Background to the Policy Series
The Entrepreneurship Policy Learning Series was born out of a need to support change-makers in the innovation ecosystem to understand key challenges and opportunities to foster a supportive environment for start-ups to thrive.
A series of online learning resources were developed, tested and iterated over a number of years. The first iteration was produced in the form of the Entrepreneurship Policy Toolkit, and later developed into short online synchronous 4 week programmes, and is now offered on this platform as a self-paced learning series.
The current learning series covers basic to intermediate topics related to the fundamentals of innovation policy, legal processes and useful, practical ecosystem assessment frameworks.
Essentially all courses offered on the Learn platform are designed to equip change-makers with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively design and implement policies that promote entrepreneurship and support the growth of startups. The program also provides an opportunity for policy makers to network with industry experts and startups to gain insights into the needs and perspectives of the ecosystem.
Ultimately, the goal of the courses is to help change-makers make informed decisions that drive the development of a vibrant startup ecosystem, economic growth and ultimately the well-being of people.
Courses will be updated and new ones will be added based on feedback, demand and knowledge gaps. Reach out to us if you would like to pitch an idea for a new course.
People behind the program
About the i4policy team
This program was put together by a team of individuals who are leaders in their respective fields, this team brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. Their diverse backgrounds, including business development, economics, marketing, technology, and finance and design ensure that they have a comprehensive understanding of the challenges that startups face.
Their collaboration and expertise have allowed them to develop a comprehensive curriculum that covers all aspects of startup law making in Africa. The team has already helped numerous governments in Africa to streamline their processes and set up robust startup act processes, making them a valuable resource for any policy maker looking to launch a successful law process in their region.
Partners behind the program
This policy course would not have been possible without the input and support of our Technical Advisory Committee (2020-2022) and partners Make-IT in Africa and GIZ following the development of the Entrepreneurship Policy Toolkit and country policy-support processes across Africa.
German Cooperation
The Innovation for Policy Foundation (i4Policy) is a not-for-profit organization that supports public policy co-creation and multi-stakeholder dialogues at scale. The Foundation developed an iterative policy-making process (the Innovation for Policy process) to support participatory policy co- creation. The Foundation has also developed online technology to enable civic engagement at a scale that has been deployed in partnership with national Governments to support policy reforms (Senegal, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Morocco, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya) and at the continental level to co-create regional visions on Digital Transformation and Covid-19 response & recovery.
i4Policy led policy reforms in various African countries, leading to concrete policy contributions such as the Mali Startup Act, The Rwanda 7yr Youth Employment and Private Sector Development Strategy, the Nigeria ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Vision (NIIEV), the Botswana Entrepreneurship Policy, the Senegal Startup Act, and several policy drafts currently under consideration, such as the Rwanda Startup Act and Tech-Enabled Innovation Policy, the DRC Startup Act, the Kenya Startup Bill, the Ghana Startup Bill, and the South Africa Startup Act.
Make It in Africa
i4 policy
The Innovation for Policy Foundation (i4Policy) is a not-for-profit organization that supports public policy co-creation and multi-stakeholder dialogues at scale. The Foundation developed an iterative policy-making process (the Innovation for Policy process) to support participatory policy co- creation. The Foundation has also developed online technology to enable civic engagement at a scale that has been deployed in partnership with national Governments to support policy reforms (Senegal, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Morocco, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya) and at the continental level to co-create regional visions on Digital Transformation and Covid-19 response & recovery.
i4Policy led policy reforms in various African countries, leading to concrete policy contributions such as the Mali Startup Act, The Rwanda 7yr Youth Employment and Private Sector Development Strategy, the Nigeria ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Vision (NIIEV), the Botswana Entrepreneurship Policy, the Senegal Startup Act, and several policy drafts currently under consideration, such as the Rwanda Startup Act and Tech-Enabled Innovation Policy, the DRC Startup Act, the Kenya Startup Bill, the Ghana Startup Bill, and the South Africa Startup Act.