THREE WAYS TO MAKE RICH AFRICA WORK FOR POOR AFRICANS lack of progress . Countries like Estonia have shown that it is possible to craft a national digital social order that delivers for all .
Accordingly , below are three areas in which the continent ’ s leaders in Durban will explore how to grapple with these new challenges while addressing the inclusivity challenge by embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution .
1 . Mobility-related technology is connecting the continent in unparalleled ways under land , overland and above land . Over 70 % of Africans now have unprecedented access to mobile technology . This digital infrastructure offers new opportunities for the majority of poor Africans in rural and informal economies .
After Zipline ’ s successful launch of dronedelivered blood and medical supplies in Rwanda last year , it is increasingly evident that drones are revolutionising the small cargo delivery supply chain .
And , with the launch of the Ethiopia- Djibouti train last October , Africa ’ s highspeed railway network is becoming a reality . Transnet is also leading the way with the first locally “ designed , engineered and manufactured ” train – the Trans African Locomotive – launching in April 2017 .
This year , Africa is expected to launch the Continental Free Trade Area ( CFTA ). The key objectives of the CFTA are to boost intra-African trade and investment by easing the movement of goods and people on the continent and to improve Africa ’ s competitiveness and economic growth by reducing the cost of doing business . Intra-African trade stands at about 15 % of total volume , compared to 60 % of intercontinental trade in the European Union , 53 % in East Asia , 41 % in North America and 20 % in Latin America and the
Caribbean . Achieving this milestone will start to make regional integration a reality . The next step will be to make it easier for Africans to travel within Africa without a visa .
2 . Disruptions to manufacturing technology such as the internet of things and 3D printing are liberalising access to technology and decentralising production . At Gearbox in Kenya , makers from the informal industry , including jua kali artisans without formal engineering skills , are using 3D printing to manufacture quality products faster and cheaper . Elsewhere , technologists like David Sengeh , inspired by the plight of amputees in Sierra Leone , are harnessing artificial intelligence and machine learning to develop the next generation of prosthetic devices .
These developments notwithstanding , Africa still lags significantly behind the rest of the world in terms of manufacturing . According to the African Development Bank , the continent ’ s manufacturing exports doubled between 2005 and 2014 to more than US $ 100bn , with the share of intra-African trade rising from 20 % to 34 % over the same period . However , Africa ’ s share of global manufacturing exports remains less than 1 %, compared with over 16 % for East Asia .
3 . Emerging African inventors are reimagining solutions suited to the African context . It is estimated that , by 2050 , over 700 million new housing units will be needed . This implies a radical rethink of what kinds of shelter to construct . Elijah Djan from South Africa is ahead of the curve with his invention of bricks made out of paper , essentially creating a sharing economy by finding a new use for waste . In order for African innovators to thrive , though , policy-makers need to provide a conducive intellectual property regime and make it easier to do business competitively .
For the continent to fully leverage opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution , dramatic investments need to be made to ensure that Africans are equipped with the right skills for the future of jobs . For example , the overall shortage of engineers is estimated at one million . In addition , more efforts are required to reverse the widening gender digital divide .
When all is said and done , successful implementation will depend on Africans ’ shared values and identity . True integration is a bottom-up cultural process , not a top-down political or technical process . Moreover , we cannot assume that we can work together if we do not deliberately build bridges across languages and borders , as well as actively prepare for intergenerational transitions between leaders . In Durban , home to the largest tribe in South Africa and largest diaspora of Indians outside of India , we will discuss how to build a shared understanding and nurture collective responsibility to navigate the transition from Africa 1.0 to Africa 4.0 while strengthening our united socio-cultural heritage .
As we look back to see forward , it is equally important to stop bad traditional practices . Madam Graça Machel and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have been longterm advocates for Girls Not Brides , a global initiative to end child marriage . Recently , Global Shaper Rebeca Gyumi made history in Tanzania by managing to pass a landmark court ruling against child marriage . Leading change under 30 is possible .
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