Who is Orange?

Orange is a French telecommunications company.

What was the challenge?

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a central economic and social role by creating new jobs, contributing to the balance of trade, encouraging the growth of a middle class, and creating and redistributing wealth. However, in sub-Saharan Africa, 85 percent of SMEs fail before the end of their second year.

Business incubators are designed to help small and medium-sized companies develop in a market where it can be difficult to thrive. Companies that follow an incubation process often have a survival rate of over 80 percent after five years.

What is the commitment?

With a vision to encourage a cooperative yet competitive ecosystem, Orange is advancing its open approach to innovation by introducing systemic changes. With a keen understanding of the needs in sub-Saharan Africa, Orange supported the creation of the SME Incubation Center in Niger (CIPMEN) established in Niamey, Niger. With support from local partners and the private and public sectors, the new incubator in Niamey aims to host, nurture and accelerate high growth potential SMEs working within the sectors of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), renewable energy and the environment over a period of 3 to 4 years.

What are the impacts?

CIPMEN has quickly become a key local player in driving and energising the ICT, renewable energy and environment sectors while aiming to support the emergence of new economic models and new business segments, as well as widening markets for local companies.

Looking toward the future, Orange plans to originate other similar initiatives through regional expansion.