The future of Africa - Not what it used to be

Usually the present-day understanding of Africa doesn't look back beyond its colonial past. But the difficulties of African nation states with the Western system of a strong and accountable state and an open civil society have to be understood from the perspective of the precolonial system of in-group solidarity and vertical networks under paternalistic authority. The Western political order doesn't stand a chance of being adopted if the traditions of social solidarity and personalized relationships cannot be integrated into it. This need comes in a different light by the recent developments of the impersonal and functionalized political and economic system of neoliberalism in the West itself, which increasingly evokes neo-tribal reactions in search for new in-group solidarity and identity. While Africa is grappling to adopt the Western system, Western societies return to the tribal heritage, it seems. This essay makes a plea to locate the need and desire for belongingness in the economic sphere of small and medium-sized enterprises. They cultivate strong bonds of solidarity and cooperative networks. Their temporary existence and fast rhythms of change prevent them from slipping off into the old exclusion mechanism of the tribal existence, which is so dangerous in politics. Both Western and African societies may find a new future by learning from each other's past.Delft Centre for Entrepreneurshi

State and civil society as an enabling environment for economic growth: A historical and contemporary perspective

For entrepreneurship to flourish an enabling institutional and cultural environment is required. On the surface of things entrepreneurship is dependent on initiatives of daring and competitive individuals, but implicitly in the notion of entrepreneurship there are also assumptions about cooperation and regulation, without which it cannot deliver on its promises. The combination of a strong state governed by law and an open civil society is therefore researched, since it is supposed to provide the institutional and moral basis for effective economic development. It is necessary to get a better understanding of the process of state formation and of the connection between state and civil society, as a historical project. In this contribution some of their historical origins will be traced, in order to draw some lessons for contemporary economic development and entrepreneurship. Besides the role of the state and civil society also attention will be paid to the role of a particular mindset and value set by which these institutions are supported and maintained. The focus is on the theoretical framework Rosenstock-Huessy offers on state formation in the West, in co-evolution with society and social values. His insights will be related to more recent work on the interconnection of state, civil society and development. The insights gained from that exercise will be applied to the interconnection of state and civil society in present-day Africa

Shaping Future Green Cities: LEDs Technology adoption as an option for India

The sustainable development in developing and newly industrialising countries (China, India, South Africa, and Brazil) is central issue for policy makers, decision makers, academic, and planners. The attainment of sustainability has become a challenge for rapidly urbanising India. The paper focuses on the challenges for building less energy consuming cities. The cities use different technologies for lighting purposes but which technology can decarbonise them in future. Moreover, the question is, how a new technology, LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), for lighting can shape the future green cities. What are the drivers which can determine the adoption process of LEDs technologies for lighting in India? Further the paper focuses on identifying and analysis of barriers in adoption of this technology in India. There are different technologies for lighting, but LED technology is a good option for India as well as world for shaping future green cities. There are major drivers for adopting such a technology like energy saving, emerging knowledge and awareness, better visibility and clarity, policies and new initiatives, eco-friendly and low carbon emission, long life span and long term cost effectiveness. However, the process has some barriers like high initial cost, low risk behaviour and faith deficit, culture and attitude, and existing technological regimes. Nonetheless, these barriers can be softened through collaborations, partnerships, and knowledge sharing among stakeholder along with strengthening the system through better networks.Technology, Policy and Managemen

Capacities and governance in Kenya: Lessons in technology transfer

First the authors set the scene by exploring the main lines of the present development debate. They take a nuanced stand, not only looking at failures of Western development initiatives, but also going into the internal dynamics of African societies which stand in the way of social and economic development. Next they present some case studies of entrepreneurial development initiatives from Kenya. These cases show the difficulties in terms of organization and capacities such initiatives have to deal with, and they also take into consideration the bigger picture in terms of sector development, regulation, and finally civil society and governance issues. Kenya is caught up between a value set of traditional values adapted to small scale ethnic societies, which doesn't exercise its cohesive function like it once did anymore, and modern large-scale and open civil society values, which are not yet fully in place. It is the contention of the authors, that progress is to be made by means of a mutually reinforcing combination of entrepreneurial skills and capacities, i.e. initiatives from below, and adequate institutionalization and regulation from above.Values and TechnologyTechnology, Policy and Managemen

Capabilities, innovation and entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa

This paper takes a capability approach to analyze the role of entrepreneurship in the socio-economic development of present-day Sub Saharan Africa. The paper zooms in on the nature of the capabilities that are built through the development of entrepreneurship; the key challenges to the development of such capabilities in a Sub Saharan African context; and the question to what extent successful entrepreneurship in Africa entails the development of a specifically African version of such capabilities. The analysis is based on in-depth case studies of entrepreneurship and capability formation in different African countries, which offer complementary insights. The most successful cases exhibit a highly creative management strategy that is neither completely western, nor solely wedded to African traditions and values. Rather, it revolves around negotiating the interface between these socio-cultural spheres by forging new, creative mixtures in which the strengths of both are combined and conflicts and trade-offs are managed more or less successfully. In the context of the socio-cultural transformation that Africa is currently undergoing in a fast globalizing world, the mastery of this complex art by local entrepreneurs is identified as the most fundamental capability for fostering business success, human development and increased societal wellbeing.Delft Centre for Entrepreneurshi

Using and Developing Role Plays in Teaching Aimed at Preparing for Social Responsibility

In this paper, we discuss the use of role plays in ethics education for engineering students. After presenting a rough taxonomy of different objectives, we illustrate how role plays can be used to broaden students’ perspectives. We do this on the basis of our experiences with a newly developed role play about a Dutch political controversy concerning pig transport. The role play is special in that the discussion is about setting up an institutional framework for responsible action that goes beyond individual action. In that sense, the role play serves a double purpose. It not only aims at teaching students to become aware of the different dimensions in decision making, it also encourages students to think about what such an institutional framework for responsible action might possibly look like.Values and TechnologyTechnology, Policy and Managemen

Economically feasible, but not financially sound? Charity and/or business in rural development

Instead of presenting a business approach or a community (NGO) approach towards development as an either-or alternative, these two in actual fact constitute a continuum. This is particularly the case if the bottom of the pyramid is targeted, like smallholder farmers. Social enterprises often cannot avoid building the social and institutional conditions for proper functioning as a business. That may take investment costs (including social investment costs, time and energy) that cannot be integrated into a revenue model. This analysis is corroborated by examples and cases from a minor and internship program from the Delft University of Technology on international entrepreneurship and development. The paper adopts a civil society approach whereby a well-functioning civil society is understood as a condition for doing business. This entails free association, shifting memberships of individuals and organizations, lack of confinement to specific ethnic groups or strict state authority, and disentanglement from patrimonial systems. Then there are requirements for a universalist state (rule of law, law enforcement, transparency) and capable citizens. Where such an institutional framework is lacking either NGOs or social enterprises have to fill the gap. And since the costs of these activities cannot be covered by the revenue model, a bottom of the pyramid approach can be designed more effectively by including civil society partners and by understanding the roles of the different stakeholders. Thus cooperation between social enterprises and NGOs will be more effective if they have a better understanding of their mutual contribution and role in development.Delft Centre for Entrepreneurshi

Towards an entrepreneurial innovation system for small-holder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa: -

Growing population pressure, climate change and urbanization necessitate the increase of agricultural production and innovation. Horticulture by means of protected cultivation primarily for vegetables production seems promising by creating a controlled environment for light, temperature and moisture and against diseases. But there is a gap between the high-tech precision horticulture as practiced for instance in the Netherlands and the context and capacities of African smallholder farmers. On the one side high-tech large-scale greenhouse cultivation is introduced by foreign companies, management and capital, while on the other side many smallholders grapple with lack of quality inputs, lack of funding, lack of frugal small-scale technical solutions (greenhouses, irrigation systems, water provision, disease and residue treatment, monitoring soil fertility etc.), lack of infrastructure and lack of capacity. Over and above an analysis of the situation the paper proposes a way forward consisting of three elements: entrepreneurship and capacity training (1), a strategy of gradual growth (2), and finally a comprehensive business innovation system (3). The research is based on long-term student involvement by internships and master thesis studies from the Delft University of Technology and includes the experiences of a Dutch consortium of entrepreneurs and researchers (greenhouse constructors, seed companies, pest control, financial institutions, entrepreneurship). This consortium tries to raise the capacities of smallholder farmers and take them to a higher level. Findings show that in principle there is a business case for introducing existing smallholder farmers and young entrepreneurs to protected cultivation under the leadership of more experienced farmers, supported by a network of stakeholders (retailers, banks, Dutch and African companies, academic partners, NGOs, government agencies). Cooperation of many stakeholders, the creation of an enabling environment and training of capacity appear to be crucial conditions for success.Delft Centre for Entrepreneurshi

Energy innovation systems in developing countries: Experiences with the implementation of PV in Kenya

This paper deals with the implementation of western-based renewable energy technologies within a developing country context. It describes theoretical frameworks that can be used to that can be used to analyze an interpret this process. It also offers insights on good governance and civil society in developing countries and on cultural differences between western societies and societies in developing countries. Then, the paper describes research findings on the implementation of PV in Kenya. It shows that even the very early stages of an innovation system – network formation – is confronted with serious bottlenecks. These bottlenecks can at least partly be explained by the cultural background of Kenya’s society.Values and TechnologyTechnology, Policy and Managemen

The end of neoliberalism and the beginning of talking business: A value oriented approach to entrepreneurship in Kenya

The neoliberal approach dominating the globalization process is criticized in this contribution as not working for the promotion of entrepreneurship in the Kenyan situation. It is a shortcut of the Western social and economic heritage in the first place. It has a limited understanding of human beings as only consisting of needs which should be fulfilled by calculative consumers and producers on an open market with an equal level playing field for quite unequal (global) forces. It is detrimental when introduced in Africa, not only because of the lack of competitive capacity, but also because it collides with the traditional value system of communitarianism and respect etc. A case on entrepreneurship is analyzed in which these detrimental effects come to the fore. Another case is analyzed, which shows a more positive example, creating a bridge and installing a learning process between traditional African values of respect and communitarianism and modern civil society-like values such as equal access, egalitarianism, effective time management and more. The gist of this contribution is a plea for "talking business". A dialogue between the African heritage and modern managerial values should find the way forward for entrepreneurship in Africa. Traditional and modern values need to "talk" to each other. But we should talk business: the African entrepreneurial solution should be effective, competitive on the global market and it should express the African contribution towards a lasting unification of different traditions living together in one planetary and economic house.Delft Centre for Entrepreneurshi