Privacy Policy

Last updated: February 27, 2026

The Africa Innovation Awards (AIA) place particular importance on the protection of personal data collected through their website, nomination and application forms, selection processes, as well as events and communications related to the program.

This Privacy Policy describes how your data is collected, used, protected, and retained.

1 - Data Controller

The data controller for personal data collected within the framework of the Africa Innovation Awards is:

Organizing entity: WUTIKO SENEGAL LTD
Head office address: 13, Rue Calmette, Dakar
Country: Senegal
Phone: +221 77 239 00 00
Email: privacy[at]africainnovationawards.com

2- Data Subjects

This policy applies in particular to:

Website visitors
Project applicants
Individuals or organizations submitting a nomination
Jury members, experts, partners, and speakers
Participants in AIA events
Representatives of partner organizations
Individuals appearing in content submitted or produced within the framework of the program

3 - Data Collected

Within the AIA program, we may collect the following categories of data:

a) Identification Data

First name and last name
Position/title
Organization
Gender
Address (City, Country)
Email address
Phone number

b) Application and Nomination Data

Project/innovation name
Description of the problem and the solution
Sector of activity
Level of maturity (prototype, MVP, deployed solution)
Supporting materials (demo, links, pitch deck, metrics, supporting documents)
Team information
Traction, impact, or partnership data

c) Technical Data

IP address
Browser
Device type
Connection logs
Browsing data
Cookies, where applicable

d) Event and Communication Data

Photographs
Videos
Logos
Presentation materials
Participation in panels, pitches, or workshops

4 - Purposes of Processing

Your data may be collected and processed for the following purposes:

Managing the AIA website and forms
Receiving, reviewing, and evaluating applications and nominations
Contacting applicants, nominees, partners, or nominators
Organizing interviews, calls, pitches, webinars, training sessions, and events
Enabling the work of the jury, the scientific committee, and the management team
Conducting checks, evaluations, or due diligence
Communicating about the competition, finalists, winners, and related activities
Producing internal statistics, reports, and summaries
Ensuring security, compliance, and operational traceability

5 - Legal Basis for Processing

Processing activities carried out within AIA are based, depending on the case, on:

Your consent
The necessity of processing your file in connection with your application or nomination
The legitimate interest of the organizer in administering a competition, selection process, events, and related communications
Compliance with applicable legal or regulatory obligations

6 - Mandatory or Optional Nature of Data

Certain data is necessary for processing your application, nomination, or participation. Such data is identified as mandatory in the forms.

If you do not provide this data, your application may not be considered, may be deemed incomplete, or may not be processed.

7 - Data Recipients

Your data is accessible, strictly on a need-to-know basis, to:

The AIA organizing team / PMO
Jury members
Members of the scientific committee
Authorized technical service providers (hosting, forms, emailing, management tools)
Partners directly involved in a stage of the program, where necessary and appropriately regulated
Competent authorities, where required by law

Individuals accessing your data are subject to appropriate confidentiality obligations.

8 - Data Transfers

In the context of using digital tools or technical service providers, certain data may be hosted or processed outside Senegal.

In such cases, the organizer undertakes to implement appropriate measures to ensure an adequate level of protection and to regulate such transfers in accordance with applicable rules. Senegalese law governs personal data processing and data transfers under the supervision of the CDP.

9 - Data Retention Period

Data is retained for a period proportionate to the purposes pursued, in particular:

Applications: for the time necessary to manage the edition, communications, and post-awards follow-up, then archived
Technical data: according to standard security and operational retention periods
Contractual or administrative documents: in accordance with applicable legal obligations

At the end of these periods, data is deleted, anonymized, or securely archived as appropriate.

10 - Security

The organizer implements reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal data against loss, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

These measures include in particular:

Access restrictions
Securing forms
Confidentiality of evaluators
Protected file storage
Controlled internal data sharing
Authorization verification procedures

The CDP recommends securing forms and restricting access to data to authorized individuals only.

11 - Your Rights

Subject to the applicable legal framework, you may request:

Access to your data
Rectification of inaccurate or incomplete data
Deletion of certain data, where possible
Objection to certain processing activities
Restriction of certain uses
Withdrawal of your consent where processing is based on consent

You may exercise your rights by writing to: privacy[at]africainnovationawards.com. The organizer may request reasonable proof of identity before processing your request.

12 - Complaints

If you believe that your data is not being processed in accordance with applicable rules, you may submit a complaint to the organizer at the address above.

You may also contact the Commission for the Protection of Personal Data (CDP) of Senegal, the competent supervisory authority for personal data protection in Senegal.

13 - Minors’ Data

If AIA activities involve minors, particularly within youth categories or Kids Innovation Spaces, the organizer will implement specific measures, including parental authorization where necessary and enhanced supervision. Under Senegalese cybercrime law, the age of majority is 18 for the definition of a minor in this context.

14 - Cookies

The website may use technical cookies and, where applicable, audience measurement or third-party service cookies.

A preference management tool may be provided to allow users to accept, refuse, or configure these cookies.

15 - Policy Updates

This policy may be modified at any time, particularly in the event of changes to the website, program practices, or the applicable legal framework.

The online version shall prevail as of its publication date.

16 - Contact

For any questions regarding this policy or your personal data, you may contact:

WUTIKO SENEGAL LTD SAS
Head office address: 13, Rue Calmette – Dakar (Senegal)
Phone: +221 77 239 00 00
Email: privacy[at]africainnovationawards.com