good afternoon TEDx Emery how are you great it’s
TEDx Emery how are you great it’s
TEDx Emery how are you great it’s wonderful to be here
wonderful to be here
wonderful to be here I am currently as you heard the CEO of
I am currently as you heard the CEO of
I am currently as you heard the CEO of feeds which is a global advocacy
feeds which is a global advocacy
feeds which is a global advocacy initiative behind me you see this very
initiative behind me you see this very
initiative behind me you see this very dynamic energetic and vibrant map of
dynamic energetic and vibrant map of
dynamic energetic and vibrant map of Africa and you see the Sun rising there
Africa and you see the Sun rising there
Africa and you see the Sun rising there on the east and when I think of Africa
on the east and when I think of Africa
on the east and when I think of Africa given my years on the continent that’s
given my years on the continent that’s
given my years on the continent that’s the vision that I have of the continent
the vision that I have of the continent
the vision that I have of the continent the good news story but I wonder with
the good news story but I wonder with
the good news story but I wonder with you whether or not you had that same
you whether or not you had that same
you whether or not you had that same picture in your mind when you think of a
picture in your mind when you think of a
picture in your mind when you think of a map of Africa is it something that a
map of Africa is it something that a
map of Africa is it something that a continent a place that has a good news
continent a place that has a good news
continent a place that has a good news story so whatever that picture is today
story so whatever that picture is today
story so whatever that picture is today I want you to think about that a little
I want you to think about that a little
I want you to think about that a little bit differently even if you’re a
bit differently even if you’re a
bit differently even if you’re a westerner or a non African you may have
westerner or a non African you may have
westerner or a non African you may have a different picture I want you to walk
a different picture I want you to walk
a different picture I want you to walk away with these three things in mind
that there’s a different development
that there’s a different development focus on the continent that there was 20
focus on the continent that there was 20
focus on the continent that there was 20 40 years ago that there’s a different
40 years ago that there’s a different
40 years ago that there’s a different footing for development and certainly
footing for development and certainly
footing for development and certainly there is a different global impact that
there is a different global impact that
there is a different global impact that the region has today and that’s what I
the region has today and that’s what I
the region has today and that’s what I want you to think about there are three
want you to think about there are three
want you to think about there are three questions that put this on a framework
questions that put this on a framework
questions that put this on a framework for you what has caused this shift in
for you what has caused this shift in
for you what has caused this shift in development and the development
development and the development
development and the development approaches what has help the middle
approaches what has help the middle
approaches what has help the middle class grow and what are some of the
class grow and what are some of the
class grow and what are some of the global implications that should make the
global implications that should make the
global implications that should make the region important to you what has entered
region important to you what has entered
region important to you what has entered the picture
the picture
the picture what has changed the paradigm and the
what has changed the paradigm and the
what has changed the paradigm and the dynamic that’s made Africa on the rise
dynamic that’s made Africa on the rise
dynamic that’s made Africa on the rise today it’s Africa small and medium-sized
today it’s Africa small and medium-sized
today it’s Africa small and medium-sized businesses better known on the continent
businesses better known on the continent
businesses better known on the continent as SMEs they have made a tremendous
as SMEs they have made a tremendous
as SMEs they have made a tremendous impact in economic development
impact in economic development
impact in economic development particularly in these two areas helping
particularly in these two areas helping
particularly in these two areas helping with job creation
with job creation
with job creation and reducing poverty levels I see them
and reducing poverty levels I see them
and reducing poverty levels I see them as a magic bullet I didn’t say the magic
as a magic bullet I didn’t say the magic
as a magic bullet I didn’t say the magic bullet I did say a magic bullet and the
bullet I did say a magic bullet and the
bullet I did say a magic bullet and the two things that I just highlighted job
two things that I just highlighted job
two things that I just highlighted job creation and poverty reduction is really
creation and poverty reduction is really
creation and poverty reduction is really their impact changing the gross domestic
their impact changing the gross domestic
their impact changing the gross domestic product of the continent moving it from
product of the continent moving it from
product of the continent moving it from where it was at twelve percent up to
where it was at twelve percent up to
where it was at twelve percent up to about forty percent today but you may
about forty percent today but you may
about forty percent today but you may want to know what’s the background
want to know what’s the background
want to know what’s the background what’s the framing analysis what’s the
what’s the framing analysis what’s the
what’s the framing analysis what’s the flashback that got us to where Africa
flashback that got us to where Africa
flashback that got us to where Africa small and medium-sized businesses or
small and medium-sized businesses or
small and medium-sized businesses or SMEs are making this tremendous economic
SMEs are making this tremendous economic
SMEs are making this tremendous economic impact well just like any other
impact well just like any other
impact well just like any other continent the history of Africa has been
continent the history of Africa has been
continent the history of Africa has been quite mixed you’ve had the pre-colonial
quite mixed you’ve had the pre-colonial
quite mixed you’ve had the pre-colonial period the monovalent colonial period
period the monovalent colonial period
period the monovalent colonial period and then you’ve had the projection
and then you’ve had the projection
and then you’ve had the projection toward independence that really
toward independence that really
toward independence that really culminated in 1960 but from the period
culminated in 1960 but from the period
culminated in 1960 but from the period of 1960 to 2000 you had cold war
of 1960 to 2000 you had cold war
of 1960 to 2000 you had cold war politics and so what happened terms of
politics and so what happened terms of
politics and so what happened terms of development how did the lives of the
development how did the lives of the
development how did the lives of the average African national change or did
average African national change or did
average African national change or did not change well we all woke up in 2000
not change well we all woke up in 2000
not change well we all woke up in 2000 realizing that after three point five
realizing that after three point five
realizing that after three point five trillion US dollars had been spent on
trillion US dollars had been spent on
trillion US dollars had been spent on development that nothing must had change
development that nothing must had change
development that nothing must had change for the average daily life of the
for the average daily life of the
for the average daily life of the average African national poverty
average African national poverty
average African national poverty educational challenges were still there
educational challenges were still there
educational challenges were still there health challenges were still there I was
health challenges were still there I was
health challenges were still there I was on the ground through most of that time
on the ground through most of that time
on the ground through most of that time but in 2000 the global community kind of
but in 2000 the global community kind of
but in 2000 the global community kind of woke up they recognized that we needed
woke up they recognized that we needed
woke up they recognized that we needed to do something quite differently and so
to do something quite differently and so
to do something quite differently and so there was this shift in 2006 to 2016 is
there was this shift in 2006 to 2016 is
there was this shift in 2006 to 2016 is when the rise of African SMEs really
when the rise of African SMEs really
when the rise of African SMEs really began to happen and what also happened
began to happen and what also happened
began to happen and what also happened during that period of time we had
during that period of time we had
during that period of time we had incredible advances in technology even
incredible advances in technology even
incredible advances in technology even in social media if you think about it
in social media if you think about it
in social media if you think about it when social media started kicking off in
when social media started kicking off in
when social media started kicking off in 2006 2008 2010 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
2006 2008 2010 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
2006 2008 2010 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn and then you also had these sister
and then you also had these sister
and then you also had these sister benefits of Technology
benefits of Technology
benefits of Technology you had mobility that wasn’t there
you had mobility that wasn’t there
you had mobility that wasn’t there before and you also had knowledge
before and you also had knowledge
before and you also had knowledge management so if you were a small farm
management so if you were a small farm
management so if you were a small farm holder in Tanzania or a small farm
holder in Tanzania or a small farm
holder in Tanzania or a small farm holder in Rwanda you could have the
holder in Rwanda you could have the
holder in Rwanda you could have the world in your hands so think of this as
world in your hands so think of this as
world in your hands so think of this as building blocks Africa SMEs
building blocks Africa SMEs
building blocks Africa SMEs this magic bullet role and the shift in
this magic bullet role and the shift in
this magic bullet role and the shift in development so I have about eight
development so I have about eight
development so I have about eight sectors that I see where Africa SMEs
sectors that I see where Africa SMEs
sectors that I see where Africa SMEs have had this tremendous tremendous
have had this tremendous tremendous
have had this tremendous tremendous impact I’m just going to give you a few
impact I’m just going to give you a few
impact I’m just going to give you a few of them power for instance you have 600
of them power for instance you have 600
of them power for instance you have 600 million Africans without power on a
million Africans without power on a
million Africans without power on a daily basis which means it has an impact
daily basis which means it has an impact
daily basis which means it has an impact on education and it has an impact on
on education and it has an impact on
on education and it has an impact on health
health
health you have SMEs making inroads in that
you have SMEs making inroads in that
you have SMEs making inroads in that area by developing pay-as-you-go
area by developing pay-as-you-go
area by developing pay-as-you-go electricity plans through scratch cards
electricity plans through scratch cards
electricity plans through scratch cards you have agricultural efforts through
you have agricultural efforts through
you have agricultural efforts through appropriate technology looking at ways
appropriate technology looking at ways
appropriate technology looking at ways to do things differently where you don’t
to do things differently where you don’t
to do things differently where you don’t have to import things to grow
have to import things to grow
have to import things to grow agriculture you have making their own
agriculture you have making their own
agriculture you have making their own local machines so they’re not importing
local machines so they’re not importing
local machines so they’re not importing big tractor it’s to do farming you have
big tractor it’s to do farming you have
big tractor it’s to do farming you have new technology in housing because guess
new technology in housing because guess
new technology in housing because guess what if you’re living in extreme poverty
what if you’re living in extreme poverty
what if you’re living in extreme poverty you also have a challenge with shelter
you also have a challenge with shelter
you also have a challenge with shelter and so the green technology that’s out
and so the green technology that’s out
and so the green technology that’s out there and then you have the wonderful
there and then you have the wonderful
there and then you have the wonderful things that are being done in textiles
things that are being done in textiles
things that are being done in textiles you know whether you’re using recycle
you know whether you’re using recycle
you know whether you’re using recycle buttons to make necklaces to sell
buttons to make necklaces to sell
buttons to make necklaces to sell whether you’re making textiles for
whether you’re making textiles for
whether you’re making textiles for clothing all of these things are causing
clothing all of these things are causing
clothing all of these things are causing the rise of F of Africa SMEs and really
the rise of F of Africa SMEs and really
the rise of F of Africa SMEs and really the good news story so what’s the global
the good news story so what’s the global
the good news story so what’s the global impact the region has a tremendous
impact the region has a tremendous
impact the region has a tremendous demographic impact that I think you need
demographic impact that I think you need
demographic impact that I think you need to know particularly in these few areas
to know particularly in these few areas
to know particularly in these few areas population the population of the
population the population of the
population the population of the continent is currently 1.1 billion
continent is currently 1.1 billion
continent is currently 1.1 billion people
people
people 1.1 billion it is on course to be 2.4
1.1 billion it is on course to be 2.4
1.1 billion it is on course to be 2.4 billion by 2050 more than half of that
billion by 2050 more than half of that
billion by 2050 more than half of that population will be under the age of 30
population will be under the age of 30
population will be under the age of 30 600 million plus people in that category
600 million plus people in that category
600 million plus people in that category the most staggering figure which I call
the most staggering figure which I call
the most staggering figure which I call a population dividend which is a
a population dividend which is a
a population dividend which is a positive
positive
positive is the fact that in 2035 which is an
is the fact that in 2035 which is an
is the fact that in 2035 which is an International Monetary figure you will
International Monetary figure you will
International Monetary figure you will have Africa having the largest working
have Africa having the largest working
have Africa having the largest working population in the world combined it
population in the world combined it
population in the world combined it would be bigger than the combined rest
would be bigger than the combined rest
would be bigger than the combined rest of the world that’s pretty amazing but
of the world that’s pretty amazing but
of the world that’s pretty amazing but what does that do
what does that do
what does that do that makes it move to become the largest
that makes it move to become the largest
that makes it move to become the largest continent populated in the world makes
continent populated in the world makes
continent populated in the world makes it become the largest market in the
it become the largest market in the
it become the largest market in the world and makes it a base for creativity
world and makes it a base for creativity
world and makes it a base for creativity so did you know that the first laser
so did you know that the first laser
so did you know that the first laser laser digital microscope was made by a
laser digital microscope was made by a
laser digital microscope was made by a South African a physicist so you have
South African a physicist so you have
South African a physicist so you have this ability for creativity there so I
this ability for creativity there so I
this ability for creativity there so I want you to walk away with really three
want you to walk away with really three
want you to walk away with really three things one the positive impact
things one the positive impact
things one the positive impact particularly on economic development the
particularly on economic development the
particularly on economic development the growing Miller class the reduction in
growing Miller class the reduction in
growing Miller class the reduction in poverty the job creation but more and
poverty the job creation but more and
poverty the job creation but more and more it brought attention to the fact
more it brought attention to the fact
more it brought attention to the fact that you have this huge youth bolt how
that you have this huge youth bolt how
that you have this huge youth bolt how are you going to get them employed and
are you going to get them employed and
are you going to get them employed and you have a population that will be 50.2%
you have a population that will be 50.2%
you have a population that will be 50.2% female so of course this is a good news
female so of course this is a good news
female so of course this is a good news story but of course there are other
story but of course there are other
story but of course there are other things that still are challenges you
things that still are challenges you
things that still are challenges you still need more better governance better
still need more better governance better
still need more better governance better transparency transparency and you also
transparency transparency and you also
transparency transparency and you also need sort of efforts on anti-corruption
need sort of efforts on anti-corruption
need sort of efforts on anti-corruption but the way forward I think is in four
but the way forward I think is in four
but the way forward I think is in four ways one I think there needs to be a
ways one I think there needs to be a
ways one I think there needs to be a global effort on Africa SMEs to keep
global effort on Africa SMEs to keep
global effort on Africa SMEs to keep them in the middle class to make sure
them in the middle class to make sure
them in the middle class to make sure that it’s not just a one-time Charlie
that it’s not just a one-time Charlie
that it’s not just a one-time Charlie that they will move from where they are
that they will move from where they are
that they will move from where they are now to remain in the middle class I
now to remain in the middle class I
now to remain in the middle class I think there needs to be a United Nation
think there needs to be a United Nation
think there needs to be a United Nation effort that focuses on Africa SMEs to
effort that focuses on Africa SMEs to
effort that focuses on Africa SMEs to make sure that they are getting all the
make sure that they are getting all the
make sure that they are getting all the support they need and I think there has
support they need and I think there has
support they need and I think there has to be a bigger focus on females and the
to be a bigger focus on females and the
to be a bigger focus on females and the youth on the continent because they are
youth on the continent because they are
youth on the continent because they are going to represent the largest
going to represent the largest
going to represent the largest population that’s there so Africa to me
population that’s there so Africa to me
population that’s there so Africa to me really means not a Renaissance but it
really means not a Renaissance but it
really means not a Renaissance but it really means that things are rising this
really means that things are rising this
really means that things are rising this is kind of a bookend story for you
is kind of a bookend story for you
is kind of a bookend story for you because I started with this very dynamic
because I started with this very dynamic
because I started with this very dynamic map and I wanted you to walk away with a
map and I wanted you to walk away with a
map and I wanted you to walk away with a different vision of the continent I
different vision of the continent I
different vision of the continent I wanted you to think about it as
wanted you to think about it as
wanted you to think about it as energetic
energetic
energetic I wanted you to think about it as
I wanted you to think about it as
I wanted you to think about it as dynamic I wanted you to think about it
dynamic I wanted you to think about it
dynamic I wanted you to think about it as growing and I wanted you to think
as growing and I wanted you to think
as growing and I wanted you to think about it as rising there are a number of
about it as rising there are a number of
about it as rising there are a number of good news stories and certainly Africa
good news stories and certainly Africa
good news stories and certainly Africa small and medium-sized businesses is one
small and medium-sized businesses is one
small and medium-sized businesses is one of those stories thank you
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