Regional Action Group for Africa Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa - WHITE PAPER JANUARY 2022
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In collaboration with Deloitte Regional Action Group for Africa Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa WHITE PAPER JANUARY 2022
Cover: @JuSun/Gettyimages
Contents
3 Foreword
4 Executive summary
5 1 Overview of incentives in Africa
8 2 Fourth Industrial Revolution investment market failures
9 3 SMME development in Africa
10 3.1 Africa’s start-up scene
10 3.2 Start-up Acts – an accelerator
11 A Available workforce
11 B Access to and diversity of financing
13 C Digital entrepreneurial support ecosystems, policies and regulation
13 D Infrastructure
14 4 The opportunity for SMMEs in digital transformation
17 5 A case study for developing incentives for SMMEs
19 6 Transitioning SMMEs into the digital economy
21 7 Proposed incentives to accelerate Fourth Industrial Revolution adoption
22 7.1 Co-investment models
22 7.2 Efficiency gain rebates
23 7.3 Upskilling the employed
24 Conclusion
25 Contributors
25 Acknowledgements
26 Endnotes
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Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa 2
Foreword
Børge Brende
Delia Ndlovu
President, World
Africa Board Chair, Deloitte
Economic Forum
The economist Steven Landsburg famously posited Traditionally, investment incentives have been used
that economics can be defined in two words: as an efficient tool to motivate firms to generate
“incentives matter”,1 all else is commentary. The investment. To this end, an investment incentive may
Fourth Industrial Revolution has the potential to be understood as a tangible financial advantage
transform Africa’s economy, increase productivity, that is granted by states to firms to induce a type
enhance competitiveness and achieve business of behavioural change. Almost all states provide
growth. Historically, Africa has lagged behind some combination of tax or fiscal incentives to
other regions in employing the full potential of the support the business sector in a combination of tax
previous industrial revolutions and this has limited holidays, investment allowances, reduced tax rates,
its ability to become a truly competitive market. research and development (R&D) incentives, and
special economic zones (SEZs). Are these incentives
Compared to the rest of the world, the current useful in spurring the adoption of Fourth Industrial
adoption and impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies in the business cycle?
Revolution on the continent remains low.
2
Embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution Unlocking the potential of small, medium and micro
also requires investment in, inter alia, digital enterprises (SMMEs) also requires the support of big
transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), the internet business in the form of shared value. Risk capital,
of things (IoT), robotics and 3D printing. skills development and training are among the most
significant contributors to the success of SMMEs. In
The biggest challenges in Africa remain inadequate the current incentive landscape, amplifying shared
infrastructure and skills, which hamper broad value principles between SMMEs and big companies
adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution solutions can address the difficulties that arise in Fourth
by businesses and consumers. However, Africa Industrial Revolution adoption.
has an advantage over developed markets: the
continent is not impeded by outdated legacy This white paper aims to examine the sphere of
infrastructure and may have little difficulty in investment incentives in Africa through the lens of
embracing change. Can investment incentives Fourth Industrial Revolution adoption. It explores
motivate such change so that companies the sui generis nature of incentives to increase
adopt Fourth Industrial Revolution applications foreign direct investment (FDI) and related economic
– developing unique, local, high-tech products development, allied to know-how and capital to
and services? improve the skills base of domestic labour markets.
Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa 3
Executive summary
The $1.2 billion and growing start-up
scene in Africa is testament to the value
that can be unlocked through wide-scale
digital transformation in the region.
As the World Economic Forum Africa Regional The paper looks at the perspective of SMMEs
Action Group reflects on the priority pathways as enablers of digital transformation through the
set out at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, exponentially growing start-up scene, with Africa
digital transformation seems to be the one catalyst raising $1.2 billion in start-up funding in 2020
that can accelerate the region’s response. The despite setbacks caused during the pandemic; this
five pathways for driving economic recovery and is positioned to grow to $10 billion by 2056.6 In
building resilience are: new financing models for addition, it explores the need to support SMMEs
rapid recovery; unlocking manufacturing to mitigate as they digitally transform, adapting their business
global supply-chain risks; employing integration and models and creating cost advantages to become
regional value chains; revitalizing infrastructure and more competitive through new technology. While
connectivity; and scaling digital transformation and there are a plethora of accelerators and innovation
inclusive innovation.3 The pandemic demonstrated hubs across the region, the Centre for the Fourth
the massive leaps that business, government Industrial Revolution in South Africa is embarking
and civil society made during the crisis – and on a project that specifically structures incentives
that sustaining this level of focus and momentum to support the transition of SMMEs to become
can boost economic growth, especially as the digitally enabled through the internet of things
region looks within to reap the fruits of the African (IoT). Similarly, various telecommunication and
Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). technology operators are building ecosystems to
nurture SMMEs that can serve the diverse needs
The African Union Fourth Industrial Revolution of the African market and bridge the economic
strategy provides the foundation to ensure that and digital divide. The paper concludes with a
the region is able to embrace opportunities and set of progressive incentives for consideration,
challenges. This paper builds on that work, looking ranging from co-investment of critical infrastructure
at developments in Africa and in other emerging to efficiency-gain rebates realized through digital
markets to provide direction for policy-makers and transformation.
investors to consider the mechanisms that can
scale up digital transformation. The paper explores This paper serves to stimulate a more considered
the landscape of incentives in the region and the approach by policy-makers and investors
market failures that limit scale-up and adoption. to accelerate the rate of the region’s digital
SMMEs in particular are uniquely affected; they are transformation and spur investments in a manner
a key group because they constitute 80% of Africa’s that aligns with its environmental, social and
enterprises4 and create seven out of 10 jobs.5 governance (ESG) aspirations.
Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa 4
Below: @ Subodh Agnihotri/
Gettyimages
1 Overview of
incentives in Africa
While there are incentives to support
industrialization, there are very few that
focus on technology, technology adoption
and technology integration.
Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa 5
Despite broad recognition of its economic value, Measuring the effectiveness of these incentives
investment in the Fourth Industrial Revolution – relies on having monitoring and evaluation (M&E)
especially in developing economies – is challenged frameworks in place. With a few exceptions, M&E
by market failures in investment.7 It is argued that is not fully incorporated into the design of incentives
only by developing and adopting strategies to in Africa. Just four incentives in South Africa had a
correct for these market failures will it be possible to comprehensive framework in place for M&E; and
capture the economic value associated with Fourth in half of these cases, there was no indication that
Industrial Revolution technology adoption.8 M&E processes had been considered upfront.15
Furthermore, output data is seldom tracked or
As developing economies aspire to emulate verified, which makes the evaluation of incentives
the development experience of developed insufficiently substantive.
economies, the acquisition of this technology
and know-how has assumed critical importance In South Africa, there is some evidence that
in terms of achieving economic growth.9 The individual incentives are supporting firms and
African Union (AU) has set out to “create a contributing to increased economic participation.16
conducive environment to empower people to Notwithstanding, there are notable studies
innovate, facilitate access to finance and funding examining the impact of investment incentives on
mechanisms for digital enterprises”.10 economic development that confirm the positive
impact of incentives on the development of an
Surveying 32 countries in Africa, a total of economy17 (mainly on productivity and employment).
188 national incentives were reviewed.11 Only
14 incentives were found to be responsive History has shown that the most successful
to investment in Fourth Industrial Revolution civilizations are those that are adept at dealing with
technology in 10 of the 32 surveyed countries. Data information and economic transactions, and that
relating to effectiveness and efficiency is still lacking embrace R&D.18 This becomes even more critical in
in order to determine the impact these policy the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
instruments have had.
Africa’s participation in global knowledge generation
Still, many African countries offer tax incentives remains negligible. According to UNESCO’s Institute
to stimulate the manufacturing, agricultural and of Statistics, Africa’s R&D funding in 2019 was
industrial bases of their economies, or to localize estimated to be 0.42% of the continent’s GDP19 –
financial services. For example, Kenya and far below the global average of 1.7% and the lowest
Cameroon provide tax deductions for companies in the world. The AU’s executive council in 2006
that are listed on their respective stock exchanges. established a target for all member states of 1% of
A more recent trend in a number of African GDP for R&D investment, to improve innovation,
countries has been incentives to attempt to diversify productivity and economic growth. Investment in
economies, from a reliance on extractive industries R&D may not be considered a priority as African
to more value-added services. For example, the governments seek to satisfy their citizens with
introduction of the R&D tax incentive in Côte access to basic commodities. However, there is
d’Ivoire in 2020 is an attempt to drive investment in a need to simultaneously develop capacity and
innovation away from a reliance on commodities. capitalize on the opportunities brought by the
Fourth Industrial Revolution, without creating
South Africa launched the automotive production disincentives for investment.20
and development programme (APDP) as an
incentive scheme to make the country an attractive The Fourth Industrial Revolution in Africa will rely
location for manufacturing vehicles. As a result of on generalized knowledge, tech transfer and
the incentive, South Africa had exported 344,859 absorption, which will involve several undertakings.
vehicles by 2016,12 comprising 15% of all exports. Industrial-led activities will require learning how to
Despite the deindustrialization experienced in many operate, maintain and repair machines, introducing
other sectors of the South African economy, the incremental innovation, developing new products
APDP incentive had a considerable effect on the and processes, etc.21 The adoption of Fourth
country’s gross domestic product (GDP). In 2020, Industrial Revolution solutions will depend on
South Africa’s automotive sector contributed 4.9% “a minimum level of domestic institutional and
to GDP (down from 6.4% in 2019), accounted industrial capacity to enable late starters to
for 18.7% of manufacturing output and made take advantage of the potential for catching up
up 62% of Africa’s automotive production.13 The depending on public and private competence:
continuation of the APDP and its refinement in order infrastructure, education, the financial system and
to strengthen and build the automotive supply chain quality of government institutions”.22
domestically will continue to increase the capacity of
motor manufacturers and support industrialization, Universities are widely considered to be engines of
technology capacity and job creation.14 The fact that innovation through technology transfer offices. In
its automotive industry is one of the largest economic South Africa, between 2011 and 2014, an average
contributors in the country may be one reason why of 100 new technologies were added each year
the South African government continues to support to technology transfer offices (TTOs). The success
it. Another reason is that the industry may not survive of university-to-industry tech transfer is primarily a
globally without the support of the state. function of the system in place in that respective
Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa 6
country or university. Only a few emerging nations to bring new technology, knowledge or innovative
have effective systems in place to manage processes to a country and accelerate integration
university-to-industry knowledge transfer. This is into the global economy.
partly due to a lack of scientific and technological
research. The OECD reports that less than 10% From an incentive perspective, certain policy
of all businesses in Africa collaborate in innovation instruments tend to be more effective at different
transfer with universities, as compared to 13% stages of an economy’s development. In the early-
for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) emerging stage, when developing the business
and 35% for large business in OECD countries.23 base is critical, useful incentives tend to focus on tax
In Nigeria, studies show that, between 2010 and breaks on capital expenditure. In the late-emerging
2017, only 3% of Nigerian businesses obtained their stage, encouraging innovation focuses on R&D
innovative ideas from universities.24 incentives (to help companies with early-stage
losses and to boost profits). In the mature phase,
The Global Entrepreneurial Monitor Report (GEM) governments look to exploit established market
asserts that Egypt’s most nascent entrepreneurial innovations that seek to keep the output of R&D
activity is in the retail and services sector rather in-country.27 Intellectual property (IP) regimes that
than research-based industries, support for lower tax rates on income from patents are common.
R&D and acquisition for new technologies is low In Africa, 10 of the 32 countries surveyed offer
and that tech transfer from universities to new super-deductions of R&D expenses, with no form
enterprises is “extremely weak”. It is furthermore of R&D tax credits or IP tax relief. The challenge of
estimated that Egypt’s total investment in R&D accessing information on the uptake of incentives is
from non-governmental resources is only 5%.25 indicative of a shortfall in administrative, technical and
However, the Egyptian government is ramping up human resources. These are necessary resources
investment in the country’s start-up ecosystem for incentive policy to spur the adoption of Fourth
as part of its Digital Egypt strategy, designed to Industrial Revolution technologies and applications.
encourage innovation to transition to a knowledge-
based economy. There is evidence to suggest that African States
are beginning to incentivize innovation. However,
Technology transfer is capital-intensive and mainly such interventions do not appear to be intense nor
benefits licensees rather than the institutions widespread enough to encourage the adoption
themselves. Incentives and funding will be critical to of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. This
prioritize technology transfer as a core activity. The may lead to there being a greater economic space
lack of a clear set of public policies, guidelines and for foreign and domestic firms to forge ahead in
Below: @vgajic/ incentives hinders the prospects for knowledge and the financing of new businesses that drive such
Gettyimages technology transfer.26 FDI incentives should serve technology adoption.
Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa 7
2 Fourth Industrial
Revolution investment
market failures
Incentives should be designed to boost
the productivity and infrastructure needed
to scale digital transformation in the region.
African economies continue to lag behind their increase in 3G coverage to 75% compared to 63%
global peers when it comes to technological in 2017, and 4G coverage had doubled to nearly
advancements. For example, African economies 50% by 2019, compared to 2017.32
have the lowest number of internet connections
globally – according to the first-quarter figures While it is clear that progress has been made to
shared by Internet World Statistics, only 39.3% of bridge the technological gap and connect more
the continent has internet access;28 meanwhile, the people to the internet, several factors contribute
coverage gap in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains to this disparity (and ultimately the market failures)
the highest globally, with 67% of the world’s that Africa is experiencing, including: 1) outdated
population (about 800 million people) still not government policies; 2) poor digital infrastructure; 3)
connected to the mobile internet.29 a lack of the right skills (or skills mismatch); and 4)
high levels of corruption.
Though Africa is behind in terms of internet access
and usage, it also has the largest potential for It is evident that the success of digital transformation
progress. Following the introduction of the United in Africa rests on: 1) enabling the necessary digital
Nations (UN) e-government system, there has been infrastructure that can assist in reducing the digital
an increase in Africa’s development index from 0.47 gap; 2) developing digital literacy and skills in order to
points in 2014 to 0.54 points in 2018. Similarly, solve the skills mismatch so that young people can
countries such as Seychelles, Kenya, Ethiopia, take advantage of the growth and prosperity promised
Morocco, Ghana, Rwanda, Mauritius, Tunisia and by the digital economy; 3) making sure the region
South Africa scored above the world average of has less corruption within its structures to ensure
0.56 points for online services, which shows that an that sustainable economic growth can occur in all
increased uptake of technologies by African countries areas; and 4) creating enabling environments to allow
would help in boosting overall development.30 national stakeholders to manage risks better by having
the right regulations and frameworks in place to offer
Africa is also emerging as the fastest-growing support locally, across the region and internationally.
region for mobile phones in the world, growing at
a rate nearly twice as fast as that of Asia. SSA is Addressing these factors will assist African
expected to remain the fastest-growing region, with economies to thrive, particularly by allowing
a compound annual growth rate of 4.6%, obtaining key players such as SMMEs – which lag behind
an additional 167 million subscribers over the period in digital transformation but are vital drivers of
to 2025.31 Mobile broadband coverage has also economic growth and employment opportunities –
progressed to an impressive degree: SSA saw an to get involved.
Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa 8
Below: @ 00one/
Gettyimages
3 SMME development
in Africa
The implementation of Start-up Acts
in countries such as Tunisia, Senegal,
Rwanda and Ghana is accelerating the
pace of inclusive growth in the region.
Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa 9
3.1 Africa’s start-up scene
The growth of digital businesses and end High-speed internet infrastructure will provide
consumers in Africa has revealed that the Fourth approximately 20 times more network capacity,
Industrial Revolution is becoming a reality. Though leading to a 21% reduction in internet prices in
the continent is embracing the Fourth Industrial Nigeria, with approximately 1.7 million jobs created
Revolution, the African Development Bank has in Nigeria and South Africa.37
found that access to finance, skills and inclusive
growth needs to be improved.33 On the supply It comes as no surprise that Africa’s most vibrant
side, Africa is characterized as an adopter of Fourth start-up hubs (Lagos, Nairobi and Cairo) have
Industrial Revolution technologies instead of a net benefitted from significant investment activity.
producer, which indicates that the African start-up Start-ups have been recognized as a vital engine
system is undercapitalized, unlike Silicon Valley, to encourage economic growth and innovation.
whose ecosystem has universities, investors, While African countries may seek to emulate the
infrastructure and the right incentives to support development experience of start-ups, developed
start-ups. Despite this, there are a number of economies such as the United States, Sweden,
tech start-ups developing such technologies – in Israel and Singapore have taken different
2019, 6,500 tech start-ups were identified on the approaches to nurturing start-up culture. These
continent, of which just over 10% were developing approaches have required substantial government
Fourth Industrial Revolution applications.34 Start- intervention in the form of investment and support
up funding in Africa crossed the $1 billion mark for start-up ecosystems. While some African start-
in 2019, up from an investment of less than $200 ups have benefitted from government incentives,
million in 2015. More significantly, in 2020, amid the too, there have been fewer resources and more
COVID-19 pandemic, total funding still increased by regulatory burdens to navigate.38
8% compared to 2019,35 granting tech a lucrative
spot in Africa’s investment landscape. Growing fiscal pressures have meant that African
governments cannot afford a broad array of policy
However, green shoots of progress have also been instruments, but instead require more targeted
observed in recent investment milestones. In 2019, interventions to support innovation. Supportive
Jumia made history, becoming the first African tech legislation in the form of Start-up Acts – laws
start-up to list on the New York Stock Exchange. specifically designed to spur innovation, reduce the
In 2020, Irish-American financial services company burden of regulation and promote entrepreneurship
Stripe acquired Nigeria’s Paystack for over $200 – have featured prominently in policy toolkits to
million, making it the largest exit for an African provide an enabling environment for start-ups and
start-up.36 And in October 2021, Google stated investors. Start-up Acts in Tunisia and Senegal have
that it would be investing $1 billion over five years paved the way, with Rwanda and Ghana both in
to support digital transformation across Africa. discussions with key stakeholders to implement
This will include laying subsea cables for higher similar reforms.39 Larger economies such as
internet speeds along with low-interest loans, equity Kenya,40 Uganda,41 South Africa42 and Ethiopia43
investment and skills training for African start-ups. have also followed suit.
3.2 Start-up Acts – an accelerator
The legislative incentives embedded in Start-up business registration processes and increased state
Acts could help to further tech entrepreneurship. support for patent licensing. Senegal’s version of
These include a set of policy instruments intended the Start-up Act includes three tax-free operational
to increase incentives for young people to start years, training for youth and female entrepreneurs,
a venture, with other ecosystems, such as big and start-up registration platforms to accelerate
business, lending support where needed. business registration.
Key elements of Tunisia’s Start-Up Act, for example, There are, of course, other incentives that enable
include state salaries for up to three founders per Fourth Industrial Revolution investment, such as the
company during the first year of operation, tax state of readiness for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
incentives and a year’s leave period for private- and In the context of Africa, this may be regarded as the
public-sector employees to start a company with ability to capitalize on future production opportunities,
the right to return to their jobs. There are further mitigating risks and ensuring agility to respond to
incentives including start-up grants, fast-tracked unknown future shocks.
Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa 10From information gleaned from surveys, workshops and interviews with Regional Action Group for
Africa (RAGA) members, these may be measured by enablers such as:
A Available workforce B Access to and diversity of financing
Digital entrepreneurial support
C ecosystems, policies and regulation D Infrastructure
A Available workforce
Africa’s performance against its global counterparts technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
is weakest on available workforce. This is consistent graduates in Africa: currently, only 2% of the
with companies surveyed for the Africa Growth continent’s university-age population holds a STEM-
Platform in which Côte d’Ivoire-based fintech related degree.44 Investment in the Fourth Industrial
company S-Cash Payment cited lack of expertise in Revolution will require engineers and scientists
implementing artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain from a variety of industries, who may have to be
technology. South African-based edtech company sourced from abroad. To create incentives to attract
Africa Teen Geeks, which requires AI technology and retain talent from abroad to Africa, Solomon
to support its business strategy and operations, Assefa, IBM’s Research Vice-President, suggested
reported a lack of a talent pool to execute these transparent and simpler visa regulations by African
features in its operations. The challenges that the states to attract those with critical skills. This will
Fourth Industrial Revolution faces with respect ensure the barrier to entry to attract talent is not
to the workforce relate to education, skills and prohibitive, improving learning ecosystems that are
competencies. There is an acute lack of science, weaker in Africa compared to others.
B Access to and diversity of financing
African businesses need strong and sufficient The current available financial sector support for
finance to address the challenges of the Fourth SMMEs in Africa is dominated by banks, which
Industrial Revolution. This requires stable and liquid – due to low competition as well as high lending/
capital markets with incentives to attract inward low deposits – have double-digit interest margins.
FDI. As in most parts of the world, Africa’s largest Business angels and wealthy individuals who support
business base is made up of SMMEs. SSA alone project investment are not widespread in Africa. In
has 44 million SMMEs, almost all of which are an interview with Nimrod Gerber, Managing Partner
micro enterprises (with fewer than 10 employees). of leading impact investment company Vital Capital,
Of these, 51% require more funding than they he stated that the lack of an investment regulatory
can currently access, but are faced with credit framework can be prohibitive to funding projects.
constraints:45 they have limited access to external In the ESG investment space, the absence of an
financing or have experienced issues in obtaining investment regulatory framework may create uneven
previous funding. competition between those investors that are ESG
compliant versus those that lack the credentials.
In an interview, IBM’s Solomon Assefa agreed
that industry partnerships could mitigate the Early-stage funding would ideally be suited to
lack of funding faced by innovators in the start- angel investors if appropriate incentives are
up ecosystem. IBM already provides a platform correctly organized. In addition to providing
for techno entrepreneurs to develop tech-based financial capital, these investors would provide
solutions. But data needs to be inclusive of strategic and expert advice. The significant growth
widespread connectivity. Commercial investment in UK-based SMMEs has been attributed to a
in Africa that brings together public and private range of income tax deductions that focused
objectives offers the opportunity to reduce and on early-stage start-ups. The Seed Enterprise
rebalance the risk of exposure arising from Investment Scheme (launched in 2012) raised
Fourth Industrial Revolution technology adoption. £175 million ($230 million) for 2,260 companies.
Partnerships between the public and private sectors
can lower input costs, improve management and The South African Venture Capital and Private Equity
generate higher productivity output. Association (SAVCA) has also seen significant growth
Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa 11in terms of deals and value. Highlights of the 2021 Africa’s digital entrepreneurship ecosystem is
SAVCA Venture Capital Industry Survey reported growing, with net positive effects on job creation
841 active deals amounting to 6.87 billion rand ($0.4 and social impact. Corporate finance is another
billion) as compared to 159 deals with a total of 1.16 pillar through which targeted investments in start-
billion rand ($0.07 billion) in 2017.46 There is, however, ups such as Naspers Foundry in South Africa are
an insufficient number of experienced fund managers expanding.48 The Naspers Foundry is a $96 million
in Africa, particularly those with the knowledge to early-stage investment vehicle to develop South
assist successful businesses to grow globally. Africa’s tech ecosystem. It provides South African
tech companies with access to markets, international
Mobile money services are also flourishing in African expertise and big company business support, and
countries where mobile network operators can has made a series of investments in a portfolio of
service unbanked customers. Phumlani Gambushe of tech start-ups. In June 2019, it made a $2 million
MTN South Africa said that recently adopted financial investment in SweepSouth, an online cleaning
and telecom regulations have been key to financial services platform that connects domestic cleaners
inclusion and are enabled by mobile money platforms. with clients. In 2020, SweepSouth launched its
There is further evidence that traditional banking service model in Kenya and, in September 2021, in
services with wider fintech applications, including AI Nigeria. The platform has also expanded its home
Below: @Cecilie_Arcurs/ and blockchain, can develop new smart payment/ services to include other offerings such as gardening,
Gettyimages banking systems to accelerate financial inclusion.47 plumbing and building services.
Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa 12C Digital entrepreneurial support ecosystems,
policies and regulation
Africa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem has been donor partners. Digital entrepreneurial ecosystems
thriving thanks in part to incubators and accelerators are fast changing and need agile policy support. This
with an increased focus on technology. The number will require the establishment of clear institutional
of technology hubs across Africa grew by 50% leadership backed by better publicized programmes
between 2016 and 2018,49 with Morocco, South from a central source. This may in turn be evaluated
Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Egypt hosting the highest and communicated more rapidly through public-
amount. The top five ecosystem cities by number of private dialogue. Fourth Industrial Revolution-led
active hubs are Lagos, Cape Town, Nairobi, Cairo businesses would be better facilitated through
and Accra. Many of these hubs remain fragile and reforms in R&D tax incentives, exchange control, IP
heavily reliant on grant funding from international and labour flexibility.
D Infrastructure
Rob Shuter, former Chief Executive Officer of – regards connectivity and internet access for all
Africa’s largest mobile telecoms network MTN, as a prime requirement that government needs to
reported that telecoms operators invested incentivize.
$10 billion annually in Africa, which could be Infrastructure is broadly regarded as a basic
doubled if regulators made more spectrum necessity to ensure a competitive economy.
available.50 Education and fiscal incentives The inadequacy of the power supply in Africa is
are clear examples of areas where states well documented and has impeded adoption of
could encourage adoption of Fourth Industrial Fourth Industrial Revolution technology. Ubongo,
Revolution technologies. With widespread a Tanzanian edtech company, regards power
adoption of 5G underway, African governments outages and slow internet speeds as one of the
need to ensure that the potential of 5G main contributors to preventing implementation
that operates within the spectrum-sharing of digital technologies. Regardless, it has been
environment is harnessed for public purposes suggested that Africa has high potential for the
– deploying a wider spectrum would be a vital adoption of renewable and green technology as a
enabler of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. palliative to energy demands. Grants and incentives
Technology company GovChat in South Africa – for the adoption of renewable technology are likely
an online platform used to access social grants to spur uptake.
Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa 13Below: @klingsup/
Gettyimages
4 The opportunity for
SMMEs in digital
transformation
Partnerships through global and local
funding institutions are bridging the
opportunity for non-tech SMMEs to join
the e-commerce wave.
Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa 14The digital transformation trend presents an customized services – and the ability for businesses
opportunity for impact investors such as Vital to provide cross-border services – thus expanding
Capital to focus on the digital transformation of global exchange.
the SMMEs with whom they work. In particular,
the growing e-commerce trend (the sale of goods Since the start of the pandemic, there has been
and services through online marketplaces) creates an accelerated shift towards e-commerce in
an important channel for SMMEs. A successful Africa. Retailers with traditional brick-and-mortar
e-commerce platform can help to support growth in operations had little option but to “go online” in
an economy and can facilitate trade within the digital order to survive. A recent report by Visa shows
economy; for example, between large online entities that SSA realized a 42% year-on-year growth
and SMMEs that make equal use of this platform. in e commerce across the region from 2019
to 2020.52 This was largely attributed to cross-
Digital transformation continues to accelerate the border transactions, highlighting the potential
market for all e-commerce businesses. Companies value that can be realized through the successful
in the e-commerce industry are moving towards implementation of the AfCFTA agreement.
using digital transformation methods to facilitate
their businesses. In Africa, e-commerce is still in Still, according to the Digital Economy Report
its early stages, with traffic being only 10% of that by the United Nations Conference on Trade and
enjoyed by leading global platforms. Compared Development (UNCTAD), developing markets lag
to global standards, these numbers are quite behind developed nations in terms of capturing
insignificant; i.e. in 2019, global e-commerce sales the growth that the digital economy provides.53
amounted to $26.7 trillion,51 with Amazon having Figure 1 shows that more than 80% of internet
estimated number of transactions of 26.73 billion users in a number of European countries shop
in 2019, which accounts for 13.7% of worldwide online, while in many of the least-developed
global retail e-commerce sales, while eBay and countries (LDCs), the share of people who shop
AliExpress had estimated traffic of 10.47 billion online is less than 10%.
and 6.66 billion respectively. This presents an
opportunity for Africa to participate more actively Despite this, there are some encouraging signals
in e-commerce, with untapped potential that in the market, one of which is the birth of Africa's
can offer opportunities for small enterprises and first unicorn Jumia, which reported a 50% rise in
stimulate trade across the continent. The benefits transactions during the first six months of 2020
include increased speed and accuracy of business and raised $341.2 million in its initial public offering
exchanges – which can reduce trade transaction (IPO), placing it alongside global marketplaces
costs – minimal set-up expenses in terms of such as China’s Alibaba and Latin America’s
infrastructure required – offering consumers more Mercado Libre.54
FIGURE 1A
Global internet use – measured by level of
development and by region, for selected years (%)
By level of development
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
2005
2010
2015
2019
Note: LDCs – least Developed economies World Developing economies LDCs
developed countries
Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa 15FIGURE 1B Global internet use – measured by level of
development and by region, for selected years (%)
By region
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
2005
2010
2015
Source: UNCTAD,
2019
based on ITU Statistics
database, available at
www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/ Note: CIS – Commonwealth Europe The Americas CIS Arab States Asia and Pacific Africa
of Independent States
Statistics/Pages/stat/
default.aspx
Similar growth has also been reported by other and communications. Funding works on a sliding
fintech players operating in the e-commerce market scale based on the number of jobs the SMME can
such as Paystack, a Nigerian financial payments create and requires the SMME to match 20% of the
company with more than 60,000 merchants across grant value.58
Africa. The company reported a five-fold increase
in transactions relative to pre-pandemic levels. SMMEs have an incredible opportunity to benefit
Logistics players including Kenya’s GetBoda, an from this trend: as stated in the UNCTAD report59
e-commerce delivery company, saw a 150% rise in published in March 2021, more than 40% of
orders in the first weeks of the pandemic.55 customers in four large African countries were
planning to decrease their supermarket shopping
A range of initiatives is cropping up to bridge the in the future by opting for online purchases of food,
infrastructure and skills gap, including one led by clothing and electronics.
the UN Capital Development Fund partnering with
SafeBoda in Uganda to support SMMEs to deliver This is further supported by the forecast from the
their goods. This partnership will be able to provide International Finance Corporation (IFC) that the
800 market vendors with access to the SafeBoda region’s largest e-commerce markets (No. 1 Kenya;
app and enable these small enterprises to sell their No. 2 Morocco; No. 3 South Africa) will see a rise in
produce while helping to preserve the livelihoods of the contribution of the digital economy to GDP from
the 18,000 SafeBoda drivers whose income source 7.7% to 9.2% by 2025 and to 15.2% by 2050.
was affected by public transport bans.56
The Phase 3 negotiations on the implementation
In South Africa, the CDI Capital Growth Fund (a of the AfCFTA covering e-commerce and digital
subsidiary of the Craft and Design Institute) has trade were set to take place in 2021 and show
turned its focus to small businesses involved in great promise for unlocking value in the region.
e-commerce and digital services.57 The Growth The Phase 2 negotiations were initially scheduled
Fund seeks to help small businesses unlock their to be concluded by December 2020 and the
growth potential and create permanent jobs, Phase 3 negotiations were meant to commence
along with contributing towards the economic immediately afterwards. This deadline was not
development and competitiveness of South Africa. met due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the
The funding of between ~$10,000 and $690,000 African Union (AU) Assembly has set 31 December
supports SMMEs with growth opportunities and 2021 as the deadline for the conclusion of Phase 2
addresses needs such as advertising, marketing and 3 negotiations.60
Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa 16Below: @ PeopleImages/
Gettyimages
5 A case study for
developing incentives
for SMMEs
Industry and government can adapt
the available incentives to meet
the needs of SMMEs through agile
policy development.
Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa 17In an effort to better mobilize and support nations understand their business challenges and support
to harness the power of the Fourth Industrial will be provided in aligning the leadership team
Revolution, the World Economic Forum collaborates for their digital transformation journey. While there
with partners across the world to set up affiliate is a plethora of incentives available to SMMEs
centres for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, giving from the state, DFIs and industry, there is none
greater coverage and scale to the work started in available that directly focuses on supporting
the San Francisco, Japan, India and Brazil centres. digital transformation. Therefore, through this
In turn, these centres are collaborating with various pilot process, the partners, together with the
local stakeholders to serve as a “do tank”, taking government incentives team, will identify how
working technologies and creating the ecosystem existing incentives can be repurposed or new
to scale them, whether in the form of policy ones introduced to accelerate SMMEs to become
frameworks, industrial capacity development or even digitally enabled.
mobilizing civil society towards a just transition. One
of the first projects being carried out is a scale-up The project team has taken lessons from the Brazil
of the SME futures network,61 which was initially scheme and incorporated some critical local needs,
implemented in Brazil and is now in Columbia, such as enabling a more local diverse supplier base
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. to improve both localization and support historically
disadvantaged individuals to access economic
The project aims to pilot an IoT-adoption digital opportunities. The pilot project will highlight the
transformation journey, working with local SMMEs areas in which incentives are needed and how
to identify specific use cases that will support best they can be used to attract private capital to
them in increasing their competitive advantage improve scalability.
thereby improving their value proposition to large
businesses and grow their offtake, thus augmenting Given the focus on intentionally building capability
the SME base and even increasing employment.62 for a digital economy, the project will assess
the supply-side landscape in terms of local
In South Africa, the first industry that was prioritized production, local skills base, etc. The project also
for this pilot was the automotive sector, given its aims to identify opportunities for industrial capacity
focus as a growth area and the significance it has creation to meet local and regional needs for the
in rallying the country’s industrial base. By working automotive sector and potentially more broadly in
with industrial partners such as the National industrial manufacturing.
Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South
Africa (NAAMSA), the National Association of This will provide an invaluable learning experience
Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers for governments and key actors globally to
(NAACAM) and the Automotive Industry embrace a learning-by-doing approach to policy
Transformation Fund (AITF), the centre is identifying design and implementation in an environment
and selecting potential SMMEs. As part of the that is rapidly changing and requires more agile
onboarding process, SMMEs will be profiled to governance toolsets.
Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa 18Below: @gorodenkoff/
Gettyimages
6 Transitioning SMMEs
into the digital
economy
Leveraging the available capacity through
an ecosystem approach can boost the
reach of available incentives and ensure
long-term sustainability.
Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa 19Lessons learned so far about how SMMEs can be transaction. In 2020, transactions increased by 35%,
successfully incubated and need to be collated with 12,400 MoMo transactions per minute (up from
through an ecosystem of all those involved in the 9,200 in 2019).67
process. Such ecosystems are being created
on an ad hoc basis by various industry groups The IFC has supported several other fintech
through formal and informal collaborations with the businesses in the region with financing and advisory
business sector. services in an effort to address financial inclusion,
support the formalization of trade activities and, in
Mobile network operators (MNOs) are targeting turn, stimulate employment opportunities.
SMMEs as a large unserved market for traditional
voice and data services. These SMMEs are looking SMMEs are also using Ayoba – an instant messaging
for more affordable options to grow and scale in platform made by Africans for Africans to reach
the digital economy and, if anything, the COVID-19 their customers and grow their sales. Ayoba has a
pandemic has accelerated these efforts. Songezo functionality that supports B2B and B2C through its
Masiso, General Manager for SME at MTN Business, “Channels” section. By using the app, businesses
says that computing and cloud storage are core can connect with customers, who are not only able
services for SMMEs, simply because they have had to subscribe to their preferred channel, but will also
to adapt to new ways of working from wherever receive a newsfeed in the chat menu.68 This app
they are, often in a virtual manner.63 This creates an has been integrated into 12 MTN markets, including
opportunity for SMMEs that were otherwise locked South Africa; it is also multilingual, supporting
into their brick-and-mortar models to start exploring many of the local languages spoken across the 12
digital commerce, including online payments, markets, namely isiZulu, isiXhosa, Pidgin, Yoruba,
and even more sophisticated capabilities such as Swahili, Hausa, French and English.69
automation and AI enabled by 5G. The solutions
available to service SMMEs are largely on offer As the ecosystem becomes more developed, the
through other SMMEs themselves, providing more possibilities seem endless. One notable platform
cost-effective and modularized solutions. MTN is Chenosis, which creates a marketplace for
and other operators are building an ecosystem developers from all over the continent to make their
around this, starting with the suppliers they bring application programme interface (API) – a software
onto platform businesses they are building. MTN, in intermediary that essentially allows two applications
partnership with the Department of Small Business to talk to each other – available and start to create
Development (DSBD), is focusing on identifying seamless integration between different platforms
small information and communications technology and services within their business segment, in order
(ICT) businesses that can be supported through the to grow and scale their operations. Since its launch
National Gazelles flagship programme.64 The National in August 2020, more than 250 developers have
Gazelles is a South African SME growth accelerator joined the API marketplace, with a strong pipeline
funded by the Small Economic Development Agency of partners.70 “Chenosis is a separate brand and
(SEDA) and the DSBD. Currently in a three-year pilot, entity, and will have an arm’s-length relationship with
the programme aims to identify and support SMEs MTN so that it remains open to all MNOs, fintech
in growth areas across 10 priority industry sectors start-ups, payment service providers, mobile wallet
aligned with the National Development Plan and operators, financial service providers and more,” said
SEDA’s SMME strategy.65 Charles Molapisi, MTN Group Chief Technology and
Information Officer.71
The three-year partnership will focus on grant
financing to SMEs in the ICT sector with According to MTN’s press statement: “The Chenosis
high potential, as well as inclusive business marketplace allows businesses and developers
development workshops and services on offer to publish their APIs so that other developers can
from MTN Business. The purpose of the grants discover and use them. The marketplace also
will be to boost growth through the funding of provides the tools for publishers to monetize and
assets, supporting market access and innovation.66 promote their APIs by creating subscription plans
Inevitably, this provides an opportunity for these and product bundles that developers and businesses
same businesses to offer services to other can purchase. The Chenosis marketplace portal has
businesses in the SMME segment. dashboards for publishers and consumers to track
revenue and credit balances, view consumption
A key challenge many SMMEs face is to manage analytics and API performance and lots more.”72
payments, especially less formalized businesses
and those with unbanked customers. MTN’s This is critical as it serves to attract technology
Mobile Money (MoMo) platform is aiming to close providers, reduces the cost for customers, and
this gap by enabling business-to-business (B2B) encourages local digital technology capability.
and business-to-consumer (B2C) payments. The Furthermore, it creates a conducive ecosystem that
platform recently accelerated its service footprint considers the financial, technical and network effect
through its partnership with the IFC. The $2 million required to truly support the growth of SMMEs in
financing received will be used to recruit, enrol their digital transformation. This is the foundation
and train 10,000 MoMo agents in 2021 across the for building a truly inclusive digital economy with the
network. There are already 280,000 MoMo agents in potential to provide Africa with the economic boost it
Nigeria, who work on a commission basis for every will need following the global pandemic.
Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa 20Below: @skynesher/
Gettyimages
7 Proposed incentives
to accelerate
Fourth Industrial
Revolution adoption
Incentives that focus on infrastructure,
productivity and skills development will be
critical for Africa’s recovery post-pandemic.
Attracting Investment and Accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution Adoption in Africa 21According to the Digital Transformation Strategy Though there is a “need for intensive ICT investment
for Africa (2020–2030) put together by the in infrastructure” and the technology necessary to
African Union, digital transformation will not support Africa’s engagement in the Fourth Industrial
thrive nor be self-sustaining in the absence Revolution, in the absence of the relevant skills
of four key foundational pillars, namely: 1) an and capabilities, this will not occur. Thus, to “fully
enabling environment, policy and regulation; realize the opportunities that can be brought about
2) digital infrastructure; 3) digital skills and by digital transformation” and the Fourth Industrial
available workforce; and 4) digital innovation Revolution, it is critical to prioritize both skills
and entrepreneurship.73 development and digital infrastructure.74
7.1 Co-investment models
In terms of overall investment, ICT comprises a and the trend seen by large network providers on
moderately small proportion of what Africa’s total the continent for separate fibre assets (an asset
infrastructure will require. According to the African constructed or acquired by a regulated service
Development Bank, it is estimated that dealing provider) is an indication that a different business
with the continent’s infrastructural needs will see model is required.79 Alternative business models
annual costs of ~$130 billion to $170 billion until should focus on more innovative user fee models
2025.75 Of this, only ~$4 billion to $7 billion would while securing state incentives to support scale
need to be put into the ICT sector. However, to of service and ensure that the digital divide can
fully bridge the current digital divide over the next be closed.
20 years, the Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF)
suggests that physical infrastructure will require The Malaysian government recently released its
a financing gap to be plugged that equates to national Fourth Industrial Revolution policy. One
approximately $1.7 trillion.76 of the areas it focused on was incentives for
businesses to adopt Fourth Industrial Revolution
Experience in the United Kingdom77 and France78 technologies linked to performance.80 Practically,
indicate that regulators which promote co- this means that, should an organization
investment in network infrastructure are more purchase and implement IoT sensors or the
likely to see high rates of broadband penetration relevant software and demonstrate the value of
and adoption. Importantly, this also helps to implementation, it will receive a tax incentive from
improve competition among network providers the state. This is rather progressive as countries
and therefore should be considered to close the that can use the Fourth Industrial Revolution
infrastructure gap in the region. for productivity gains are likely to be more
competitive and increase their tax base through
One of the most critical investments required in increased profits that can then be directed
the region is access to affordable connectivity, towards development.
7.2 Efficiency gain rebates
Africa has the youngest population in the world ecosystem approach that enables youth to thrive in
and has more than enough capability to supply the digital era.83 Addressing the skills requirements
the world’s future workforce. However, over 50% of the Fourth Industrial Revolution will require
of young people in SSA do not have access to commitment from African governments to review
formal education and only an estimated 2% of the employment and education policies. This may
labour force possess IT skills.81 This shortage in include accepting skills-based programmes rather
skills is one of the reasons why it is crucial to invest than traditional four-year graduate programmes
in skills development, which will be beneficial to and even considering different types of safety
organizations and their employees, the workforce nets as people operate in the gig economy.84 It is
and, ultimately, the economy.82 by creating the necessary means for youth to be
adequately skilled that the digital revolution will
Considering that the available workforce and have a positive impact on productivity and effective
skills are complementary to other factors of service delivery – gains that can be achieved only
production, governments will need to play a leading with a highly skilled workforce.85
role in preparing young people for future work
integration based on the skills of the future. African An emerging model from industry is to use
governments, in partnership with the private sector, available skills-development incentives to deliver
will need to generate opportunities through an training programmes that are predominantly
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