On January 8th, 2021, the Who is Who in Tech in The Diaspora 2.0 networking event was held both in-person and virtually at The Disruptive Lab, organized and sponsored by PointClick Technologies. The event was hosted by Marie Jeng, Program Manager for The Woman Boss and Malik Khan, Founder and CEO of PointClick and Disruptive Lab. The aim of the event was to connect Gambians in the technology industry in the diaspora with local Gambians in the same industry. It also aimed to connect local NGOs, donors, and the government to understand how they can play their part in the digital transformation of the country.

The event was well attended by representatives from several organizations including The World Bank Group, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Trade Center (ITC), Microsoft, Hulu, AidBanc, Facebook, InnovaRX, Skills.GM, OutBoost Media and Analytics, Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), ITAG, The Hub, VR Revival, Disruptive Lab, PointClick Technologies, and the Ministry of Information, Communication, and Infrastructure (MOICI).

Malik Khan, in his welcome remarks, talked about the Innovate Gambia initiatives launched in November 2017 and the need for a collective effort to propel the country forward. He emphasized the importance of understanding the root cause of the challenges faced by the country and the need to tackle them head-on.

Aneliya Muller of the World Bank Group gave an overview of the Digital Economy for Africa (DE4A) initiatives and the current diagnostics underway in The Gambia. She mentioned that they have already met with several stakeholders to understand the challenges and gaps in The Gambia’s Digital Economy, with plans to complete the final report by June 2021.

The event served as an excellent platform for attendees to network, exchange ideas and learn about various ongoing initiatives aimed at promoting the digital economy in The Gambia. The presence of high-profile organizations such as Microsoft and Facebook also demonstrated the increasing interest and investment in the country’s tech industry. Overall, the event was a great success, and its impact will undoubtedly be felt in the country’s technology industry.