Africa Tech | Changing the Story

When you think of technology and innovation, Africa is probably not the first continent that would come to mind. And yet, tech hubs are springing up all over whilst the number of internet and mobile phone users continues to rise rapidly.

Sure, there are challenges. Recent internet shutdowns in Zimbabwe, electricity load-shedding in South Africa and very uneven network coverage are compounded by persistent systemic inequality, inconsistent educational opportunities and a lack of affordability. Indeed, the World Bank found in 2016 that though 46% of the world’s population had internet access, in Sub-Saharan Africa this figure was closer to 20%.

Highlighting continental differences in digital access and development, according to a GSMA research report, almost half of all tech hubs are in just four African countries – Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. That said, from Gebeya in Ethiopia to BongoHive in Zambia, there are more and more spaces all over the continent, both online and physical, passionately dedicated to developing African technological talent, encouraging entrepreneurial growth and contributing to the global tech scene.

So much more than a communication device

The World Bank’s 2016 Digital Dividend’s report found that ‘more households in developing countries own a mobile phone than have access to electricity or clean water’. Indeed:

“For many consumers across Sub-Saharan Africa, the mobile phone is not just a communication device but also the primary channel to get online, as well as a vital tool to access various life-enhancing services.”

GSMA Mobile Economy 2018 Report

At the same time, the region is increasingly the crucible for innovative technological and digital responses to global social issues - from drone-delivered medicine and digital healthcare services to access to financial services.

International and national businesses are starting to pay more attention. Facebook, for example, is set to open its first sub-Saharan content review centre in Kenya whilst in Zambia, Zamtel have recently gone into partnership with Mazhandu buses to provide free on board Wi-Fi and e-ticketing capacity. Increasingly, apps that are less data intensive – for example GoogleGo – are being developed and promoted to address the high costs of data.

Partnership and Collaboration

What is more, there are many professionals on the continent with internationally recognised IT qualifications competing in a challenging employment market. On the other hand, most UK charities working in the region seem to have their IT function sat in the UK.

This is in no way to denigrate the UK IT and tech industry where huge numbers of talented individuals work hard to provide digital services and innovative solutions. We bring it up to question the logic of non-profits employing comparatively expensive support when you could hire equally talented support in the country you deliver projects in – directly contributing to the growth of the sector, contributing to economic growth, providing employment and chipping away at the harmful narrative that this is a continent that “needs outside help”.

Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Furthermore, Goal 9 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals includes the target to “support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries” and to “significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020.”

If there was a way to contribute to this whilst delivering your core projects, wouldn’t you jump at the chance?

At Clea, our core team is split between the UK and Zambia. We are focussed on growing our Zambian team whilst our longer-term aim is to establish a comprehensive IT Centre in Lusaka. This centre would provide employment to Zambian IT professionals and investment in local digital infrastructure whilst helping to deliver affordable world-class IT support and tech project delivery to non-profits and social enterprises committed to delivery measured and impactful programs in the region. As a UK charity, how better to spend your ‘unrestricted’ budget than on business that positively impacts the geography in which your programs are delivered?

A learning curve

We unabashedly put our hands up and readily admit that we do not know all the answers. We are however quite sure that there are many, many talented individuals in Zambia and beyond who have so much to give to the tech industry. We will continue to look at ways we can better work together to bridge the gap between UK organisations delivering projects in the region and the region’s professionals.

What do you think?

Should NGOs seek to hire their tech support from the geography they work within? How can ‘outside’ expertise best help? Business support, investment and mentoring? Skills and knowledge sharing? Network connections? We would love to hear your thoughts!