LocationsDigital Entrepreneurship in Africa Report Launch Event Celebrates Success: Opportunities for a Dynamic Future
November 30, 2023
The Digital Entrepreneurship in Africa Report illustrates how digital entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs are contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union Agenda 2063.
[Istanbul, 2023] — The Digital Entrepreneurship in Africa Report was officially launched on the 28th of November 2023 during an online webinar. The event brought together key stakeholders and partners to celebrate the release of the report, shedding light on the digital entrepreneurship landscape in Africa. The report was jointly prepared by UNDP's Istanbul International Centre for Private Sector in Development (ICPSD), the UNDP Africa Sustainable Finance Hub, the African Union Commission (AUC), and the HP Foundation.
The Digital Entrepreneurship in Africa Report illustrates how digital entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs are contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union Agenda 2063. The report provides data and case studies that showcase the rapid growth of digital entrepreneurship in Africa and promising sectors for achieving the development agenda. It highlights the challenges and opportunities faced by digital entrepreneurs across the continent and offers recommendations to foster its continued growth. The report also paints a vivid picture of successful examples across priority sectors, and case studies underscore how African entrepreneurs are leveraging technology to innovate and create economic opportunities.
The report also paints a vivid picture of successful examples across priority sectors and case studies underscore how African entrepreneurs are leveraging technology to innovate and create economic opportunities.
The launch event was marked by engaging discussions and presentations. Attendees included young entrepreneurs, private sector representatives, development practitioners, academics, and members of the media.
The event began with a detailed presentation of the report's key findings, emphasizing the immense growth of digital entrepreneurship in Africa over recent years. An insightful panel discussion on how to foster digital entrepreneurship in Africa and opportunities for youth, featuring experts from UNDP Africa Sustainable Finance Hub, AUC, and HP Inc., and the Young African Leaders Initiative.
The report is jointly prepared by UNDP's Istanbul International Centre for Private Sector in Development (ICPSD), the UNDP Africa Sustainable Finance Hub, the African Union Commission (AUC) and HP Foundation
During his opening remarks, ICPSD Director Sahba Sobhani highlighted the fact that “Digital entrepreneurship is a game changer for African development. It offers significant opportunities to create jobs, drive economic growth, and boost productivity at scale.”
Vileshen Moodley, Managing Director of HP Africa Central and East, spoke on behalf of HP as the keynote speaker. He expressed his enthusiasm about the report's potential to drive positive change in the African business landscape, noting that "The insights and conclusions drawn from this report provide a vital framework for future collaboration with stakeholders in Africa, reinforcing our commitment to this critical endeavor."
Dr Tapiwa Nyasulu, Head of Gender Policy Department at the African Union Commission underscored the importance of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and creating an enabling environment to fully unleash the potential of digital entrepreneurship across the continent.
The launch event concluded with a determination to harness the potential of digital entrepreneurship in Africa. Attendees left with a renewed commitment to support and empower the next generation of digital entrepreneurs.
The Digital Entrepreneurship in Africa Report is now available for download here.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Gokhan Dikmener, Technical Specialist, UNDP ICPSD
