A New Socio-Economy in Africa? Thintegration and the Mobile Phone Revolution

Much has been written about the impacts of information and communication technology (ICT) in Africa and its transformational socio-economic potential. The penetration of mobile phones in particular has been particularly marked in recent years. This paper seeks to interrogate the hypothesis of transformation by examining the ways in which Africa is integrated into global mobile phone value chain, and the uses to which this technology is put on the continent. While mobiles are having significant, and sometimes welfare enhancing impacts, their use is also embedded in existing relations of social support, resource extraction and conflict. Consequently their impacts are dialectical, facilitating change but also reinforcing existing power relations. As Africa is still primarily a user, rather than a producer or creator of ICT, this represents a form of thin integration (“thintegration”) into the global economy, which does not fundamentally alter the continent’s dependent position.

The Neglected Continent of IS Research: A Research Agenda for Sub-Saharan Africa

Research with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a major region within the world’s second largest continent, is almost non-existent in mainstream information systems research. Although infrastructures for information and communication technology (ICT) are well established in the more developed and industrialized parts of the world, the same is not true for developing countries. Research on developing countries has been rare in mainstream IS and, even where existent, has often overlooked the particular situation of SSA, home to 33 of the world’s 48 least-developed countries. Ironically, it is such parts of the world that can stand to gain the most from the promise of ICT with applications that would help the socioeconomic development of this region. In this study, we present the need for focused research on the ICT development and application for SSA. The information systems research community has a unique and valuable perspective to bring to the challenges this region faces in developing its ICT infrastructure, hence extending research and practice in ICT diffusion and policy. We present here a research agenda for studying the adoption, development, and application of ICT in SSA. In particular, teledensity, telemedicine, online education, and e-commerce present important areas for research, with implications for research, practice, and teaching

A Capabilitarian Account of the Potential of Mobile Money for Rural Poverty Reduction in Bauchi, Northern Nigeria

The concept of financial inclusion is partly about empowering underserved or unserved individuals with options to engage within a financial system. With the advent of mobile-money, many people living in rural and cash economies can use their mobile phones to access nontraditional means of banking. The ability to use mobile phones for payment and remittance purposes has changed the ways mobile phones and banking are used, because of the opportunity offered to underbanked and unbanked populations in many developing countries. Although there is an increasing amount of research in this area, studies relating mobile money to human development, and more specifically to rural poverty as ‘capability deprivation’ are limited. The capability approach has in recent decades emerged as a theoretical framework for understanding poverty, justice, inequality and human development. Although the approach has been extensively operationalised in varied contexts, there remains scarce overt interaction between the capability approach and the branch of research focused on assessing information and communications technology (ICT) for advancing human development. The capability approach is operationalised here to examine the transformative potential of ICTs in human development. In particular, the study assesses the effect of mobile-money on human capabilities of poor and rural individuals in Bauchi State, Northern Nigeria. Research insights are thus used to produce a capabilitarian account through which mobilemoney is evaluated in terms of its ability to expand or obstruct people’s valued human capabilities to achieve their ideas of ’the good’. Secondary evidence synthesised with empirical discoveries suggest that mobile-money is valuable if the range of financial services allow poor people to pursue their wellbeing goals by serving primarily as a savings platform and a facilitator of quick and dependable payments and transfers. While a proportion of rural populations are included (through capability expansion) in the mobile-money ecosystem, some remain inevitably excluded (through capability obstruction), and therefore still deprived in terms of their capabilities as a result of mobile-money. In conclusion, challenges relating to accessibility, affordability and awareness need to be adequately addressed in order for mobile-money to attain its transformative potential of reducing rural poverty. By exploring how mobile-money plays a role in enhancing or obstructing human capabilities, this study demonstrates that the capability approach lends itself to making a more robust analysis that allows a theorisation of the link between ICTs and human development

ICT-based Social Innovation in Africa: the case of Rwanda

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Sub-Saharan Africa has raised attention for its potential to foster multidimensional development. The rationale for ‘ICT for Development’ (ICT4D) revolves around Africa’s prospects to leapfrog to the digital economy amidst the 4th Industrial Revolution. This thesis reflects on the tech-based initiatives stemming from the African continent through the lens of “Social Innovation”. In other words, ICT-based applications whose primary goal is to tackle social challenges. Related tech products and services are seen as a ‘disruptive’ vehicle to address Africa’s need for ‘Homegrown Solutions’ to regional problems. They are context-specific and tailor-made to local realities. The conditions that foster the creation of impact-driven ICT innovation vary widely among African countries. The continent illustrates diverse ‘innovation ecosystems’ and ‘innovation cultures’. Nevertheless, there is a knowledge gap on how social innovation can be deliberately planned at large scale, and thus on how it translates into a practical formal strategy in contemporary African societies. This study examines Rwanda as a distinct case of African ICT-Based social innovation, that effectively manages to plan ICT-based Social Innovation as a state-led, formal practice. Embarking from the devastating 1994 genocide, Rwanda placed ICT at the forefront and formed a global “success story” of recovery and redevelopment. Presently, ICT Innovation is a cross-cutting force in Rwanda’s development agenda, serving the country’s complex socio-cultural context and macroeconomic particularities. Therefore, social innovation is policy-oriented and serves a long-term vision. The study investigates Rwanda’s approaches to reinforce ICT-based social innovation, by creating a conducive social innovation ecosystem and an innovation culture. It reviews strategies and practical initiatives that Rwanda employs for public mobilization and capacity-building and maps the conditions that enable social innovation to grow in Rwanda. The research conducted a preparatory document review of policies and strategies to outline Rwanda’s key priorities in ICT Innovation and ICT4D. Sequentially, the data collection used in-depth, semi-structured interviews with key informants in Rwanda. The thesis is exploratory and aims to identify key areas for further investigation. Results showed that the government’s openness to innovation and experimentation create a sense of shared purpose for innovation actors. The government designs tailor-made programs and campaigns directed to both users and innovators and establishes flagship regional initiatives that combine local and global approaches. Social innovation is enabled by a wide range of factors, notably sociocultural features, strong political will, the conducive business climate, Rwanda’s tech-based and market-driven development model, and Rwanda’s regional role as an ICT Hub in Africa. Perhaps more strikingly, visionary leadership and political championship enable the incremental growth of innovation. Rwanda’s social innovation ecosystem is supportive, synergetic and provides diversified opportunities for capacity-building and growth, whilst the innovation culture integrates cultural and traditional values in entrepreneurial ventures. Nevertheless, social innovation is a work in progress with challenges concerning finance, human resources, or adoption. Rwanda’s strategies are no fixed-recipe, but bring intriguing implications on how customized planning instruments can shape the conditions for social innovation to emerge

Promoting Entrepreneurship amid Youth in Windhoek’s Informal Settlements: A Namibian Case

Considering the high unemployment rate among Namibian youth and a lack of job opportunities, the promotion of entrepreneurship has gained wider attention in the country. A number of initiatives have been started such as entrepreneurship trainings and workshops, business idea competitions, etc. All these aim to inspire young people to think of alternative income sources. As part of a two-year funded community outreach research and development (R&D) project, we have investigated participatory approaches to engage marginalized youth into conceptualizing their own context, imparting skills, and deriving new career paths. This article reports and reflects on one of the interventions we have recently concluded with a group of youth in Havana, an informal settlement in the outskirts of Windhoek. We conducted what we entitled “The Havana Entrepreneur”, a series of interactions inspired upon the model of the American reality game show “The Apprentice”. Over a number of weeks two youth groups were given challenges to tackle by means of competing against one another. After completion of each challenge, groups were rated by a number of judges on skills demonstrated such as marketing, presentation, reflection and creativity among others. We observed an increase in, and improvement of skills revealed along tasks’ completion, besides an openly expressed self-realization and discovery of abilities by participants. Moreover, the youth are currently engaged in the continuation of activities beyond the initial entrepreneurial interactions. Thus we suggest replicating “The Havana Entrepreneur”, including the recording on camera of it by the youth themselves as a new mode to instigating a wider entrepreneurial spirit in informal settlements

Caught in the web : an analysis of South Africa's response to the emerging global information policy regime

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-126).This study provides a descriptive analysis of South Africa's response to the emerging global information policy regime. Compelled by a combination of hegemonic influences and its own self interest, this study argues that South Africa accepted the liberalising commitments of the emerging global information policy regime vis-a-vis the World Trade Organization Agreement on Basic Telecommunications. As a contribution to understanding inter-state cooperation in international relations, regime theory is utilised as the theoretical framework. The regime framework is used to explain the motivations behind South Africa's intention to liberalise its telecommunications sector as a result of power dynamics in the international system. The findings from the qualitative analysis note that South Africa's response is motivated by systemic and domestic factors. A willingness to enter the information economy and fulfil domestic social development means that South Africa has to balance its obligations to the WTO with the commitments to improve its domestic accessibility concerns. As a developing country with inadequate conditions for liberalisation, South Africa was unable to stop the strategic equity partners from capitalising on the poorly regulated telecommunications environment. The unfavourable result of high tariff charges and low fixed-line connectivity can be attributed to privatisation initiatives and lack of political will to promote competition. South Africa is in the midst of dramatic change in its telecommunications sector which is aided by technological convergence, further privatisation of the incumbent and the introduction of the Second Network Operator. The international scope of this study means that liberalisation is part of South Africa's broader commitments to the emerging global information policy regime. Entering the information economy is conditional on the successful implementation of international liberalisation policies so that the required investment and skills can assist in providing universal service to the majority of South Africa citizens. However, implementation requires a fair market structure, independent regulation and low interconnection charges. Without these important structures in place, this study notes that the goal of participation in the information economy and economic growth as a result of effective telecommunication utilisation is a distant reality

African Public Leadership on Technology Readiness and Diffusing the Circular Economy in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa is not yet ready to embrace the digital and the fourth industrial revolution, and there remains a literature gap about technology readiness and effective technology diffusion to support a circular economy transition in West and East African countries. The purpose of this qualitative, multiple case study was to describe African public leadership experts\u27 views on how sub-Saharan African leaders can enable technology readiness and the technology diffusion needed for a successful transition to a circular economy. A multiple case study design was used to collect data from a purposeful sample of 14 African public leadership experts. Semistructured interviews, archival data, and reflective field notes supported study findings through data triangulation. This study is framed by two key concepts: Rogers\u27s concept of diffusion of innovations and Grafström and Aasma\u27s concept of the circular economy. Twelve themes emerged from the data analysis with six coding categories grounded in the conceptual framework: (a) African public leaders’ technology readiness, (b) African public leaders enabling technology readiness for a circular economy transition, (c) African public leaders’ adoption of technology, (d) African public leaders enabling technology diffusion for a circular economy transition, (e) African public leaders’ professional preparation for a circular economy transition, and (f) African public leaders’ willingness to adopt a circular economy transition. This study\u27s results may drive positive social change by informing African public leaders on the knowledge needed to enact policies on technology diffusion to support a circular economy transition and their nation\u27s sustainable development

African Public Leadership on Technology Readiness and Diffusing the Circular Economy in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa is not yet ready to embrace the digital and the fourth industrial revolution, and there remains a literature gap about technology readiness and effective technology diffusion to support a circular economy transition in West and East African countries. The purpose of this qualitative, multiple case study was to describe African public leadership experts\u27 views on how sub-Saharan African leaders can enable technology readiness and the technology diffusion needed for a successful transition to a circular economy. A multiple case study design was used to collect data from a purposeful sample of 14 African public leadership experts. Semistructured interviews, archival data, and reflective field notes supported study findings through data triangulation. This study is framed by two key concepts: Rogers\u27s concept of diffusion of innovations and Grafström and Aasma\u27s concept of the circular economy. Twelve themes emerged from the data analysis with six coding categories grounded in the conceptual framework: (a) African public leaders’ technology readiness, (b) African public leaders enabling technology readiness for a circular economy transition, (c) African public leaders’ adoption of technology, (d) African public leaders enabling technology diffusion for a circular economy transition, (e) African public leaders’ professional preparation for a circular economy transition, and (f) African public leaders’ willingness to adopt a circular economy transition. This study\u27s results may drive positive social change by informing African public leaders on the knowledge needed to enact policies on technology diffusion to support a circular economy transition and their nation\u27s sustainable development

e-Government for good governance : establishing efficient governance through data-driven policymaking in Africa

Mini Dissertation (MPhil (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa))--University of Pretoria, 2022.Governance in Africa has traditionally been hindered by a lack of accurate data and information. This has resulted in policies that are poorly informed and ineffective in addressing the needs of citizens. However, advances in technology and the increasing availability of data have provided a new opportunity for African governments to improve their decision-making processes. By collecting and analysing data, governments can identify the most pressing issues and develop targeted policies to address them. Data-driven policymaking has the potential to revolutionise the way governments in Africa make decisions, and can help address some of the challenges that Africa faces, such as poverty, inequality, and limited access to essential services. The effective use of data can also improve transparency and accountability, enabling citizens to hold their governments to account and encouraging greater public participation in the policymaking process. Having identified poor governance and ineffective public policies in Africa as major problems across the continent, this study has sought to respond to those challenges by exploring and proposing the adoption of a data-driven approach in public policies, and which could eventually improve the state of governance.Centre for Human RightsMPhil (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)Unrestricte