The potentials of technological innovation, in driving the Sustainable Development Goals, (SDGs), can, only, be achieved, when there is, a healthy ecosystem that ensures a culture, of social entrepreneurship, on the African continent.
One, therefore, cannot overrule the role of favourable government policies, to the development of social enterprises.
Government policies that can energise social enterprises, through the creation of new policies and readjusting the, already, existing ones in all the sectors, are required to drive innovation.
Why so much advocacy, for favourable government policy, for social enterprises?
These ventures, apart from making profits, also, make a significant impact, on the social ecosystem, thus, sharing in the government burden, to address societal issues.
The government needs to develop policies that remove restrictions, thus, paving the way, for more sustainable entrepreneurship.
When policies and regulations are, however, lacking, innovation tends to suffer, as catching up with changes in technology, worldwide, suffers a setback.
Innovation requires policy frameworks that, work.
When these frameworks are not present, the government, in this case, usually, focus on what is not achievable, rather than, what can be done.
Some governments, also, tend to make unnecessary demands, for “confirmed innovation”.
Such demands indicate that those governments, may not be ready, for taking risks.
Without the government, it certainly, appears difficult, to execute policy regulations that would yield innovation, however, there exists, a high tendency that, we can get out of the innovation circle, thus, making the continent lag.
In most government agencies, data are still stored, in physical forms, rather than, in the cloud, or, preferring all systems, to be in open source.
These are not good signs, for a continent that wants to champion a course, for innovation.
If we accept that data is, the new oil, then, Africa should turn a new leaf and start to review what it has done, so far, to its abundant raw materials and start adding value, instead of just, selling them out, at low prices with, essentially, no substantial benefits, to the continent.
Achieving the SDGs, is not, just the reason, for advocating for favourable policies, but, also, position the continent, for a healthy global competition.
This will help, in further reducing youth unemployment and rejuvenate the economies on the countries on the African continent.
This will, however, still depends, on whether Africa is, ready to provide, an enabling environment, to foster indigenous innovation.
Featured Image: gomedici
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