Disruptive Technologies, Innovation and Development in Africa
Disruptive Technologies, Innovation and Development in Africa

Author: Peter Arthur

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2020-05-29

Total Pages: 318

ISBN-13: 3030406474

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This book examines how disruptive technologies and innovation underpin the attainment of a broader development agenda in Africa. Contributors show how distinctive forms of technological innovation can impact critical development processes. For example, disruptive technologies can deepen the ongoing democratic and governance waves in Africa, specifically in the area of contested elections. Similarly, innovations in agriculture, the environment and energy promote changes in value chain agriculture, and the use of sensors to manage e-waste and sustainable energy conservation are also transforming established practices. Furthermore, the role of disruptive technologies and innovation in education, health, financial services and the nature of paid work cannot be ignored. Individually and collectively, the authors discuss and highlight the mechanisms and initiatives that can contribute to the realization of the development goals of African countries, especially in a period where disruptive technologies are rapidly changing how things are done. As a result, this book, which represents one of the most recent systematic efforts to bring together dialogue on disruptive technologies in Africa, will be of particular use and benefit to a wide and an eclectic audience.

Scaling Up Disruptive Agricultural Technologies in Africa
Scaling Up Disruptive Agricultural Technologies in Africa

Author: Jeehye Kim

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2020-07-16

Total Pages: 117

ISBN-13: 1464815224

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This study—which includes a pilot intervention in Kenya—aims to further the state of knowledge about the emerging trend of disruptive agricultural technologies (DATs) in Africa, with a focus on supply-side dynamics. The first part of the study is a stocktaking analysis to assess the number, scope, trend, and characteristics of scalable disruptive technology innovators in agriculture in Africa. From a database of 434 existing DAT operations, the analysis identified 194 as scalable. The second part of the study is a comparative case study of Africa’s two most successful DAT ecosystems in Kenya and Nigeria, which together account for half of Sub-Saharan Africa’s active DATs. The objective of these two case studies is to understand the successes, challenges, and opportunities faced by each country in fostering a conducive innovation ecosystem for scaling up DATs. The case study analysis focuses on six dimensions of the innovation ecosystem in Kenya and Nigeria: finance, regulatory environment, culture, density, human capital, and infrastructure. The third part of the study is based on the interactions and learnings from a pilot event to boost the innovation ecosystem in Kenya. The Disruptive Agricultural Technology Innovation Knowledge and Challenge Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, brought together more than 300 key stakeholders from large technology companies, agribusiness companies, and public agencies; government representatives and experts from research and academic institutions; and representatives from financial institutions, foundations, donors, and venture capitalists. Scaling Up Disruptive Agricultural Technologies in Africa concludes by establishing that DATs are demonstrating early indications of a positive impact in addressing food system constraints. It offers potential entry points and policy recommendations to facilitate the broader adoption of DATs and improve the overall food system.

Sustainable Development, Digitalization, and the Green Economy in Africa Post-COVID-19
Sustainable Development, Digitalization, and the Green Economy in Africa Post-COVID-19

Author: Korbla P. Puplampu

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2023-08-21

Total Pages: 258

ISBN-13: 3031321642

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This book examines sustainable development in the broader framework of Africa post COVID-19. Specifically, the book studies governance and digitalization from the perspective of natural environment management, climate change, the green economy, as well as agriculture and education. Digitalization supports the deepening of natural resource governance by assessing extractive practices, sovereign wealth funds and the emerging discourse on global warming and green economic policies. This analytical exercise will better inform economic and socio-political policies and institutions for African development. The book, against the backdrop of the United Nations Agenda 2030 and the African Union Agenda 2063, offers unique insights on digitalization, governance, the green economy, and natural resource regime in Africa post COVID-19.

Public Policy and Technological Transformations in Africa
Public Policy and Technological Transformations in Africa

Author: Gedion Onyango

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2023-07-31

Total Pages: 431

ISBN-13: 3031187040

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This book examines the links between public policy and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technological developments in Africa. It broadly assesses three key areas – policy entrepreneurship, policy tools and citizen participation – in order to better understand the interfaces between public policy and technological transformations in African countries. The book presents incisive case studies on topics including AI policies, mobile money, e-budgeting, digital economy, digital agriculture and digital ethical dilemmas in order to illuminate technological proliferation in African policy systems. Its analysis considers the broader contexts of African state politics and governance. It will appeal to students, instructors, researchers and practitioners interested in governance and digital transformations in developing countries.

Digital Innovations for a Circular Plastic Economy in Africa
Digital Innovations for a Circular Plastic Economy in Africa

Author: Muyiwa Oyinlola

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2023-05-31

Total Pages: 253

ISBN-13: 1000915883

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Plastic pollution is one of the biggest challenges of the twenty-first century that requires innovative and varied solutions. Focusing on sub-Saharan Africa, this book brings together interdisciplinary, multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder perspectives exploring challenges and opportunities for utilising digital innovations to manage and accelerate the transition to a circular plastic economy (CPE). This book is organised into three sections bringing together discussion of environmental conditions, operational dimensions and country case studies of digital transformation towards the circular plastic economy. It explores the environment for digitisation in the circular economy, bringing together perspectives from practitioners in academia, innovation, policy, civil society and government agencies. The book also highlights specific country case studies in relation to the development and implementation of different innovative ideas to drive the circular plastic economy across the three sub-Saharan African regions. Finally, the book interrogates the policy dimensions and practitioner perspectives towards a digitally enabled circular plastic economy. Written for a wide range of readers across academia, policy and practice, including researchers, students, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), digital entrepreneurs, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and multilateral agencies, policymakers and public officials, this book offers unique insights into complex, multilayered issues relating to the production and management of plastic waste and highlights how digital innovations can drive the transition to the circular plastic economy in Africa. The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

African Parliaments Volume 1
African Parliaments Volume 1

Author: Linda Khumalo

Publisher: African Sun Media

Published: 2021-11-23

Total Pages: 279

ISBN-13: 1991201443

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Parliaments play a pivotal role in governance, and yet little is known about how evidence is used for decision-making in these complex, political environments. Together with its practice companion volume, African Parliaments: Systems of evidence in practice, this volume explores the multiple roles legislatures play in governance, the varied mandates and allegiances of elected representatives, and what this means for evidence use. Given the tensions in Africa around the relationships between democracy and development, government and citizen agency, this volume considers the theories around parliamentary evidence use, and interrogates what they mean in the context of African governance.

Paradigm Shift in Business
Paradigm Shift in Business

Author: Rajagopal

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2023-11-11

Total Pages: 531

ISBN-13: 3031404394

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This book discusses the socialization of business as a corporate philosophy to understand customers and stakeholders in order to motivate co-creating value-based business performance. Reviewing a wide range of literature, it analyzes emerging theories of agility in business, corporate social responsibility, social learning, and value co-creation. Divided into 5 sections, this volume deliberates upon critical success factors of firms, which include diversity and cross-functionality by managing the triple and quadruple bottom-line. It argues that timely deployment of streamlined crowd-based marketing strategies in chaotic markets enhance the effects of social innovation and reduce growing complexities in global and regional markets. Presenting new insights on developing agile business models using both aggressive (crowd-driven) and defensive (competitive) marketing strategies in the agile business models, this edited work discusses how contemporary businesses adapt to agile strategies and integrate people, profit, and corporate citizenship behavior.