Privacy Policy

Effective date: 20/09/2025
Last updated: 08/11/2025

1) Who we are

Smart Africa Guide (“we”, “us”, “our”) operates https://smartafricaguide.com (the “Site”). We provide informational content on scholarships, e-learning, jobs & careers, finance & remittance, telecom, and related topics across Africa.

  • Legal entity: Tarun Asrani
  • Registered address: M 16/192, Gokul Apartment, Sola Road, Naranpura, Ahmedabad – 380013, Gujarat, India
  • Contact (privacy): contact@smartafricaguide.com
  • Data Controller: Smart Africa Guide (for EEA/UK users under GDPR)
  • Data Protection Officer (if appointed): N/A

2) Scope

This Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, secure, retain, and transfer personal data when you:

  • browse or use the Site,
  • contact us (e.g., forms, email),
  • subscribe to updates,
  • interact with our social media or embedded third-party content,
  • click on affiliate or advertising links.

It applies to users worldwide, with additional rights sections for EEA/UK, California (USA), South Africa, and Nigeria.

3) Information we collect

a) You provide directly

  • Contact details (name, email) when you submit a form or email us.
  • Content in messages (questions, feedback, support requests).
  • Preferences/consents (e.g., cookie choices, marketing opt-in/out).

b) Collected automatically

  • Usage/Device data: IP address, browser type/version, OS, device identifiers, pages viewed, time/date, referral URL, approximate location (city/country), session duration.
  • Cookies & similar tech: To run the Site, remember preferences, measure performance, and (if enabled) personalize ads.

c) From third parties

  • Analytics (e.g., Google Analytics 4).
  • Advertising & affiliates (e.g., ad networks, affiliate platforms) may report conversions so we can attribute commissions.
  • Hosting/CDN & security providers may log IPs for performance and threat prevention.

We do not intentionally collect special/sensitive categories (e.g., health, religion) nor knowingly collect data from children under 13 (or relevant local age). See Children’s Privacy below.

4) Why and how we use personal data (lawful bases)

We process personal data to:

  • Operate the Site (performance of a contract / legitimate interests).
  • Respond to inquiries and provide support (performance of a contract / legitimate interests).
  • Analytics & performance to understand traffic, fix issues, improve UX and content (legitimate interests; consent where required).
  • Security & abuse prevention (legitimate interests; legal obligations).
  • Legal compliance (e.g., tax, accounting, responding to lawful requests).
  • Marketing/communications (with consent where required; you can opt out anytime).
  • Affiliate/advertising attributions (legitimate interests; consent where required).

Where local law requires consent (e.g., for non-essential cookies in EEA/UK), we rely on your consent and provide a way to withdraw it.

5) Cookies and similar technologies

We use cookies, local storage, and pixels for:

  • Strictly necessary (core site features, security, load balancing).
  • Performance/analytics (e.g., GA4—anonymized/aggregated where possible).
  • Advertising/affiliate tracking (if/when enabled).

You can control cookies via our cookie banner (for EEA/UK users) and your browser settings. Blocking some cookies may impact Site functionality.

6) Analytics

We use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to measure traffic and performance. GA4 may collect IP (with regional controls), device, and event data. You can opt out with browser settings, our cookie banner (where applicable), or Google’s tools.

7) Advertising & affiliate links

We may include affiliate links to products/services. If you click and purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate networks may set cookies or use other identifiers to attribute referrals. We mark sponsored/affiliate content where required and follow platform policies.

If we enable programmatic ads or ad networks, they may use cookies or similar tech to measure and personalize ads subject to your consent/choices.

8) Emails & forms

When you contact us via forms or email:

  • We process your submission to respond and maintain records (legitimate interests/contract).
  • We send system/transactional emails via SMTP or a trusted email service.
  • For any marketing emails, we obtain consent where required and include an unsubscribe link.

9) Comments & user content

If Site comments are enabled, we may collect the data shown, your IP, and browser user agent to help spam detection. Public comments are visible to others; do not post personal/sensitive data.

10) Social media, embeds & external links

Our content may embed third-party media (e.g., YouTube, X/Twitter) or link to external sites. Those services may collect data independently under their own policies. We are not responsible for third-party privacy practices—please review their policies.

11) Sharing of data

We share data only as needed with:

  • Service providers (hosting, CDN, security, analytics, email, forms, backup).
  • Affiliate/advertising partners (conversion/attribution data).
  • Professional advisors (legal, accounting) and authorities where legally required.
  • Business transfers (e.g., merger, acquisition)—subject to this Policy’s protections.

We do not sell your personal information in the common sense of “for money.” Where local law defines “sale” or “sharing” more broadly (e.g., California), see Regional Rights.

12) International transfers

We may store/process data in countries outside your own. Where required (e.g., EEA/UK), we use lawful transfer mechanisms such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or rely on adequacy decisions. We take steps to protect your data consistent with this Policy.

13) Data retention

We keep personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes above, including legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Retention varies by category:

  • Contact/support emails: normally up to 24 months after last contact.
  • Analytics data: per provider’s default/your consent choices.
  • Server/security logs: up to 12 months unless needed longer for investigations.
  • Legal/financial records: per statutory requirements.

14) Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures (encryption in transit via HTTPS, access controls, backups, least-privilege, firewalls/malware scanning). No method is 100% secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security.

15) Your rights

Your rights depend on where you live. Subject to limits/exceptions, you may have the right to:

  • Access your data.
  • Correct/rectify inaccurate data.
  • Delete/erase data.
  • Object or restrict processing.
  • Data portability.
  • Withdraw consent (where processing is based on consent).
  • Opt out of certain disclosures/“sales”/“sharing” (California).
  • Complain to a supervisory authority.

How to exercise rights

Email us at contact@smartafricaguide.com with “Privacy Request” in the subject. We may need to verify your identity. We aim to respond within applicable legal timeframes.

16) Regional notices

EEA & UK (GDPR/UK-GDPR)

  • Lawful bases: consent, contract, legal obligation, legitimate interests.
  • You can contact your local data protection authority. If we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time via our cookie banner or by emailing us.

California (CCPA/CPRA)

  • We do not sell personal information for money. If we engage in cross-context behavioral advertising, it may be considered “sharing.” You can opt out via our cookie banner (“Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information”) or by contacting us.
  • California residents may request access, deletion, correction, and information about disclosures. We will not discriminate for exercising rights.

South Africa (POPIA)

  • We process personal information lawfully and reasonably for defined purposes. You may request access/correction or lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator.

Nigeria (NDPR)

  • We process personal data fairly and lawfully with due regard to your rights. You may request access/correction/erasure and lodge complaints with NITDA.

17) Children’s privacy

Our Site is intended for a general audience and not directed to children under the age of 13 (or the relevant local age of digital consent under applicable law, such as 16 in the EEA). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided personal data to us, please contact us at contact@smartafricaguide.com. If we discover that a child under the relevant age has provided us with personal data, we will delete such information from our systems as quickly as possible.

18) Automated decision-making / profiling

We do not engage in automated decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects. If this changes, we will update this Policy and, where required, obtain consent.

19) Changes to this Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date will change. Material changes will be highlighted on this page. Continued use of the Site after changes means you accept the updated Policy.

20) Contact us

For questions or privacy requests:
Email: contact@smartafricaguide.com

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