E-Commerce is making waves across Africa and youth can be a force to tip the scales in their favor for sustainable development.
E-Commerce Week 2018 turned out to be greatly beneficial to youth as it addressed several barriers youth face in eCommerce, including access to finance, strict regulatory environments, lack of education and skills, and much more.
Youth in Africa may especially gain from the session held on 16 April “An African Digital Structural Transformation,” which provided some important insights into how reforming digital policies can lead to development in Africa. Here, we discussed the benefits of building strong economic ecosystems through the creation of online digital platforms, innovations, and entrepreneurship.
Start-ups can contribute to create this environment as youth are often the ones taking the lead in this regard. This would give youth an advantage to actively participate in such ecosystems, as well as improve the potential for consumer surplus and increase the welfare of entrepreneurs on the continent and in least developed countries (LDCs).
Data collection was another crucial area of discussion. Mutual agreement on data collection methods from all parties and developing a National Data Policy, as recommended by Mr. Parminder Jeet Singh, Executive Director at IT for Change, will enable the collected information to be used for public good. This system of managing data, coupled with the free flow of existing technologies from outside LDCs will help the latter develop. Youth can play a great role here by creating their own resources to collect data. This will tip the scales in their favor for sustainable and inclusive growth for their communities and countries.
It goes without saying that there is great potential for technology to allow inclusive and sustainable growth in Africa. To move forward, H.E. Dr. François Xavier Ngarambe, Permanent Representative of the Mission of Rwanda to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, recommends opening this discussion to all relevant stakeholders, and proceed with regulations one step at a time
“The youth of today are necessary to ensure digital transformation and sustainable development in Africa, but we need the willpower, initiative and opportunity to work with stakeholders and advocate for the involvement of our communities”, says Ms. Sarah Poko of UNCTAD Youth Network. “We need to work together to identify solutions and to take the action needed for a strong economy and inclusive development”.
