Fez — On August 13, Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) announced a partnership with The Hashgraph Association and Dar Blockchain to expand training and participation in the Hedera Africa Hackathon. The pan‑African competition launched on August 1 in collaboration with Exponential Science Foundation and focuses on building real‑world solutions using Hedera technology.
Under the agreement, Orange’s Orange Digital Center (ODC) network will deploy a certifying Hedera curriculum across 16 countries in the Middle East and Africa. Accessible online and at ODC facilities, the program targets youth, professionals, and founders seeking practical blockchain and Web3 skills ahead of hackathon milestones.
Co‑organized with Exponential Science Foundation, the hackathon will run in a hybrid format, combining continent‑wide online programming with in‑person sessions hosted at ODC sites. Organizers expect more than 10,000 participants.
Physical hubs will provide technical infrastructure, tailored mentoring, and networking opportunities. A prize pool of more than $1 million (approximately MAD 9 million) will reward the most promising projects.
Orange is present in 18 countries across Africa and the Middle East and counted 161 million customers as of December 31. Its mobile‑based financial services platform, Orange Money, is available in 17 countries.
The Hashgraph Association is a Swiss non‑profit that funds training, accreditation, and innovation programs to expand the adoption of Hedera‑based applications.
Tunisia‑based Dar Blockchain runs hackathons, workshops, and educational programs that connect African and MENA developers with global Web3 ecosystems.
