Africa needs a hand up and not a handout

COVID-19, the unseen enemy, ravaging through economies like a deadly tsunami. It impacts will only be realised after it has calmed its wind, and the economic debris will not be the same for every country nor every continent. The pandemic raises questions like what will its impact be for developing countries, what can they do to manage the result on their own, and what can wealthy nations do to help? I will leave the answers to these questions to you or for a later blog. 

There so much awareness from the discussion in the video above. The topic in conversation is the effects of COVID-19 on economies & societies in Africa and the road to economic recovery. The talk covers issues like gender equality and the need to provide the same level of support for women in developing economies, especially in this time of the pandemic. 

The conversation also touches on entrepreneurship and the importance of entrepreneurship in the Africa region. The argument is that by empowering entrepreneurship, Africans can start providing solutions for its local problems and create a sustainable economy for itself. 

My personal favourite is Digital connectivity because it touches on education and digitalisation. This is more important in African today because it should not only be the privileged that have access to online activities like online education. A lot of organisations have worked very hard to give most Africans access to education, and now the pandemic is regressing this effort. Children who do not have any internet connectivity or material will be left behind, and a new educational gap created. Education is a way out of poverty if people do not have access to education their chances of making it out of generations of poverty cannot be guaranteed.

The economy is driven by the private sector

"The economy is driven by the private sector." It is also easier to hold a private entity accountable than a government institution in Africa. Sustainable development and prosperity for Africa will not come on the backs of African governments alone but a greater involvement of the private sector and partnership. 

Enjoy the conversation.