The Africa Hour

Episode 12: How Is Egypt Digitizing the Bottleneck Which Is the Suez Canal?

Before we dive into this episode, we want to say a huge thank you to our listeners who have been tuning in for the past year. This episode concludes The Africa Hour’s first season on digitalization on the African continent. It was a wonderful experience and APRI hopes to be back soon with a new season and fresh, informative, and critical policy content.  Egypt is keen on foreign capital, and is creating special economic zones to attract investors. One such zone is along the man-made Suez Canal -  one of the most important maritime trade routes globally. Even the tiniest of problems in the Canal can significantly derail operation for the thousands of shipping vessels that pass through the channel every year. Authorities are leveraging this crucial corridor, and in 2015, created a special trade zone around the Canal to boost local production of automotives, chemicals, construction materials and so on. As the zone slowly develops a decade after though, can authorities use technology to pull investors in faster? And can the zone become a green hydrogen production hub to help clean up the very-polluting shipping sector? Guests Mohamed Ibrahim Hafez [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohamed-ibrahim-hafez-32b63b95/] is a prolific expert and advisor in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). He has advised countries in the Middle East and Africa - including Egypt - on strategies and policies to boost investment and elevate SEZ ecosystems. Presently, he is a researcher at the Center for Policy, Citizenship and Society at Nottingham Trent University. He was formerly a policy advisor at the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones in Egypt (GAFI) and is also a fellow of the Asia Global Institute [https://www.asiaglobalinstitute.hku.hk/agf/fellows/mohamed-ibrahim-hafez], in addition to being a Chevening Scholar. Naira Hatem [https://climatechampions.unfccc.int/meet-the-team/] Is the Africa Race to Zero connector with the Climate Champions Team. She is an expert in environment policy issues in Egypt and across the MENA region, and has contributed to research projects on energy [https://acetforafrica.org/?smd_process_download=1&download_id=62939] transitions in Africa Professor Akram Soliman Elselmy [https://eg.linkedin.com/in/prof-akram-soliman-elselmy-642b7458] is a veteran academic and engineer, who has researched and trained across the MENA region and further afield in the UKand the US. He is currently the Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the esteemed Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport, and formerly led the Port Training Institute (PTI). Prof. Elselmy is also the chairman of the organizing Committee of "MARLOG" - the International Conference on Maritime Transport and Logistics. Further Readings * How the Suez Canal Economic Zone is aiding Egypt's economic resurgence https://www.fdiintelligence.com/content/locations/middle-east-africa/egypt/how-the-suez-canal-economic-zone-is-aiding-egypt-s-economic-resurgence-76816 [https://www.fdiintelligence.com/content/locations/middle-east-africa/egypt/how-the-suez-canal-economic-zone-is-aiding-egypt-s-economic-resurgence-76816] * The Suez Canal: Forthcoming Strategic and Geopolitical Challenges: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-15670-0_1 [https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-15670-0_1] * Unlocking Economic Potential: Transforming Egypt's Ports into Global Hubs: https://www.arabfinance.com/News/newdetails/9578 [https://www.arabfinance.com/News/newdetails/9578] * Suez Canal Economic Zone: from a transit area to an innovation hub in Egypt: https://www.sr-m.it/index.php?ctrl=Events&mod=events&action=info_events&slug=suez-canal-economic-zone-from-a-transit-area-to-an-innovation-hub-in-egypt&lang=en [https://www.sr-m.it/index.php?ctrl=Events&mod=events&action=info_events&slug=suez-canal-economic-zone-from-a-transit-area-to-an-innovation-hub-in-egypt&lang=en] * Supporting the development of the Suez Canal Economic Zone: https://www.oecd.org/mena/competitiveness/suez-canal-economic-zone.htm [https://www.oecd.org/mena/competitiveness/suez-canal-economic-zone.htm] * Second Phase of Suez Canal Economic Zone Digitalization Launched: https://energycapitalpower.com/2nd-phase-suez-canal-digitalization-ebrd/ [https://energycapitalpower.com/2nd-phase-suez-canal-digitalization-ebrd/]

Episode 11: How Can Namibia Capitalize on Digital Nomad Visas?

Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, remote working has become an important part of business cultures across the world, including in Africa. Namibia, with its deserts and beaches, wants to capitalize on that opportunity, and attract ‘digital nomads’ to spend needed foreign exchange in the country, using a new visa category it launched back in 2022. But, two years on, the numbers of digital nomads who’ve passed through the program remains low. So what does Namibia need to do to compete for the global remote working community that boasts a market of more than 30 million people? Guests *Andreas Kresnel [https://www.ibn.co.za/team/andreas-krensel/] is a leading immigration expert on southern Africa, and is the founder of IBN Immigration Solutions. [https://www.ibn.co.za/team/andreas-krensel/] Based in South Africa, Andreas has worked on immigration issues in the region for more than a decade, opening two international IBN offices in Windhoek and Kenya in that time. He is the author of 3 books, including The Corporate Immigration Guide to southern Africa. [https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Andreas-Krensel-ebook/dp/B01DZWMMAA] Find Andreas' quick take on the Namibia's nomad visa here [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/namibia-introduces-new-digital-nomad-visa-andreas-krensel] *Lazarus Amukeshe [https://investigations.namibian.com.na/team-members/lazarus-amukeshe/] is an award-winning business and investigative journalist with The Namibian, one of the country's biggest newspapers. He has covered developments on Namibia's nomad visa scheme since its 2022 launch. Lazarus was the 2023 Editors Forum Journalist of the Year in addition to being the best Business/Finance journalist. His latest reports are here. [https://muckrack.com/lazarus-amukeshe]  *Prithwiraj (Raj) Choudhury [https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=327154]is the Lumry Family Associate Professor at the Harvard Business School where he prolifically researches the future of work, particularly the changing geography of work. Raj has also analysed the productivity of remote working and nomad visas. He is an Associate Editor at Management Science and is on Forbes' Future of Work-50 list (2023). Read Raj's take on why nomad visas can boost local economies here. [https://hbr.org/2022/05/how-digital-nomad-visas-can-boost-local-economies] Further Readings: * Namibia’s Nomad Visa https://nipdb.com/nomadvisa/ [https://nipdb.com/nomadvisa/]  * A guide to Namibia’s digital nomad visa https://digitalnomadsinafrica.com/destinations/namibia-digital-nomad-guide/ [https://digitalnomadsinafrica.com/destinations/namibia-digital-nomad-guide/]  * Namibia approves first nine nomad visa applications https://www.namibian.com.na/namibia-approves-first-digital-nomads/ [https://www.namibian.com.na/namibia-approves-first-digital-nomads/]  * Namibia welcomes first digital nomads https://neweralive.na/posts/namibia-welcomes-first-digital-nomads [https://neweralive.na/posts/namibia-welcomes-first-digital-nomads]  * Digital nomad visas are on the rise in Africa https://techcentral.co.za/digital-nomad-visas-africa-south-africa/233185/ [https://techcentral.co.za/digital-nomad-visas-africa-south-africa/233185/]  * Africa Woos Tech Talent As Remote Work Visa Trend Grows Worldwide: https://weetracker.com/2023/09/26/africa-woos-tech-talent/ [https://weetracker.com/2023/09/26/africa-woos-tech-talent/]  * This spectacular African country now has a digital nomad visa https://www.timeout.com/news/this-spectacular-african-country-now-has-a-digital-nomad-visa-101922 [https://www.timeout.com/news/this-spectacular-african-country-now-has-a-digital-nomad-visa-101922]

Episode 10: Is Ethiopia Ready for the Artificial Intelligence Era?

Ethiopia is marketing itself as the leading artificial intelligence (AI) player in Africa. The country is not just mouthing off though – it has some credits to back its claim. Some parts of Sophia the robot were developed right in Addis Ababa. Several Ethiopian startups are also using AI to develop products like language apps focused on local languages. Ethiopia is covering its base on the policy side too, with a new artificial intelligence institute, and a national AI policy in the making. But does this east African country have what it takes to be the AI powerhouse while avoiding ethical problems?  Guests Hruy Tsegaye [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tjQ9WvgAAAAJ&hl=en] is a leading AI voice in Ethiopia. He is a co-founder at iCog Labs [https://www.linkedin.com/company/icog-labs/?originalSubdomain=et], the first private AI/Robotics company in East Africa - and the CEO of Mindplex [https://magazine.mindplex.ai/], a decentralized media platform. Hruy is also a prolific AI researcher, and has published multiple articles on the state of AI in Africa. You can find some of his pieces on how decentralised AI can help solve development problems here [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tjQ9WvgAAAAJ&hl=en]. Abdullahi Tsanni [https://sciwrite.mit.edu/person/abdullahi-tsanni/] is a science journalist currently reporting for the prestigious MIT Tech Review in Boston. His work, which covers a wide range of issues across technology, science and health, has appeared in publications like STAT News, Nature, and The British Medical Journal. His recent report on the startups leading the race in programming AI specifically for African languages like Amharic is here [https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/11/17/1083637/lelapa-ai-african-languages-vulavula/]. Finally, Dr Taye Girma [https://www.linkedin.com/in/taye-girma-phd-16566694/] is the Deputy Director General at the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute [https://www.aii.et/], and is one of the brains behind the upcoming national AI policy. The Institute is one of the first such government departments in Africa, and is working on how AI can help boost the health, finance, transportation and agriculture sectors. Dr Girma is one of the founders of the Institute, and is at the center of AI research and practice in Ethiopia. He is also a professor of Computer Engineering with a focus on AI at the Addis Ababa Science and Technology University. Further Readings * Nation Strengthening AI Technology to Modernize, Enhance Efficiency: Institute Director-General: https://www.ena.et/web/eng/w/eng_3633464 [https://www.ena.et/web/eng/w/eng_3633464] * Whose Job Will AI Replace? Here's Why a Clerk in Ethiopia Has More to Fear Than One in California: https://theconversation.com/whose-job-will-ai-replace-heres-why-a-clerk-in-ethiopia-has-more-to-fear-than-one-in-california-216735 [https://theconversation.com/whose-job-will-ai-replace-heres-why-a-clerk-in-ethiopia-has-more-to-fear-than-one-in-california-216735] * Grand Challenges Ethiopia: Catalyzing Equitable AI Use to Improve Global Health: https://www2.fundsforngos.org/latest-funds-for-ngos/grand-challenges-ethiopia-catalyzing-equitable-ai-use-to-improve-global-health/ [https://www2.fundsforngos.org/latest-funds-for-ngos/grand-challenges-ethiopia-catalyzing-equitable-ai-use-to-improve-global-health/]  * The AI Startup Outperforming Google Translate in Ethiopian Languages: https://restofworld.org/2023/3-minutes-with-asmelash-teka-hadgu/ [https://restofworld.org/2023/3-minutes-with-asmelash-teka-hadgu/]  * Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institutes Discusses Intellectual Property Rights for its Products: https://www.aii.et/ethiopian-artificial-intelligence-institutes-discuss-about-the-intellectual-property-rights-for-the-products-developed-by-the-institute/ [https://www.aii.et/ethiopian-artificial-intelligence-institutes-discuss-about-the-intellectual-property-rights-for-the-products-developed-by-the-institute/]  * African Union (AU) Continental AI Strategy for Africa: https://www.nepad.org/news/african-union-artificial-intelligence-continental-strategy-africa [https://www.nepad.org/news/african-union-artificial-intelligence-continental-strategy-africa] * A Sceptical Approach to the Future of AI and Emerging Technologies in Today’s Africa:https://medium.com/@Hruy.T/a-sceptical-approach-to-the-future-of-ai-and-emerging-technologies-in-todays-africa-d03abb04b8bf [https://medium.com/@Hruy.T/a-sceptical-approach-to-the-future-of-ai-and-emerging-technologies-in-todays-africa-d03abb04b8bf] The Future of AI Statistics in Africa - Is the Continent Really Ready?: https://www.isi-web.org/article/future-ai-statistics-africa-continent-ready#:~:text=digital%20solutions%20into%20their%20statistical,steps%20to%20formulate%20AI%20policies [https://www.isi-web.org/article/future-ai-statistics-africa-continent-ready#:~:text=digital%20solutions%20into%20their%20statistical,steps%20to%20formulate%20AI%20policies]

Episode 9: Will Tiny Cabo Verde Succeed in Becoming West Africa’s Tech Giant?

Cabo Verde has always been, to many on the African continent, a small slice of beach resorts perfect for a holiday get away. Tourism is one of the key revenue earners for this small west African country, along with manufacturing and the services industry. But since 2019, the Cape Verdean government has been pushing a new digital plan that aims to position the country as a major tech hub in the sub region, rivaling countries like Nigeria and Ghana, West Africa’s tech heavyweights. But Cabo Verde, in addition to having fewer natural resources and a smaller economy, has a huge brain drain problem, with more of its population outside the country than inside it. [https://www.iom.int/node/106721/facts-and-figures] So how will the country achieve its goal? Will targeting youths for tech training and building a fancy technology park with state of the art facilities to host start-up companies deliver the momentum the country needs? Guests: Uyoyo Edosio is a Principal Innovation and technology expert at the African Development Bank (AfDB) where she manages a multi-million dollar portfolio focused on digital innovation and education. She's MIT-trained, and has advised governments on their digital strategies, on the continent, and well beyond. Uyoyo is currently the program lead for the Cape Verde Technology Park Project at AfDB. In one of her most recent opinion pieces, [https://blogs.afdb.org/economic-growth/whats-in-a-sandbox-new-report-highlights-the-regulatory-benefits-for-government] Uyoyo lays out how African governments can tweak regulations to enable entrepreneurs to test products or services without the usual bureaucracy. Pedro Lopes is the Cabo Verdean Secretary of State of the Digital Economy. Before that, he was the country's Secretary of State for Innovation and Technical Training, the youngest-serving government official at the time. Pedro is also a former YALI fellow and is credited with receiving several awards, including being named on the MIPAD Most Influential People of African Descent under 40. He also organized the first-ever Tedx in Praia. In 2018, Pedro was profiled by Forbes Magazine. [https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesellsmoor/2018/09/11/the-entrepreneur-engaging-the-diaspora-with-cabo-verde/]   Further Readings: * Official Page - Cape Verde Tech Park: https://www.techpark.cv/ [https://www.techpark.cv/]  * AfDB Cape Verde Park Project Overview: https://projectsportal.afdb.org/dataportal/VProject/show/P-CV-GB0-004 [https://projectsportal.afdb.org/dataportal/VProject/show/P-CV-GB0-004]  * IOM Facts and Figures, Cape Verde: https://www.iom.int/node/106721/facts-and-figures [https://www.iom.int/node/106721/facts-and-figures]  * AfDB Agrees Loan For Cape Verde Technology Park: https://www.constructafrica.com/news/afdb-agrees-loan-cape-verde-technology-park [https://www.constructafrica.com/news/afdb-agrees-loan-cape-verde-technology-park]  * Cape Verde Receives 15 Million Lean for Two Data Centers: https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/cape-verde-receives-15-million-loan-for-two-data-centers/ [https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/cape-verde-receives-15-million-loan-for-two-data-centers/]  * African Development Bank Partners With Cabo Verde to Boost Climate-Resilient Technology Park: https://thefintechtimes.com/african-development-bank-partners-with-cabo-verde-to-boost-climate-resilient-technology-park/ [https://thefintechtimes.com/african-development-bank-partners-with-cabo-verde-to-boost-climate-resilient-technology-park/]  * A Guide to Cabo Verde’s Digital Economy - US Department of Commerce https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/cabo-verde-digital-economy [https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/cabo-verde-digital-economy] * Testing the Brain Gain theory - Micro evidence from Cape Verde - IZA Institute of Labor Economics https://www.iza.org/publications/dp/5048/testing-the-brain-gain-hypothesis-micro-evidence-from-cape-verde

Episode 8: Tackling Disaster Prevention Digitally: How Is Data Driving Climate Risk Management in Mozambique?

Digital disaster and climate risk management in Mozambique holds immense potential for bolstering the country's resilience in the face of increasing climate-related challenges. With its vulnerability to cyclones, flooding, and droughts, Mozambique can benefit significantly from advanced technologies like remote sensing, satellite imagery, and data analytics to monitor and predict natural disasters. These digital tools enable early warning systems and efficient disaster response, helping save lives and mitigate economic losses. Additionally, leveraging digital platforms for climate adaptation strategies, such as crop modeling and water resource management, can empower local communities and authorities to make informed decisions. As Mozambique continues to grapple with climate change impacts, digital solutions offer a promising pathway to enhance preparedness and minimize the devastating effects of environmental disasters. Guests: Filipe Mate [https://www.linkedin.com/in/filipe-mate-84b40618/] is a geographer and an environmental researcher with the Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo. He is a prolific analyst in the field of disaster risks and climate change. Filipe completed a Masters in Risk Management from Durham University [https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/geography/alumni/alumni-profiles/filipe-mate-profile/] in 2021, with a dissertation focusing on the preparedness in Beria before Cyclone Idai hit in 2019. Tomás Queface [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom%C3%A1s-queface-b431385a/?originalSubdomain=mz] is a researcher and security expert. He is currently a consultant with ACLED - a renowned global conflict data gathering project. Tomás helps monitor the ACLED project - Cabo Ligado, [https://www.caboligado.com/] a Mozambique conflict observatory providing cutting edge, real time data and data analysis on political violence in the country. Luis Nhachote [https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-nhachote-8609381b/] is a journalist and researcher covering Mozambique. He is a board member of the Forum for African Investigative Reporters and is the founder of investigative platform Centro de Jornalismo Investigativo [https://cjimoz.org/news/]. Further Readings: * https://nepad.org/blog/employing-emerging-technologies-reduce-impact-of-cyclones-case-of-mozambique-and-malawi [https://nepad.org/blog/employing-emerging-technologies-reduce-impact-of-cyclones-case-of-mozambique-and-malawi]  * https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2023/09/11/early-warning-system-saves-lives-in-afe-mozambique [https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2023/09/11/early-warning-system-saves-lives-in-afe-mozambique]  * https://www.preventionweb.net/news/fair-winds-climate-forecasts-mozambique [https://www.preventionweb.net/news/fair-winds-climate-forecasts-mozambique]  * https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262880035_Using_data_digitalization_to_inform_climate_change_adaptation_policy_Informing_the_future_using_the_present [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262880035_Using_data_digitalization_to_inform_climate_change_adaptation_policy_Informing_the_future_using_the_present]