By Millicent Senava Mannah

Orange Sierra Leone has officially launched the 7th edition of the Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP) in Sierra Leone, marking its 15th edition across Africa and the Middle East. The competition, aimed at supporting social innovation and encouraging local entrepreneurship, will open for submissions on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

The OSVP competition invites applicants from 17 Orange affiliates across Africa and the Middle East, including Sierra Leone, to submit their applications for both the National and International competition. Interested individuals must submit their applications by May 18, 2025. The registration portal is available at: https://poesam.orange.com/en/, while further information about the OSVP can be accessed at: https://www.orange.com/en/osvp.

As a responsible corporate and social investor, Orange Sierra Leone aims to contribute to the development of human capital, promote local social and environmental innovations and encourage entrepreneurship within Sierra Leone. Since its inception in 2019, the OSVP has awarded innovative projects in fields such as education, healthcare, e-commerce and agriculture, with a focus on digital solutions that contribute to sustainable development goals.

The competition is divided into two stages:

- The National Stage:


Applications for the National and Women's competition will be accepted from March 11 to May 18, 2025. At the end of this application phase, a national pitch competition will be held in August 2025 to determine the winners of the National and Women’s categories. The winners will receive the following prizes:

- NLe 200,000 for the National Winner


- NLe 120,000 for the Women’s Winner

- The International Stage:


The winners from the National and Women’s categories in each of the 17 Orange affiliates will automatically be entered into the international phase. After evaluation, 10 finalists will be selected. A final jury, consisting of African tech influencers, will determine the top three winners of the OSVP International Grand Prize, which will be awarded in October/November 2025.

International Women’s Prize:


In line with Orange’s commitment to gender equality, an International Women's Prize will be awarded for the fifth consecutive year. This prize will recognize a woman who offers a technological solution that improves the living conditions of women, such as enhancing women’s independence, job creation, gender data collection and digital or financial inclusion.

The international and women’s competition winners will receive the following prizes:

- €25,000 for 1st place International Winner


- €15,000 for 2nd place International Winner


- €10,000 for 3rd place International Winner


- €20,000 for the Women’s International Winner

Orange Sierra Leone, a leading telecommunications operator and service provider in Sierra Leone, is committed to meeting the socio-economic needs of the society. The company, licensed by the National Communication Authority, aims to improve the daily lives of people in Sierra Leone through responsible and innovative digital experiences.

Orange has a presence in 18 countries across Africa and the Middle East, serving over 143 million customers as of December 31, 2022. With revenues of 6.9 billion euros in 2022, Orange MEA (Middle East and Africa) remains the first growth area within the Orange group. The company’s flagship service, Orange Money, offers mobile-based money transfer and financial services in 17 countries, serving more than 80 million customers. Through its wide range of digital services, Orange is a key partner in supporting the region’s digital transformation.

The OSVP competition serves as an important platform for social entrepreneurship, technological innovation, and the sustainable development of Africa and the Middle East.