Innovation and digital technology offer enormous potential for creating employment, increasing productivity, reducing poverty, increasing inclusion, and reducing inequality. They are critical for boosting agricultural, company, factory, and service provider productivity as well as building knowledge capital. They do, however, need coordination across many participants in the digital and innovation ecosystems to guarantee that they benefit society. This has not yet occurred in Africa.
On February 23, ACET convened a "deep dive" discussion with key stakeholders, including entrepreneurs, policymakers, and international actors, to discuss how African governments can improve policymaking to support the continent's economic transformation through innovation, technology, and digital transformation.
Adia Sowho, Chief Marketing Officer for MTN Nigeria; Daniel Spoiala, Advisor and Lead Facilitator of the EU-AU Data Flagship at GIZ; Eva Sow Ebion, co-founder of The Innovation for Policy Foundation and Director of Community and Communications for the #i4Policy movement; Freda Obeng-Ampofo, Founder and Chief Mixer of Kaeme Cosmetics; and Noomane Fehri, former Minister of Coal and Energy, moderated a panel
The webinar also included Freda Yawson, ACET Senior Manager of Innovation and Infrastructure, and Rob Floyd, ACET Senior Fellow and World Bank Director, who presented information on ACET's new Digital & Innovation Program. The program's research and analysis will focus on approaches to link national and regional innovation ecosystems, attract investment for digital infrastructure and skills development, and enhance human capital.