LocationsIn recent years, the African continent has made significant strides in the realm of digital technology, exemplified by the widespread use of mobile phones and the internet, the flourishing of online banking, and the burgeoning ecosystem of innovative startups. This digital transformation has engendered local solutions to the security and developmental challenges facing the Sahel territories, such as security, healthcare, agriculture, transportation, e-commerce, youth employment, and good governance. Young people are at the forefront of this development, witnessing new doors opening up due to the growing demand for digital skills. However, advancements vary from one country to another, and numerous challenges remain to be met, such as those in Mauritania, Nigeria, and Mali.
In the Sahel, the digital turning point
August 9, 2024
A palpable air of diligence pervades the main hall of the Nouakchott-based business incubator, aptly named the Lab, on this momentous day. Amidst a panorama of screens, interconnected devices, and robotic contrivances, Mohamed Lemine meticulously scrutinizes his equipment in preparation for his forthcoming training session. At the age of 25, Mohamed, an astute computer engineer and enterprising digital savant, stands as the co-founder of Rim Academy. This pioneering program imparts the younger generation, aged below 18, with the knowledge and proficiencies requisite for navigating the intricacies of robotics and the multifarious tools encompassed within the digital sphere.
"The objective is to enable those who wish to prepare in time to increase their chances of success. Growing up, I realized that there were genuine needs in many areas, especially in education. We should make technology accessible to as many people as possible because it makes life easier"Mohamed Lemine, Computer Engineer and Co-Founder of Rim Academy.
In Mauritania, an individualistic solution with universal scope
Mohamed, a passionate gaming enthusiast, initially aspired to pursue a career as a developer. However, while studying at the university, he desired to change his field and enroll in his faculty of choice in Senegal. Unfortunately, the enrollment period had closed, and he found himself at a standstill for a year. It was during this time that the idea to create a guidance platform for Mauritanian students came to him. This platform would provide real-time information about educational paths abroad, national and international competitions, as well as scholarship opportunities. It would serve as an associative directory combined with a network of Mauritanians in the diaspora who were willing to share their experiences and useful information. Today, nearly 10,000 people interact on this platform.
"The objective is to enable those who wish to prepare in time to increase their chances of success. Growing up, I realized that there were genuine needs in many areas, especially in education. We should make technology accessible to as many people as possible because it makes life easier," justifies Mohamed.
Similar to other talented young individuals in the country's technology sector, Mohamed now collaborates closely with the Government. The creation of a dedicated ministry for digital transformation, innovation, and administrative modernization in 2020 underscores the significance attributed to this sector. The strategic roadmap of the national digital transformation agenda is resolute: to position Mauritania as the leading digital nation in the Sahel region. This perspective instills hope for job creation and economic development in a region where 65% of the population is under the age of 25, yet constitutes less than 10% of the active workforce.
A study published by the International Telecommunication Union showed that a 10% increase in high-speed mobile internet penetration in Africa would yield an average GDP per capita growth of 2.5%. However, to achieve this, obstacles such as internet coverage across the entire territory and persistent power outages must be overcome. The Mauritanian government is determined to surmount these challenges, primarily through the widespread development of renewable energies (solar, wind, and hydroelectric power) throughout the country.
In sectors such as healthcare, education, agro-industry, and services, technology elicits significant aspirations, both for the economic opportunities it engenders and for the prospects of equality and improved quality of life. By supporting digital entrepreneurs like Mohamed, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) indirectly enables the Ministry of Digital Transformation to benefit from operational stakeholders who possess the capacity to meet the demands of the projects launched in the field of technology.
In Nigeria, digital solutions from the grassroots
In West Africa, the need to embrace digital technologies and the digital sector is indisputable. Nigeria, a continental giant, is home to tens of thousands of creative people, developers, engineers, IT professionals, designers, and more importantly, a potential domestic market of over 200 million consumers. This explains why the weight of the information and communication technology (ICT) sector in wealth production is continuously increasing, accounting for 18% of the GDP in the second quarter of 2022.
However, against a backdrop of highly concentrated markets and uses in privileged geographical areas (urban and peri-urban), many young tech talents lack visibility. Young Nigerians make up more than half of the working population, but 43% of them are underemployed or unemployed. To help find solutions to this problem, the UNDP has created "Accelerator Labs". The aim is to connect young jobseekers with service providers by involving a range of stakeholders, including young people, public and private sector representatives, educational institutions, vocational training centres and innovation hubs, using social media, direct interviews, group brainstorming sessions and surveys.
"In Nigeria, we face challenges of food security, health, and insecurity. At the laboratory, we believe that those most affected by these problems have the most sustainable solutions. That's why, instead of a top-down approach, we prioritize a bottom-up approach. It's not necessarily the role of the youth to solve national or local problems. However, they have many solutions, and if we listen to them more, we would be surprised by their level of knowledge and experience."Djamila Mohamed, Experimentation Director
The Accelerator Labs approach aims to "ensure that technological solutions have a greater impact outside of the hubs where they are created. Bridging the gap between solution creators and the intended beneficiaries. It is necessary to strike a balance between research and obtaining solutions. Between the grassroots and the top, everyone should be able to learn from each other," adds Lantana Elhassan, who leads the research domain. This is inspiring the youth to join the movement.
Revitalizing Healthcare through Digitalization in Mali
In the Sahel region, the democratization of digital technology has led to numerous positive advancements in healthcare, particularly benefiting populations traditionally underserved by such innovations. In Mali, where access to healthcare is highly unequal, Community Health Centers (CSCOM), serving as the primary entry point into the healthcare system, play a crucial role in rural areas. Since 2022, in the Ségou region, the centre located in Kalaké has undergone a significant transformation through the implementation of software and computer equipment (screens, computers, thermal printers), greatly enhancing the patient healthcare journey.
Upon arrival at the facility, each patient is assigned a tracking number that follows them throughout their consultation, laboratory tests, and pharmacy visits. This number is linked to a digital file containing their medical information, continuously updated in real-time by trained healthcare personnel. Gone are the days of piles of paper documents, tickets, and loose sheets of paper, which are all too easy to lose. Patient care is now faster and more efficient, bringing delight to both patients and Dr. Siaka Traoré, the Technical Director of the Kalalé Community Health Center for over twelve years.
"We benefit from this new system every day, which has truly transformed the lives of everyone involved, both the staff and the patients. As a public service, our aim is to ensure user satisfaction, and we can feel and see that satisfaction," describes the practitioner. He further adds, "This system also enables us to better manage our finances. All information regarding resources, cash flow, and patients is available in real-time, making fraud impossible."
The digitization of healthcare presents another advantage, the ability to utilize telemedicine. If a patient's diagnosis or treatment requires the expertise of a specialist such as a psychiatrist, gynecologist, or pediatrician, Dr. Traoré conducts a webcam consultation with a colleague from a hospital service. Patients no longer need to travel to Bamako or a city hospital for consultations.
"I would like to see all consultations of every specialty centralized in this software in the future, benefiting all CSCOMs across Mali," pleads Dr. Traoré.
The country has over 1,600 CSCOMs. The Digital Health (SanDi) project, implemented by the UNDP, has trained 42 participants from various regions of Mali in these digital practices.