05/03/15

Q&A: Mariéme Jamme on new hurdles for African tech pioneers

Marieme Jamme
Copyright: MoMo Amsterdam/Jöran Maaswinkel (@JeeeM)

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[LONDON] Over the past five years there has been an explosion in tech-based projects and businesses across Africa, says technologist and campaigner Mariéme Jamme. But for such enterprise to flourish, governments need to do more to support vibrant local technologies and knowledge-based economies.
           
Jamme’s support for female-led ihubs and coder networks across the continent has seen women — both young and old — create and run successful tech enterprises with ever-expanding networks of clients and projects. Here she talks about the progress made by the women she mentors, and the infrastructure barriers that must be removed to make tech sustainable and profitable.
 
This interview was recorded at Through the people’s lens, an exhibition and panel debate organised by the Overseas Development Institute and the NGO PhotoVoice in London, United Kingdom, on 26 February.