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The Poverty Paradox: Why Most Poverty Programs Fail And How To Fix Them | Efosa Ojomo | TEDxGaborone


[Music]

[Music] so I have a confession to make

so I have a confession to make

so I have a confession to make about a year after I graduated secondary

about a year after I graduated secondary

about a year after I graduated secondary school I failed the entrance exam into

school I failed the entrance exam into

school I failed the entrance exam into University in Nigeria twice and between

University in Nigeria twice and between

University in Nigeria twice and between you and me if I took the exam a third

you and me if I took the exam a third

you and me if I took the exam a third time I think I would have failed again

time I think I would have failed again

time I think I would have failed again but that’s not even the saddest part of

but that’s not even the saddest part of

but that’s not even the saddest part of the story I think for me the hardest

the story I think for me the hardest

the story I think for me the hardest part of the story is that if I was

part of the story is that if I was

part of the story is that if I was successful and if I passed the exams

successful and if I passed the exams

successful and if I passed the exams here are images of some of the

here are images of some of the

here are images of some of the universities where I would have had the

universities where I would have had the

universities where I would have had the opportunity to study some of these

opportunity to study some of these

opportunity to study some of these universities have the same acceptance

universities have the same acceptance

universities have the same acceptance rates as some of the most elite

rates as some of the most elite

rates as some of the most elite institutions in the United States of

institutions in the United States of

institutions in the United States of America this is what poverty looks like

America this is what poverty looks like

America this is what poverty looks like many books have been written about how

many books have been written about how

many books have been written about how to end poverty organizations make it

to end poverty organizations make it

to end poverty organizations make it their mission to end poverty in fact

their mission to end poverty in fact

their mission to end poverty in fact every year we spend hundreds of billions

every year we spend hundreds of billions

every year we spend hundreds of billions of dollars trying to end extreme poverty

of dollars trying to end extreme poverty

of dollars trying to end extreme poverty and we’ve made some progress we’ve

and we’ve made some progress we’ve

and we’ve made some progress we’ve reduced the global poverty rate from

reduced the global poverty rate from

reduced the global poverty rate from about 35% in the 1990s to just under 10%

about 35% in the 1990s to just under 10%

about 35% in the 1990s to just under 10% today but if we’re honest with ourselves

today but if we’re honest with ourselves

today but if we’re honest with ourselves and there is no progress without honesty

and there is no progress without honesty

and there is no progress without honesty what we will find is that a majority of

what we will find is that a majority of

what we will find is that a majority of the countries that have escaped poverty

the countries that have escaped poverty

the countries that have escaped poverty are in Asia and primarily one which is

are in Asia and primarily one which is

are in Asia and primarily one which is China a majority of the people who have

China a majority of the people who have

China a majority of the people who have escaped poverty are from China and what

escaped poverty are from China and what

escaped poverty are from China and what you find is that more than half the

you find is that more than half the

you find is that more than half the number of people living in poverty today

number of people living in poverty today

number of people living in poverty today exist in our continent in Africa in fact

exist in our continent in Africa in fact

exist in our continent in Africa in fact when you take these 18 countries and you

when you take these 18 countries and you

when you take these 18 countries and you look at their GDP per capita in the

look at their GDP per capita in the

look at their GDP per capita in the 1960s and you compare it with the GDP

1960s and you compare it with the GDP

1960s and you compare it with the GDP per capita in 2015 what you find is that

per capita in 2015 what you find is that

per capita in 2015 what you find is that these countries are poorer today than

these countries are poorer today than

these countries are poorer today than they were in the 1960s and so how is it

they were in the 1960s and so how is it

they were in the 1960s and so how is it that we’re spending billions of dollars

that we’re spending billions of dollars

that we’re spending billions of dollars every year trying to eradicate poverty

every year trying to eradicate poverty

every year trying to eradicate poverty but we’ve got some countries that are

but we’ve got some countries that are

but we’ve got some countries that are poorer today

poorer today

poorer today and they were 50 years ago that’s one of

and they were 50 years ago that’s one of

and they were 50 years ago that’s one of the questions at the core of my research

the questions at the core of my research

the questions at the core of my research at the Clayton Christensen Institute in

at the Clayton Christensen Institute in

at the Clayton Christensen Institute in Boston but this isn’t always how I

Boston but this isn’t always how I

Boston but this isn’t always how I planned I would spend my life about 17

planned I would spend my life about 17

planned I would spend my life about 17 years ago when I could not get into

years ago when I could not get into

years ago when I could not get into University in America I was fortunate to

University in America I was fortunate to

University in America I was fortunate to get a scholarship and I got the

get a scholarship and I got the

get a scholarship and I got the University in America the University in

University in America the University in

University in America the University in Nigeria I went to university in America

Nigeria I went to university in America

Nigeria I went to university in America in fact I felt like this guy I felt like

in fact I felt like this guy I felt like

in fact I felt like this guy I felt like I had just won the lottery in fact I

I had just won the lottery in fact I

I had just won the lottery in fact I tell my friends I felt like I was in

tell my friends I felt like I was in

tell my friends I felt like I was in prison I escaped then I won the lottery

prison I escaped then I won the lottery

prison I escaped then I won the lottery I had no plans of ever coming back to

I had no plans of ever coming back to

I had no plans of ever coming back to Africa

Africa

Africa I mean who wins the lottery and goes

I mean who wins the lottery and goes

I mean who wins the lottery and goes back to prison but as I was chasing my

back to prison but as I was chasing my

back to prison but as I was chasing my American dream and I opened a book in

American dream and I opened a book in

American dream and I opened a book in February 2008 one night and I read about

February 2008 one night and I read about

February 2008 one night and I read about this girl so 10 year old girl in

this girl so 10 year old girl in

this girl so 10 year old girl in Ethiopia who had to wake up every

Ethiopia who had to wake up every

Ethiopia who had to wake up every morning at 3 a.m. walk miles fetch

morning at 3 a.m. walk miles fetch

morning at 3 a.m. walk miles fetch firewood and sell so she could take her

firewood and sell so she could take her

firewood and sell so she could take her of herself and her family something

of herself and her family something

of herself and her family something happened to me that night because I

happened to me that night because I

happened to me that night because I thought about the hundreds of millions

thought about the hundreds of millions

thought about the hundreds of millions of other children on this continent that

of other children on this continent that

of other children on this continent that lived life like her

lived life like her

lived life like her and I dedicated my life to making sure

and I dedicated my life to making sure

and I dedicated my life to making sure that we improve the lives of people like

that we improve the lives of people like

that we improve the lives of people like her so I got some friends together and

her so I got some friends together and

her so I got some friends together and we started an organization called

we started an organization called

we started an organization called poverty stops here which since raised

poverty stops here which since raised

poverty stops here which since raised funds so that we could build wells

funds so that we could build wells

funds so that we could build wells invest in education and give out micro

invest in education and give out micro

invest in education and give out micro loans in struggling communities in

loans in struggling communities in

loans in struggling communities in Nigeria we’d build wells in communities

Nigeria we’d build wells in communities

Nigeria we’d build wells in communities where women and children would have to

where women and children would have to

where women and children would have to walk miles to fetch water but something

walk miles to fetch water but something

walk miles to fetch water but something interesting started to happen after we’d

interesting started to happen after we’d

interesting started to happen after we’d build a few wells the wells started to

build a few wells the wells started to

build a few wells the wells started to break at first I thought maybe this is

break at first I thought maybe this is

break at first I thought maybe this is our problem we were just a bunch of

our problem we were just a bunch of

our problem we were just a bunch of passionate guys excited about ending

passionate guys excited about ending

passionate guys excited about ending poverty and didn’t really know what we

poverty and didn’t really know what we

poverty and didn’t really know what we were doing after I researched this some

were doing after I researched this some

were doing after I researched this some more I realized this isn’t just us there

more I realized this isn’t just us there

more I realized this isn’t just us there are hundreds of millions of dollars

are hundreds of millions of dollars

are hundreds of millions of dollars worth of wells on the continent that are

worth of wells on the continent that are

worth of wells on the continent that are broken

broken

broken and this problem was so important to me

and this problem was so important to me

and this problem was so important to me that I went back to school to figure out

that I went back to school to figure out

that I went back to school to figure out how to solve it while I was at school I

how to solve it while I was at school I

how to solve it while I was at school I was lucky to meet this man he’s one of

was lucky to meet this man he’s one of

was lucky to meet this man he’s one of the most prominent professors at Harvard

the most prominent professors at Harvard

the most prominent professors at Harvard and he’s one of the world’s leading

and he’s one of the world’s leading

and he’s one of the world’s leading management thinkers is the father of

management thinkers is the father of

management thinkers is the father of disruptive innovation over the past

disruptive innovation over the past

disruptive innovation over the past couple years we’ve been studying what

couple years we’ve been studying what

couple years we’ve been studying what role innovation has to play in

role innovation has to play in

role innovation has to play in development we’ve been thinking about

development we’ve been thinking about

development we’ve been thinking about why we spent so much money trying to

why we spent so much money trying to

why we spent so much money trying to eradicate poverty but we don’t get the

eradicate poverty but we don’t get the

eradicate poverty but we don’t get the results that we want and he has helped

results that we want and he has helped

results that we want and he has helped me see that our obsession with ending

me see that our obsession with ending

me see that our obsession with ending poverty is actually where the problem

poverty is actually where the problem

poverty is actually where the problem lies

lies

lies the first reason for that is

the first reason for that is

the first reason for that is interestingly the end of poverty is not

interestingly the end of poverty is not

interestingly the end of poverty is not the same as prosperity the end of

the same as prosperity the end of

the same as prosperity the end of poverty is not the same as the end of

poverty is not the same as the end of

poverty is not the same as the end of suffering it’s not the the same as the

suffering it’s not the the same as the

suffering it’s not the the same as the end of hardship and the end of struggles

end of hardship and the end of struggles

end of hardship and the end of struggles there are billions of people in the

there are billions of people in the

there are billions of people in the world who are technically not living in

world who are technically not living in

world who are technically not living in poverty you know less than a couple of

poverty you know less than a couple of

poverty you know less than a couple of dollars a day who are still living very

dollars a day who are still living very

dollars a day who are still living very difficult lives and so as difficult as

difficult lives and so as difficult as

difficult lives and so as difficult as it is to end poverty it turns out that

it is to end poverty it turns out that

it is to end poverty it turns out that we’re focusing on the wrong thing

we’re focusing on the wrong thing

we’re focusing on the wrong thing a friend of mine once told me one day

a friend of mine once told me one day

a friend of mine once told me one day that focusing so intently on poverty is

that focusing so intently on poverty is

that focusing so intently on poverty is like a student doing everything they can

like a student doing everything they can

like a student doing everything they can so they don’t get an S in school I mean

so they don’t get an S in school I mean

so they don’t get an S in school I mean it’sit’s a good thing not to get an F

it’sit’s a good thing not to get an F

it’sit’s a good thing not to get an F but is it really admirable

but is it really admirable

but is it really admirable should that be what we should be focused

should that be what we should be focused

should that be what we should be focused on and the second thing is that when we

on and the second thing is that when we

on and the second thing is that when we focus on poverty we see everything

focus on poverty we see everything

focus on poverty we see everything through that lens and because poverty

through that lens and because poverty

through that lens and because poverty almost always shows itself as a lack of

almost always shows itself as a lack of

almost always shows itself as a lack of resources a lack of food a lack of water

resources a lack of food a lack of water

resources a lack of food a lack of water a lack of schools a lack of roads a lack

a lack of schools a lack of roads a lack

a lack of schools a lack of roads a lack of clinics infrastructure a lack of

of clinics infrastructure a lack of

of clinics infrastructure a lack of things that rich people have and poor

things that rich people have and poor

things that rich people have and poor people don’t what we end up with is that

people don’t what we end up with is that

people don’t what we end up with is that poverty is a resource problem and so

poverty is a resource problem and so

poverty is a resource problem and so what do we do we push these resources

what do we do we push these resources

what do we do we push these resources onto these poor communities in the hopes

onto these poor communities in the hopes

onto these poor communities in the hopes that we can eradicate poverty and create

that we can eradicate poverty and create

that we can eradicate poverty and create prosperity but then we get the results

prosperity but then we get the results

prosperity but then we get the results that aren’t quite what we expected

that aren’t quite what we expected

that aren’t quite what we expected it’s the same thing that happened to me

it’s the same thing that happened to me

it’s the same thing that happened to me when I went into the wells to try to get

when I went into the wells to try to get

when I went into the wells to try to get water into the community and what I

water into the community and what I

water into the community and what I found is that this image actually

found is that this image actually

found is that this image actually represents many projects in the

represents many projects in the

represents many projects in the development community where we push and

development community where we push and

development community where we push and push and push resources and poor

push and push resources and poor

push and push resources and poor communities but the progress that we

communities but the progress that we

communities but the progress that we make is actually very limited and that’s

make is actually very limited and that’s

make is actually very limited and that’s because many of the projects are

because many of the projects are

because many of the projects are anchored on this question how can we

anchored on this question how can we

anchored on this question how can we eradicate poverty but if we tweak that

eradicate poverty but if we tweak that

eradicate poverty but if we tweak that question just a little bit and asked a

question just a little bit and asked a

question just a little bit and asked a different question how can we create

different question how can we create

different question how can we create prosperity what we begin to find is that

prosperity what we begin to find is that

prosperity what we begin to find is that this is not a resource problem at all

this is not a resource problem at all

this is not a resource problem at all this is an innovation problem and I mean

this is an innovation problem and I mean

this is an innovation problem and I mean innovation simply put is practical

innovation simply put is practical

innovation simply put is practical solutions to real problems and we find

solutions to real problems and we find

solutions to real problems and we find that many of the resources that are

that many of the resources that are

that many of the resources that are pushed on these poor communities are not

pushed on these poor communities are not

pushed on these poor communities are not practical because they can’t afford them

practical because they can’t afford them

practical because they can’t afford them and they’re not getting to the root

and they’re not getting to the root

and they’re not getting to the root cause of the problems you know a few

cause of the problems you know a few

cause of the problems you know a few weeks ago I was in Washington DC giving

weeks ago I was in Washington DC giving

weeks ago I was in Washington DC giving a presentation on the importance of

a presentation on the importance of

a presentation on the importance of innovation in development and I showed

innovation in development and I showed

innovation in development and I showed this slide with different demographics

this slide with different demographics

this slide with different demographics 70% of rural population 10% access to

70% of rural population 10% access to

70% of rural population 10% access to electricity the average person spends

electricity the average person spends

electricity the average person spends more than half their income on food the

more than half their income on food the

more than half their income on food the infant mortality rate is almost 20

infant mortality rate is almost 20

infant mortality rate is almost 20 percent and I asked people in the

percent and I asked people in the

percent and I asked people in the audience I said what country do you

audience I said what country do you

audience I said what country do you think this is and of course you know we

think this is and of course you know we

think this is and of course you know we we won that one people you know Somalia

we won that one people you know Somalia

we won that one people you know Somalia Sudan Mali the Democratic DRC and after

Sudan Mali the Democratic DRC and after

Sudan Mali the Democratic DRC and after I saw that they weren’t gonna get it I

I saw that they weren’t gonna get it I

I saw that they weren’t gonna get it I said this is the United States of

said this is the United States of

said this is the United States of America now they were shocked and I said

America now they were shocked and I said

America now they were shocked and I said this is the United States of America in

this is the United States of America in

this is the United States of America in the 1850s through the early 1900’s it

the 1850s through the early 1900’s it

the 1850s through the early 1900’s it had demographics that were worse than

had demographics that were worse than

had demographics that were worse than some of the poorest countries on the

some of the poorest countries on the

some of the poorest countries on the continent today and in order for us to

continent today and in order for us to

continent today and in order for us to figure out how to create prosperity in

figure out how to create prosperity in

figure out how to create prosperity in Africa we have to ask ourselves a

Africa we have to ask ourselves a

Africa we have to ask ourselves a question what happened in America

question what happened in America

question what happened in America did they push a bunch of resources on

did they push a bunch of resources on

did they push a bunch of resources on the populace or did they use a different

the populace or did they use a different

the populace or did they use a different strategy well America innovated I’ll

strategy well America innovated I’ll

strategy well America innovated I’ll give you an example in the 1900s the car

give you an example in the 1900s the car

give you an example in the 1900s the car was a luxury that only rich people could

was a luxury that only rich people could

was a luxury that only rich people could afford but in 1908 Henry Ford decided to

afford but in 1908 Henry Ford decided to

afford but in 1908 Henry Ford decided to make a car for the average American he

make a car for the average American he

make a car for the average American he decided to make a car simple and

decided to make a car simple and

decided to make a car simple and affordable

affordable

affordable now many people laughed at him he lost

now many people laughed at him he lost

now many people laughed at him he lost several investors people thought he was

several investors people thought he was

several investors people thought he was crazy because there weren’t even roads

crazy because there weren’t even roads

crazy because there weren’t even roads in America to drive the car on but he

in America to drive the car on but he

in America to drive the car on but he was successful he persevered and as a

was successful he persevered and as a

was successful he persevered and as a result millions of people pull the cars

result millions of people pull the cars

result millions of people pull the cars into their lives

into their lives

into their lives he created tens of thousands of jobs and

he created tens of thousands of jobs and

he created tens of thousands of jobs and industries began to emerge around the

industries began to emerge around the

industries began to emerge around the car people started to build suburbs in

car people started to build suburbs in

car people started to build suburbs in the outskirts of the cities agriculture

the outskirts of the cities agriculture

the outskirts of the cities agriculture became more productive as you could

became more productive as you could

became more productive as you could easily transport food from the farms and

easily transport food from the farms and

easily transport food from the farms and to the cities in fact the United States

to the cities in fact the United States

to the cities in fact the United States government had tried to build roads in

government had tried to build roads in

government had tried to build roads in the 1800s but they couldn’t race the

the 1800s but they couldn’t race the

the 1800s but they couldn’t race the money to build the roads but after Henry

money to build the roads but after Henry

money to build the roads but after Henry Ford’s innovation the government was

Ford’s innovation the government was

Ford’s innovation the government was able to tax the citizens with the car

able to tax the citizens with the car

able to tax the citizens with the car sales and gas taxes and as a result they

sales and gas taxes and as a result they

sales and gas taxes and as a result they were able to build roads the car came

were able to build roads the car came

were able to build roads the car came before the roads the innovations come

before the roads the innovations come

before the roads the innovations come before the infrastructure but you see

before the infrastructure but you see

before the infrastructure but you see Ford was not alone he was born into an

Ford was not alone he was born into an

Ford was not alone he was born into an America that had this culture of

America that had this culture of

America that had this culture of innovation even though the demographics

innovation even though the demographics

innovation even though the demographics were worst in some of the countries in

were worst in some of the countries in

were worst in some of the countries in Africa today from innovations in

Africa today from innovations in

Africa today from innovations in agriculture to innovations in financial

agriculture to innovations in financial

agriculture to innovations in financial services innovators in the 1800’s and

services innovators in the 1800’s and

services innovators in the 1800’s and early 1900s developed products that were

early 1900s developed products that were

early 1900s developed products that were simple and affordable so that millions

simple and affordable so that millions

simple and affordable so that millions of Americans could pull them into their

of Americans could pull them into their

of Americans could pull them into their lives now the one thing that these

lives now the one thing that these

lives now the one thing that these innovations have in common is that they

innovations have in common is that they

innovations have in common is that they made product simple and affordable as a

made product simple and affordable as a

made product simple and affordable as a result of doing this millions of people

result of doing this millions of people

result of doing this millions of people pull these products into their lives the

pull these products into their lives the

pull these products into their lives the companies needed to create jobs so that

companies needed to create jobs so that

companies needed to create jobs so that they could serve these customers and as

they could serve these customers and as

they could serve these customers and as a result development happened now I know

a result development happened now I know

a result development happened now I know some of you are probably thinking

some of you are probably thinking

some of you are probably thinking there’s no way we can do this in Africa

there’s no way we can do this in Africa

there’s no way we can do this in Africa we’ve got way too many issues that we

we’ve got way too many issues that we

we’ve got way too many issues that we need to solve that’s understandable but

need to solve that’s understandable but

need to solve that’s understandable but we’ve been trying to fix our issues

we’ve been trying to fix our issues

we’ve been trying to fix our issues since since the wave of Independence

since since the wave of Independence

since since the wave of Independence swept across this continent in the 1950s

swept across this continent in the 1950s

swept across this continent in the 1950s and 60s and how are we doing on that if

and 60s and how are we doing on that if

and 60s and how are we doing on that if America tried to fix their issues the

America tried to fix their issues the

America tried to fix their issues the way we’re trying to fix our issues the

way we’re trying to fix our issues the

way we’re trying to fix our issues the country would not be where it is today

country would not be where it is today

country would not be where it is today see for America and virtually every

see for America and virtually every

see for America and virtually every prosperous country that we have studied

prosperous country that we have studied

prosperous country that we have studied innovation came before development but

innovation came before development but

innovation came before development but for Africa somehow we want development

for Africa somehow we want development

for Africa somehow we want development to come before innovation and we have

to come before innovation and we have

to come before innovation and we have the equation backwards unfortunately it

the equation backwards unfortunately it

the equation backwards unfortunately it just can’t work that way thankfully

just can’t work that way thankfully

just can’t work that way thankfully there are a few innovators on the

there are a few innovators on the

there are a few innovators on the continent that are making products more

continent that are making products more

continent that are making products more accessible simple and affordable so that

accessible simple and affordable so that

accessible simple and affordable so that more Africans can pull them into their

more Africans can pull them into their

more Africans can pull them into their lives these are the kinds of innovations

lives these are the kinds of innovations

lives these are the kinds of innovations that we need to foster take the

that we need to foster take the

that we need to foster take the late-1990s for instance when the cell

late-1990s for instance when the cell

late-1990s for instance when the cell phone was called a rich man’s toy very

phone was called a rich man’s toy very

phone was called a rich man’s toy very few people on the continent had it but

few people on the continent had it but

few people on the continent had it but Mo Ibrahim decided that he would create

Mo Ibrahim decided that he would create

Mo Ibrahim decided that he would create a mobile telecommunications

a mobile telecommunications

a mobile telecommunications infrastructure in several African

infrastructure in several African

infrastructure in several African countries that could serve millions of

countries that could serve millions of

countries that could serve millions of people and just like Henry Ford people

people and just like Henry Ford people

people and just like Henry Ford people thought he was crazy

thought he was crazy

thought he was crazy banks refused to give him money but he

banks refused to give him money but he

banks refused to give him money but he persevered and he was able to develop

persevered and he was able to develop

persevered and he was able to develop this infrastructure in several countries

this infrastructure in several countries

this infrastructure in several countries from Chad to Nazir to Sudan to the DRC

from Chad to Nazir to Sudan to the DRC

from Chad to Nazir to Sudan to the DRC and now millions of people have pooled

and now millions of people have pooled

and now millions of people have pooled these products into their lives

these products into their lives

these products into their lives we have industries that have emerged

we have industries that have emerged

we have industries that have emerged around it but interestingly he was able

around it but interestingly he was able

around it but interestingly he was able to unlock 3.4 billion dollars worth of

to unlock 3.4 billion dollars worth of

to unlock 3.4 billion dollars worth of value in seven years from some of the

value in seven years from some of the

value in seven years from some of the poorest countries on this continent

poorest countries on this continent

poorest countries on this continent think about that for a second he was

think about that for a second he was

think about that for a second he was able to sell his company for 3.4 billion

able to sell his company for 3.4 billion

able to sell his company for 3.4 billion dollars in about seven years that’s the

dollars in about seven years that’s the

dollars in about seven years that’s the kind of prosperity that exists if we

kind of prosperity that exists if we

kind of prosperity that exists if we think about creating market creating

think about creating market creating

think about creating market creating innovations

innovations

innovations there are a few other innovators doing

there are a few other innovators doing

there are a few other innovators doing the same in financial services from M

the same in financial services from M

the same in financial services from M paisa and micro insurer to even

paisa and micro insurer to even

paisa and micro insurer to even entertainment the Nigerian movie

entertainment the Nigerian movie

entertainment the Nigerian movie industry Nollywood that currently

industry Nollywood that currently

industry Nollywood that currently employs about a million people to

employs about a million people to

employs about a million people to another innovation that’s making malaria

another innovation that’s making malaria

another innovation that’s making malaria diagnostics really simple malaria still

diagnostics really simple malaria still

diagnostics really simple malaria still kills hundreds of thousands of Africans

kills hundreds of thousands of Africans

kills hundreds of thousands of Africans every year but with a product that cost

every year but with a product that cost

every year but with a product that cost a little over $1 you can find out if you

a little over $1 you can find out if you

a little over $1 you can find out if you have malaria in about 20 minutes so that

have malaria in about 20 minutes so that

have malaria in about 20 minutes so that you can treat it more easily now

you can treat it more easily now

you can treat it more easily now focusing on these kinds of innovations

focusing on these kinds of innovations

focusing on these kinds of innovations is more important now than ever here’s

is more important now than ever here’s

is more important now than ever here’s why you know in 2015 the Pew Research

why you know in 2015 the Pew Research

why you know in 2015 the Pew Research Center did a study that said about 92

Center did a study that said about 92

Center did a study that said about 92 percent of Africans earn less than $300

percent of Africans earn less than $300

percent of Africans earn less than $300 a month now this is after the decade of

a month now this is after the decade of

a month now this is after the decade of the Africa rising narrative I don’t know

the Africa rising narrative I don’t know

the Africa rising narrative I don’t know where we were rise into well we didn’t

where we were rise into well we didn’t

where we were rise into well we didn’t rise very high but here’s what that

rise very high but here’s what that

rise very high but here’s what that looks like

looks like

looks like that means these are the people on this

that means these are the people on this

that means these are the people on this continent as a proportion that earned

continent as a proportion that earned

continent as a proportion that earned more than $300 every month we need to

more than $300 every month we need to

more than $300 every month we need to start developing innovations for the

start developing innovations for the

start developing innovations for the millions of people for whom a decent

millions of people for whom a decent

millions of people for whom a decent education is not available for whom

education is not available for whom

education is not available for whom access to health care is not available

access to health care is not available

access to health care is not available access to affordable housing we can’t

access to affordable housing we can’t

access to affordable housing we can’t find what would happen if we started to

find what would happen if we started to

find what would happen if we started to focus on innovations that targeted the

focus on innovations that targeted the

focus on innovations that targeted the hundreds of millions of Africans who

hundreds of millions of Africans who

hundreds of millions of Africans who don’t have access to these products now

don’t have access to these products now

don’t have access to these products now I think what we would see is an

I think what we would see is an

I think what we would see is an innovation revolution on this continent

innovation revolution on this continent

innovation revolution on this continent that’s going to catapult us from poverty

that’s going to catapult us from poverty

that’s going to catapult us from poverty to prosperity in less than two decades

to prosperity in less than two decades

to prosperity in less than two decades but the first thing we have to do is we

but the first thing we have to do is we

but the first thing we have to do is we really have to stop focusing stop

really have to stop focusing stop

really have to stop focusing stop obsessing about eradicating poverty and

obsessing about eradicating poverty and

obsessing about eradicating poverty and we have to start thinking about creating

we have to start thinking about creating

we have to start thinking about creating innovations that can lead to prosperity

innovations that can lead to prosperity

innovations that can lead to prosperity thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

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