SEATTLE, Washington — Many African countries continue to eradicate corruption, implement technology and update infrastructure. Furthermore, African countries are establishing a free-market economy, law and order and legal rights. The U.S. is even incentivizing African countries to eliminate corruption by providing trade, export and business opportunities if requirements are met. This will create international investment opportunities, stimulate economic growth and generate jobs. More African countries are continuing to pursue a corruption-free establishment. Therefore, they are expanding entrepreneurial opportunities for African citizens.
Nonprofit organizations are now able to establish economic development programs, provide citizens with opportunities to create their own businesses, influence large corporations to institute development centers and incentivize investors to promote economic and entrepreneurial growth.
Nonprofit Entrepreneurial Programs
Village Enterprise is a nonprofit organization that provides entrepreneurial opportunities for African citizens living in rural destinations. The program specifically targets citizens who live on less than $2 a day and are inexperienced business professionals unable to support their families. The program educates citizens in business and finance. Students are also given access to cash grants to jumpstart their business plan as well as ongoing mentors to provide insight into owning a business.
To this date, the organization has trained nearly 200,000 African citizens. Currently, Village Enterprise serves rural citizens in Uganda and Kenya. In these two countries alone, the organization has helped generate almost 50,000 businesses. The organization plans to further expand and provide entrepreneurial opportunities for African citizens in other countries.
Microsoft
The second-largest software company in the world is Microsoft. The big business believes its purpose is to “empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more”. Microsoft’s CEO was once the generous Bill Gates. Gates vacated his position in 2008 to dedicate his time to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. His outlook on global poverty has remained a prominent theme of the company.
In May 2019, Microsoft announced it would open two African Development Centres. These centers will be located in Kenya and Nigeria. Microsoft plans on hiring more than 500 engineers from local universities. The students will be given the opportunity to manage various different projects including artificial intelligence, application advancements and more.
These two development centers will also stimulate “FinTech, AgriTech and OffGrid energy” industries across the continent. Therefore, Microsoft’s development center will not only generate job opportunities but also influence and stimulate entrepreneurial opportunities for African citizens.
Safi Organics
Samuel Rigu is one of Safi Organics’ founders. Safi Organics is a local, organic fertilizer manufacturing company. Rigu designed his business to produce fertilizer at the local level. Rigu’s business design cuts out import fees and the cost of shipping. Prior to his business, Kenyan farmers were paying extremely high prices for imported, synthetic fertilizer.
Rigu received help from a visiting MIT student named Kevin Kung. Kung is the second founder of Safi Organics and aided Samuel in creating an organic fertilizer that drastically increased farmers’ crop production. The small business currently works with thousands of customers and produces multiple tons of fertilizer every day.
The amount of growth Africa will experience is enormous. Various sectors and industries will benefit from help from nonprofit organizations, large corporations and international nations. These initiatives will not only further reduce global poverty but also generate opportunities for people. It appears that the continent will continue to experience a growth in entrepreneurial opportunities for Africa’s citizens in the future.
– John Brinkman
Photo: Wikimedia Commons