Expanding Our Global Footprint: ALCA Signs Memorandum of Understanding with the EUATC
We are thrilled to officially announce that ALCA has signed a Memorandum of Understandingwith the European Union of Associations of Translation Companies (EUATC). This partnershipmarks a major milestone for our organization, forging closer ties between the African andEuropean language services industries. Since our founding in 2023, ALCA’s mission has been to empower and expand the languageservices sector across the African continent. This agreement with the EUATC opens upincredible new pathways for our members, committing both organizations to joint projects,knowledge sharing, and a robust exchange of market intelligence. As we prepare for our third Annual Conference in Ghana this August, themed “Turning Changeinto Growth in the Age of Automation,” we look forward to welcoming our European counterpartsand building a sustainable bridge between our two industries.To read the full announcement and details of the collaboration, view the original article on theEUATC website. Read the Full Article on the EUATC Website
ALCA and GATI Formalise Partnership to Promote Industry Growth
ACCRA, GHANA — In a major step forward for the African language services sector, the Association of Language Companies in Africa (ALCA) and the Ghana Association of Translators and Interpreters (GATI) have officially entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This strategic alliance establishes a collaborative framework designed to elevate professional standards, foster capacity development, and drive sustainable growth across the continent’s language industry. The Ghana Association of Translators and Interpreters (GATI) is the national professional association representing translators and interpreters in Ghana. Founded in 1992, the Association serves as a platform for promoting excellence, professionalism, and ethical standards in translation and interpretation. Following a successful reorganization in 2016, GATI has continued to strengthen its role as the voice of language professionals in Ghana, fostering collaboration, professional development, and engagement with national, regional, and international partners. Through advocacy, capacity building, and networking, GATI is committed to advancing the language services profession and supporting effective multilingual communication in Ghana and beyond. ALCA and GATI represent key pillars of the region’s linguistic infrastructure. By uniting ALCA’s continental reach with GATI’s deep-rooted expertise in translation and interpretation, the partnership aims to create a stronger, more unified voice for language professionals and service providers alike. The agreement outlines a comprehensive roadmap for mutual growth. While both organizations will maintain their strict independence and unique governance structures, they have committed to combining their strengths across several critical areas: Professional Excellence & Certification: Jointly promoting industry best practices, professional development, and robust certification initiatives to elevate the quality of language services. Knowledge Sharing & Thought Leadership: Collaborating on research, academic publications, webinars, workshops, and major industry conferences. Advocacy & Ethics: Championing the rights and recognition of language professionals and language service providers (LSPs) while strictly enforcing high ethical standards within the market. Joint Marketing: Launching awareness campaigns to highlight the critical role that translation, localization, and interpretation play in Africa’s socioeconomic development The MOU serves as a formal statement of mutual intention, built on mutual goodwill and a commitment to collaborate in good faith. To ensure maximum agility, the agreement is structured as a non-binding framework. Specific projects, joint commercial activities, and dedicated funding arrangements will be managed through separate, targeted written agreements as individual initiatives arise. This partnership bridges the gap between corporate language companies (ALCA) and individual practitioners (GATI) and ensures that translators, interpreters, and localizers are not only globally competitive but are also leading the narrative on how Africa communicates with itself and the rest of the world.
Meet the Team of Professionals Helping Build ALCA’s Next Chapter
As ALCA prepares for its 3rd Annual Conference in Accra this August, we are proud to introduce three volunteers who have joined the team, each bringing a distinct background, a clear purpose, and a shared belief that the African language services industry can thrive. Here is who they are, what brought them here, and what they are working toward. Shirley-Grace Hart Strategy, Communications & Moderator , ALCA Webinar Series Shirley-Grace Hart is a Pan-African entrepreneur, strategist, and the Managing Partner of Foundher, a social enterprise supporting female founders and operators across Africa. She also serves as CMO of Marketing Africa and Editor-in-Chief of OWL Intelligence, a commissioned business intelligence publication. Her ventures sit under Sogba Dynasty, a holding company building platforms across marketing, travel, language, and community. She is currently an MBA candidate at the Nigerian University of Technology and Management (NUTM) in Lagos, where she also serves as a Research Assistant, working with faculty on case study research across African business contexts. Her interest in African languages is not peripheral. Shirley-Grace is the founder of Òwá, a Pan-African language learning platform built to make African languages accessible, practical, and commercially viable for the next generation. It is this work that first drew her to ALCA , and convinced her that the industry needed not just practitioners, but builders and advocates willing to close the gap between language as culture and language as infrastructure. Building Òwá means confronting, daily, the reality that African languages are underrepresented in technology, undervalued in commerce, and underdocumented as an industry. Volunteering with ALCA felt less like a decision and more like a natural next step. She wanted to be close to the people doing the real work , translators, localisers, language technologists, and company owners building something the continent genuinely needs , and to contribute where her skills in strategy, communication, and platform thinking could add value. Shirley-Grace brings to ALCA a conviction that visibility is infrastructure. An industry that cannot tell its own story cannot attract the investment, talent, or policy attention it deserves. Her goal is to help ALCA sharpen how it communicates the value of this sector , to practitioners, to businesses, to investors, and to the public. She also hopes to build connections between the language services ecosystem and the broader African tech and business community, positioning language not as a support function but as a strategic asset in Africa’s economic future. Kingsley AmoakoResearch, Sponsorship & Outreach , ALCA Annual Conference 2026 Kingsley Amoako is an MCIPS-qualified procurement and supply chain professional with over 14 years of experience in the UN Rome-based agency ecosystem. He holds an MSc in Procurement and Supply Chain Management from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland, and a BBA in Business Administration from the University of Rome Tor Vergata. In his current role as Procurement and Supply Chain Specialist at the Office of the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN Rome-based Agencies, Kingsley manages the full procurement cycle end-to-end, from drafting tender documents and evaluating bids through to contract management and compliance. He has overseen 30+ concurrent vendor contracts and maintained zero audit findings across four consecutive review cycles. Beyond procurement, he brings deep operational experience in high-level international event support, having led supplier research, vendor coordination, and logistics for over 90 international events. He also volunteers with St. Andrew’s Church of Scotland in Rome, coordinating humanitarian logistics for essential goods distribution. He is fluent in English and Italian and is actively advancing his French. Kingsley spent 14 years inside the United Nations procurement world, supporting agencies whose mandate spans global development and food security. Throughout that time, language was an invisible thread running through everything , translating policies, localising communications, navigating multilingual negotiations. The language industry, he observed, does foundational work that rarely receives the credit it deserves. When he encountered ALCA and its work building a professional home for African LSPs, something clicked. Africa has over 2,000 languages. The continent’s digital economy is growing fast. And yet the infrastructure supporting African-language technology companies , the tooling, the associations, the institutional frameworks, is still being built. He did not come to this role as a language industry insider. He came as someone who knows what it takes to build something that lasts, and what happens when good coordination is missing from a high-stakes event. Kingsley’s contribution spans three workstreams: ALCA Research, Sponsorship Drive, and Outreach Tracking. He is building a verified, structured database of 100+ contacts, LSPs, associations, technology buyers, and sponsor prospects mapped across the continent. On sponsorship, he is working a systematic pipeline toward the conference’s revenue targets, with personalised outreach, clear follow-up sequences, and honest tracking. On outreach, his goal is real-time visibility across every sponsor, delegate, and partner relationship the team is managing, no silos, no ambiguity. His broader ambition for the ALCA Annual Conference to be held from August 27–28, 2026 in Accra is straightforward: a conference that felt properly prepared, where sponsors felt valued, delegates felt welcomed, and the conversations that took place genuinely advanced the African language industry. Mich-Seth Owusu Sponsorship & Outreach , ALCA Annual Conference 2026 Mich-Seth Owusu is a dedicated problem solver and innovation leader with an extensive background in implementing knowledge-sharing projects for development programs across Africa. Currently serving as the Community Lead for Ghana Natural Language Processing (Ghana NLP), he manages a community of over 500 NLP enthusiasts and leads capacity-building initiatives to advance local-led solutions to NLP problems. Most notably, he has championed the accessibility of African linguistic resources by creating and publishing over 1,000 open-access datasets, significantly supporting the broader AI community on the continent. His commitment to indigenous languages is further reflected in his role as the Founder of Kasanoma, an open-source initiative that has developed offline Text-To-Speech models for languages in Ghana, Malawi, and Mozambique. Mich also brings extensive experience in development and humanitarian cooperation, having worked with organizations such as the African Union and the United Nations World Food Programme. Driven by a
Discover Ghana: Exclusive Day Tours for ALCA Annual Conference 2026 Attendees!
We are thrilled to partner with TRAVELO to offer our conference attendees a curated selection of insightful, exciting, and adventurous day tours. Whether you want to dive into Ghana’s rich history, navigate vibrant local markets, or escape into serene nature, there is a perfect itinerary waiting for you. Group Tour Option If you want to opt for a group tour, you can still apply as an individual and the tour team will compose the groups and send you a confirmation or update. All tour packages are fully hosted and include private transportation (pick-up & drop-off), all entrance fees, a dedicated tour guide, and professional photos to capture your memories. View Detailed Itineraries Download the full day tours brochure to explore all available itineraries,inclusions, and important details. Download Brochure (PDF)
ALCA and ATC Announce Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Language Services Between Africa and the UK
The Association of Language Companies in Africa (ALCA) is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with the UK-based Association of Translation Companies (ATC). The partnership marks an important step in strengthening collaboration between language service providers in Africa and the United Kingdom, creating new opportunities for knowledge sharing, professional development, business growth, and international cooperation. ALCA Founders and Board Members, Christian Elongué, Ady Namaran Coulibaly, and Johan Botha, welcomed the announcement: “We are building ALCA from the ground up to facilitate knowledge sharing, best practices, and resilience within the African language services sector. Partnering with the ATC is a significant step toward that vision. We look forward to a collaboration that amplifies African expertise, strengthens professional networks, and creates new opportunities across our industry.” The partnership comes at a time when the United Kingdom is seeking deeper trade and investment relationships across Africa. As organisations expand into increasingly diverse markets, the need for linguistic, cultural, and localisation expertise continues to grow. ATC CEO Raisa McNab highlighted the importance of the collaboration: “The ATC is positioning itself and its members as facilitators of international trade. Working closely with ALCA will help businesses better understand Africa’s diverse markets and leverage language and cultural expertise to support international growth.” The partnership also creates practical opportunities for ATC member companies seeking trusted African language partners. Through ALCA’s growing network of language service providers across the continent, organisations can build long-term relationships with regional experts and expand their multilingual capabilities. From established ATC members such as Thought in Motion in Botswana to ALCA founding members Bolingo Consult, Kabod Group in Ghana, and Folio Online in South Africa, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the global language services industry through collaboration and regional expertise. ALCA looks forward to working closely with Raisa McNab and the wider ATC community to promote excellence, innovation, and sustainable growth across Africa’s language services sector.
Call for Speakers
Deadline: March 15, 2025Time: 23:00 PM Universal Time (UTC) ALCA invites industry professionals, researchers, and business leaders to submit proposals to speak at the conference. Presentations, case studies, and panel discussions are welcome on topics such as: Interested speakers should submit their proposals by March 15, 2025. Registration:Please submit your proposals by using this link in Register Here Please kindly submit ONLY one proposal.
Upcoming Webinar: Navigating Pricing Strategies for LSPs
Date: October 18, 2024Time: 1:00 PM Universal Time (UTC)Featured Speaker: Oumi Ferguson The Association of Language Companies in Africa (ALCA) is excited to announce an insightful webinar tailored for Language Service Providers (LSPs) looking to enhance their pricing strategies in today’s competitive market. Webinar Title: Navigating Pricing Strategies for LSPs: Balancing Profitability and Value in a Competitive Market In this engaging session, industry expert Oumi Ferguson will share her expertise on pricing models and strategies that drive profitability while ensuring exceptional value for clients. Participants will gain valuable insights into: This webinar is ideal for LSP owners, managers, sales professionals, and anyone involved in pricing strategy or business development within the localization industry. Q&A Session: An interactive Q&A session will follow the presentation, providing participants the opportunity to address specific challenges and gain insights directly from Oumi. Don’t miss this opportunity to refine your pricing strategy and drive profitability in your organization! Registration:Please register in advance to secure your spot: Register HereAfter registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information on joining the meeting. Join us and take a significant step toward optimizing your pricing strategies for long-term success!
Dealing With New And Old Problems In The Language Services Industry – Challenges And Solutions
Author: Rita Prazeres Gonçalves Introduction The world of translation is changing, and the way freelance translators and translation companies (LSPs) work together is changing too. However, there has never been a time when these two major actors in this business needed each other so much. In this article, I will look at some of the latest changes the industry faces, but also at some old problems that have not necessarily been addressed and are still pain points for many translators and LSPs. Prices and Deadlines In more recent years, the pressure to deliver faster and more affordable translation has turned this space from a place where professional freelance translators, with a fair amount of experience and expertise could feel like they were established and knew (for the most part) what they could take on: a steady workflow, a secured place in the list of preferred translators in quite a few LSPs, maybe a direct client here and there, the need to keep on learning and evolving at a nice pace, working on their skills to include a new specialization… These days, with all the investment made in new technologies, mergers and acquisitions and the constant need to show an improvement in gross and net profit, LSPs must find ways to cater to the demands of all parts involved and, many times, offer their translators, and other language professionals, lower rates, and increasingly shorter deadlines. As a result, freelancers face the dilemma of accepting reduced rates, undermining the value of their expertise, and keeping up with insane turnaround times that leave them feeling frustrated and anxious about their future. Isolation and Lack of Support Most freelancers feel anonymous and undervalued within the industry. From LSPs that contact their talent via automated messages and are always looking for the cheapest vendor to assign projects, to agencies that ghost them after a long recruitment process – including filling out paperwork, preparing credentials and references and an unpaid translation test, translators can feel drained. In most cases, freelancers work from home, which has its advantages in terms of flexibility and opportunities but has less positive consequences, such as isolation, lack of support, and poor mental health. All this leads to disengagement and disillusionment. The African Landscape I have recently connected with a few of the members of ALCA. This led me to look for a bit more information about the language services scene in this magical continent. I found the conversation that Johan Botha (co-founder of ALCA), had with GALA about the language technology in Africa. See more here. All the current issues that affect the language services industry seem a bit less difficult to deal with, when we realize that in this part of the world some of the greatest issues are related to “connectivity”. This needs to be taken into consideration in the process of localizing content for the region. It was just incredible for me to hear all the hurdles that translators, LSPs and clients go through to get projects done. Johan mentioned things like difficult access to on-line CAT Tools, the excessive cost of internet services, the fact that translators need to avoid high traffic in internet connections, the lack of resources like glossaries, term bases, TMs, and many other factors. All of this has a tremendous impact on the way projects and workflows need to be managed. I am, now, wondering… what kind of relationship do freelance translators in African countries have with both local and global LSPs? What kind of help do they have to provide to each other to somehow be able to cater to the language needs of their clients and audiences they serve. If language professionals are facing complicated times, and feel the need to change so many things around. When technical issues of this magnitude are not in their list of pain points. How do African freelancers deal with this and everything that is going on in the industry? The Future is Now! This is the time to acknowledge the realities of the big language services family. Both freelance translators and LSPs can work together to find solutions that benefit everyone involved. Let us build a future where freelance language professionals are valued partners. In this scenario transparent communication, and fair treatment are essential. Through close collaboration, and a genuine commitment to understanding each other’s specific situations, we can do better, be better and make the industry better. I find myself thinking that we need to learn more from the human library we have access to through social media platforms, networking events, conferences, and other forums and be supportive of others who are facing the same challenges as us, but under even harsher conditions. The way forward is all about Communication, Trust, and Community! I cannot wait to hear from translators and company owners what their experience is regarding all this and what they have been doing to ensure clear communication, positive human relations, and, above all, trust in each other!
ALCA Industry Research Commissioning Initiative
Terms of Reference (ToR) Background Africa’s over 2000 languages paint a vibrant picture of diverse cultures and perspectives. Yet, bridging these linguistic divides can be a significant obstacle, hindering communication and knowledge exchange. This is where Language Service Providers (LSPs) emerge as vital actors, weaving bridges between languages and fostering understanding. Researching the landscape of LSPs in Africa transcends mere market analysis. It delves into a realm where marginalized languages find their champions, local businesses gain a global voice, and knowledge flows freely across borders. Imagine a research endeavor that maps the expertise of LSPs, ensuring even the least common languages have their specialists. Such knowledge empowers communities and safeguards linguistic heritage. Imagine policymakers, armed with research insights on LSPs, crafting policies that dismantle language barriers in education and public services, fostering a more inclusive society where everyone participates and thrives. The significance of researching LSPs extends far beyond the industry itself. It unlocks Africa’s potential by empowering skilled professionals, expanding business horizons, and enriching lives through knowledge exchange across the continent. It envisions a future where communication flows seamlessly, fueled by LSP expertise and the power of mutual understanding. When a voice is translated, a document localized, or a message interpreted across African languages, recognize the critical role of LSPs. Remember, research in this domain is not merely about numbers, but about weaving a brighter future where every voice is heard and understood, thread by precious thread. This is why the Association of Language Companies in Africa (ALCA) is seeking applications from researchers to conduct a comprehensive industry research initiative. The aim of this research is to provide insights about language services companies in Africa and the environment in which they operate. Methodology The research will utilize a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, including surveys, interviews, and data analysis while prioritizing ethical considerations and ensuring informed consent, confidentiality, and data security. Timeline The research initiative is expected to span three (3) months, with specific milestones outlined for each research section. Qualification of the Researcher The selected researcher should hold a minimum of a Master’s or Ph.D. degree in humanities or related field. Evidence of previous research related to the area of this research will be an advantage. Proposal Submission Researchers are invited to submit their proposals by March 5, 2024 to coordinator@alca-association.org. Proposals should include details on the researcher’s qualifications, experience.
Association of Language Companies in Africa Launches to Unify Continent’s Industry
February, 09,2024 Much news in the language industry is focused on the “global North,” namely Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. Africa is often mentioned in relation to improved coverage of, or technology for, low-resource languages. However, the launch of a new initiative in Africa will help mitigate this lack of awareness. As of 2020, the Masakhane Project had gathered more than 60 participants from 15 countries to collaborate and build machine translation (MT) models for African languages. And now, a new professional organization for language service providers (LSPs) in Africa is making its debut at the 4th Africa International Translation Conference in Kigali, Rwanda. The Association of Language Companies in Africa (ALCA) was officially registered as a non-profit in August 2023 in Accra, borne out of what its four co-founders saw as an opportunity for an umbrella organization to connect existing regional associations. Africa’s traditional localization hubs are in South Africa, Egypt, and Kenya, with “countries such as Ghana, Rwanda, and Cameroon quickly becoming strong contenders in their own right,” explained ALCA co-founder Johan Botha. Kabod Group’s Christian Elongué and Bolingo Consult’s Ady Coulibaly, both in Ghana, began to discuss a unifying association for African LSPs in early 2023. They were soon joined by Alred Mitwali from CAN Translators in Kenya, and Botha, of Folio Online in South Africa. Botha told Slator that the number of LSPs in Africa is currently impossible to estimate without reliable data, due in part to companies not participating in — or even being aware of — international industry surveys. If there were more data, Botha said, “I do expect that companies with one to three employees would dominate the landscape in more regions of the continent.” The advent of technology, and AI in particular, convinced ALCA’s co-founders that now was the time to appeal to African LSPs. Working in regional isolation, Botha said, has historically slowed down the African language industry’s growth as a whole. While they grapple with many of the same issues as LSPs in other parts of the world, companies in Africa may have to take into account additional considerations. “Connectivity issues are unfortunately still widespread across the continent and [are] a big headache for many LSPs wanting to provide a cutting-edge online service using all of the latest tools and cloud software,” he said. Botha noted that the ALCA launch in Kigali will offer a chance for the organization to speak to ALCA’s main target market in person, adding, “This is still very early days but so far the response has been extremely positive.” Source: Slator