Access to the internet has become a human right, but Africa is lagging behind.
In 2022, the Shared Value Africa Initiative (SVAI) has partnered with the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSMA), a global institution that represents the telco and digital services sectors, to bring together the Africa Shared Value Leadership Summit and the Mobile World Congress Africa (MWC Africa).
The alignment of the Summit and GSMA MWC Africa is a first for Africa, and for the global Shared Value community, assembling multisectoral players to discuss innovation, technology, inclusion, opportunities and solutions for Africa’s digital and connectivity challenges. This partnership creates opportunities for connection and networking to explore collaborations, partnerships, and client engagement.
The two events will take place concurrently, with interlocking programmes that demonstrate both the future of connectivity and how combining it with the Shared Value mind-set can enable economic growth and people-centric sustainability.
The Shared Value Africa Initiative and Shift Impact Africa will be hosting the 6th annual Africa Shared Value Leadership Summit in Kigali, Rwanda from 25 to 26 October 2022.
The Summit provides a platform for business leaders from across Africa to collaborate and discuss how Shared Value thinking can drive technological and business solutions to address Africa’s technology challenge.
Africa can leapfrog into the digital future and accelerate economic recovery and growth by intentionally and consciously providing access for all.
The Shared Value business management concept is an effective strategy to connect African economic growth and sustainable development. Technology is an enabler of business innovation, and has the power to address many of the continent’s systemic challenges. Combined they can create a future where business, people and planet flourish.
Technology plays a critical role in our ability to retain, reduce or transfer climate risk and address the impact of climate change. However, vulnerable communities do not fully benefit from these advances, as they are disproportionally impacted by climate change and lack of access to energy and connectivity. Can technology address climate risks for the most vulnerable in a just way?
Digital inclusion is a catalyst for economic empowerment that requires digital innovation combined with practical, policy-driven action to address the needs of individuals and communities. How can business accelerate inclusion in Africa, particularly for disproportionately affected groups such as rural populations and women?
Gaps in internet access are a roadblock to Africa’s economic growth. Poor or zero connectivity limits trade and interaction with the world and leads to inaccurate, biased data collection. Can we create digital ecosystems that advance access to universal, affordable, accessible and safe high-speed connectivity across the continent?
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) represents a new era of innovation in technology that is enhancing human-machine relationships, unlocking new market opportunities, and fuelling growth across the global economy. Can 4IR technologies be used to stimulate new ways of doing business that drive economic growth, job creation and empowerment of the marginalised?
To become tomorrow’s innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders, Africa’s youth need to be empowered with the digital skills and access to technology and markets that are essential to thrive in an increasingly digitized global economy. Improving Africa’s connectivity is an essential trade enabler to ensure the success of the AfCFTA and Africa’s growth.
Africa has the world’s youngest, fastest-growing population. The Summit will explore and discuss opportunities for Africa’s youth, specifically young entrepreneurs, and highlight the economic growth that can be driven through empowering women and implementing gender equality.
Sanda Ojiambo is the Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact. Launched in July 2000, the United Nations Global Compact is the Secretary‑General’s strategic policy and advocacy initiative calling for the alignment of business operations and strategies with 10 universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. It also motivates companies to integrate the SDGs into their core business strategies and operations.
With more than 10,000 corporate participants and other stakeholders from over 160 countries engaged through 68 country networks, the Compact is the largest voluntary corporate sustainability initiative in the world. Endorsed by chief executive officers, it is a practical framework for the development, implementation and disclosure of sustainability policies and practices, committing businesses to sustainability and shared responsibility for achieving a better world.
Ms. Ojiambo brings 20 years of experience to lead the UN Global Compact. She has served as Head of Sustainable Business and Social Impact, Safaricom Plc, Kenya since 2010. Ms. Ojiambo was also the Senior Manager of Safaricom and MPESA Foundations, Kenya from 2008 to 2010, during which she led the implementation of several public-private partnership initiatives between Safaricom and UN organisations.
Throughout her career, she has cultivated and managed relationships with key business entities and civil society organizations, including her capacity development work in Somalia with UNDP and CARE International.
Ms. Ojiambo holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota, USA, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and International Development from McGill University, Canada.
Maria Cristina is Head of Sustainability Projects and Practice Sharing at Enel. Born in Milan, she studied Foreign Languages and Literature first at Silvio Pellico School for Interpreters and then at IULM University.
She worked in Edison, Ferrovie dello Stato and Trenitalia before joining Enel in September 2007. She has been in charge of Executive Education, Executive Education and Cross Cultural Center, International Internal Communication and in January 2012 she was appointed Head of External Relation of Enel Green Power and started to deploy the creating shared value approach inside the company.
Since October 2014, she had led the CSV, Sustainability Projects and Practice Sharing Unit, within the Innovation & Sustainability Function of Enel Holding, being in charge among others of the definition and deployment of the Creating Shared Value Model throughout the business value chain of the entire Group.
Sazini is currently chairperson of the SVAI Steering Committee, having served on the committee since 2019. Sazini is a trisector leader whose expertise lies in the development and execution of strategic plans linked to business development, focused on the small enterprise development, creating shared value, sustainability and financial inclusion. A Harvard Business School Graduate, Sazini is a strategist and development specialist by training, holding a double major degree in Sociology and Industrial Psychology as well as having obtained a Master’s Degree in Development Studies from the University of Cape Town.
Prior to joining Absa Group Limited, she was the CEO and co-founder of Hand in Hand Southern Africa, an NGO with the focus on micro and small business development in peri urban and rural areas with a special focus on youth and women. She has over 17 years’ experience, working in government, civil society including corporate and private sector. She has the ability to pioneer innovative approaches to tackling socio economic business challenges enabling customer growth and critical stakeholder buy in, and is passionate about making an impact in people’s lives through her work
Vuyo Lutseke is Head of Fundraising & Membership at Shared Value Africa Initiative and Shift Impact Africa. She graduated from the University of Cape Town with a BA in Cultural & Literary Studies, and went on to receive a Certificate in Media Law & Ethics from Wits University. She cut her teeth in publishing, ultimately leading to strategic oversight and publisher roles. Ongoing career development includes the King Baudouin Foundation: The Art & Science of Fundraising programme in New York City, and the International Fundraising Conference in Holland.
Previously at Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust, Vuyo developed and implemented an overall communications and public fundraising strategy to support this capital campaign, construction and opening of the hospital – the largest campaign of its kind in SA. As part of the SVAI/Shift team, she participates in taking social impact beyond philanthropy and into the more strategic focus of Shared Value. In October 2020, Vuyo was appointed as a Director of both SVAI and Shift.
As with previous Summits,
purposeful alignment with the UN Sustainable
Development Goals will be a major theme.
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