FEATURE : OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICA
Bloomberg . Since 2021 , tech start-ups across the continent received US $ 4.77 billion in investments , reports the World Economic Forum , with the emergence of at least five new tech-unicorns , among such notables as Chipper Cash , valued at more than US $ 2 billion , Andela , valued at more than US $ 1.5 billion and OPay , valued at more than US $ 2 billion .
Leadership and creating talent
While there are concerns for how evenly distributed tech investment is across the continent , there are other factors which give much cause for optimism . According to UNESCO , women represent almost a third ( 30 %) of professionals in Africa ’ s tech sector , a figure above the global average of 28 %.
This is attributed to co-ordinated action to involve women and girls in tech and STEM fields on the continent through initiatives such as ‘ Women in Tech Africa ’, ‘ She Code Africa ’ and ‘ Africa Code Week ’, which equip women and girls with skills and opportunities aimed at reducing gender disparity .
These efforts are already yielding results ahead of other regions . The global FinTech think tank Findexable has found that in Africa there are twice as many female chief technical officers versus the global average . Furthermore , Africa has the highest proportion of female board members and with the Middle East , hosts the highest share of female CEOs . In Africa , as with Latin America and the Middle East , more than 10 % of female executives are in the top job .
This is most encouraging to ensure that the overall benefits of education , opportunity and career choice are available to and availed of by women . This also ensures that companies across the continent are better placed to foster cultures of innovation , as attested to by experiences in diversity and inclusion elsewhere .
African regions requires that they be understood for their diversity and their uniqueness . Templates and direction will not work here . The best of international experience , technology and equipment must be put at the disposal of these tech leaders to leverage these resources in their own unique way .
With the right supports through vendor , channel and partner relationships , African tech leaders can be supported to address local challenges , optimise operations and take full advantage of the specific characteristics of talent and markets .
Sustainability advantage
As many countries in Africa have low emission economies , there is a huge opportunity for sustainable development , incorporating the wave of renewable energy sources ( RES ) coming online , so that the foundations being built for future digital economies are sustainable from the outset . For example , hydropower grew by 25 %, while solar and wind capacity increased by 13 % and 11 %, respectively , from 2019 to 2020 .
Natalya Makarochkina , Senior Vice President , Secure Power Division , International Operations at Schneider Electric
Supporting regional growth strategies for a sustainable future
As was seen with the mobile revolution across the African continent , a lack of traditional telecoms infrastructure did not stymy innovative implementation of mobile networks , the so called ‘ leapfrog ’ progress . This culture of adaptation , informed by local and regional insights , has created a resourceful and resilient tech sector , that has blossomed beyond to tackle some of the unique challenges faced by the huge diversity of countries , nations and cultures across Africa .
Having supported various international regions over my career , one enduring lesson has been to listen and understand local needs . The vibrancy of the various
www . intelligentcio . com INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA 47