Independence today🇬🇭, we also celebrate the innovation of young women shaping Africa’s digital future. At Ms Geek Africa 2025, a @RealSmartAfrica initiative supported by GIZ, Ghana was represented by Biana Bubune Bottozah, winner of Ms Geek Ghana, whose project #EcoWatch explores how AI can detect illegal mining and help protect the environment.
Her story shows how platforms like #MsGeekAfrica empower young innovators to use technology to address real challenges. As Ghana marks another year of independence, we celebrate the next generation of women leading Africa’s innovation journey.
#WomenInTech #AIforGood #AfricanInnovation
#ThrowbackThursday | Ms Geek Africa2025: Malawi Spotlight
“The Ms Geek experience changed my vision for the future. It showed me that AI can be deeply human.”
For Shyreen Kalulu, a student at the University of Malawi, participating in Ms Geek Africa 2025 was more than a competition, it was a turning point in how she approaches innovation and entrepreneurship.
Through the Smart Africa #MissGeekInitiative, supported by GIZ, young women across Africa are developing technology driven solutions to real community challenges.
In her testimonial, Shyreen shares how the Smart Africa & GIZ collaboration helped reshape her business approach by focusing on technology that responds to real people’s needs in Malawi. Her selection as Malawi’s national representative also gained recognition across local media and institutions, including Malawi24, Malawi Nation Online, and the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority highlighting growing national pride in young innovators advancing tech solutions.
Through its partnership with @RealSmartAfrica , GIZ supports initiatives like Ms Geek Africa that empower young women to drive innovation and digital transformation across the continent.
👇 Watch her story below
🔗 Learn more about the GIZ Support to Smart Africa project:
https://t.co/H4wZhkNFR6
#MsGeekAfrica2025 #SmartAfrica #WomenInTech #DigitalTransformation #AIforGood #YouthInnovation
Strengthening public sector cyber governance across Africa 🌍
In collaboration with @RealSmartAfrica , GIZ has launched a public tender for the development of cybersecurity training materials and the delivery of five regional workshops to strengthen public sector cyber governance across Africa.
👉 Learn more: https://t.co/bn7ZpQykGH
Your end-of-life tech shouldn’t gather dust or harm the planet.
Join the #KusanyaEWaste Campaign and lead by example: dispose of your E-Waste responsibly with @EnviroserveRw , a trusted solution for safe recycling. Let’s build a cleaner, smarter future together.
Final call! The #InnovateAfrica Challenge on Civil Drones closes soon — 15 Oct 2025!
💡 Up to €50K funding
🌱 Mentorship & incubation
🌍 Implementation in Rwanda or Côte d’Ivoire
Don’t miss out!
apply now 👉 https://t.co/FMvGcf16yG
#DroneInnovation#ClimateTech#Agritech
Did you know?
Electronic waste like old phones, laptops, chargers, and other broken devices can release harmful toxins that put your health and the environment at risk.
Let’s dispose of them responsibly with Enviroserve.
Protect your health. Preserve the planet
#KusanyaEWaste