Since January 2021 the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has been in effect across African Union member states.

Experts predict Africa’s Internet economy will reach about 5.1% of GDP, roughly $185 billion, by 2025.

Venture capital investment in African startups totaled $1.31 billion in 2021, with most funding going to fintech projects.

McKinsey estimated that by 2025 Africa will have about 360 million smartphones and 240 million computers or laptops and that digitalisation could add $140–$320 billion to GDP.

More than 600 technology hubs, incubators and co‑working centres operate across Africa.

South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt are identified as the main technological hubs on the continent, with Kenya also cited as a driver of the venture capital and hub ecosystem.

Kenya, Nigeria and Egypt together host over 30% of the continent’s technology hubs.

Prominent incubators include CcHUB in Nigeria, which partners with Amazon, Google for Startups and Visa, and MEST in Ghana, which partners with Societe Generale and has hubs in Accra, Lagos, Cape Town and Nairobi.

Reports name fintech, agritech, e‑commerce, insuretech, healthtech and cleantech as the most in‑demand technology sectors across Africa.

Chainalysis reported that $562 million of investment remittances in sub‑Saharan Africa were sent via cryptocurrencies such as Ripple.

The Central African Republic adopted bitcoin as legal tender.

UNCTAD‑based figures cited in the documents show crypto user rates in 2022 of about 8.5% in Kenya, 7.1% in South Africa and 6.3% in Nigeria.

Russia announced writing off more than $20 billion of African state debts and reported trade turnover with African countries of almost $18 billion in 2022.

Russia hosts an estimated 35,000 African students and the documents note about 4,000 African students funded by the Russian government.

China’s engagement in higher education and cooperation includes scholarships, a 'China‑Africa 20+20 universities' pairing plan and the fact that 52 of 54 African countries have signed Belt and Road cooperation documents.

In 2023 China and African universities formed a China‑Africa University Alliance with a secretariat at Beijing Foreign Studies University and a research institute at Zhejiang Normal University.

Tony Elumelu committed $2 billion to improve electricity access, and his group reports around 2,000 megawatts of generation capacity and supplying power to the Republic of Benin.

United Bank for Africa operates in 20 African countries and has operations in Paris, London and the United States.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation reports training about 16,000 young entrepreneurs.

Multiple documents identify electricity access and internet connectivity as key infrastructure constraints to investment and entrepreneurship in Africa.

The provided documents show that much recent foreign engagement takes the form of partnerships with local incubators, accelerators and universities rather than a detailed catalogue of large‑scale announced greenfield projects.

The documents do not provide a comprehensive list of major foreign multinational companies making large‑scale extractive or manufacturing investments beyond the incubator, university and bilateral partnership examples noted above.

Overall, recent trends in the provided documents show growing foreign engagement focused on technology and digital finance, rising venture capital into startups, expanded educational and humanitarian partnerships, and continued constraints from infrastructure gaps which shape where investments and partnerships take place.

Summary: Based on the provided documents, recent foreign investment and engagement in Africa are concentrated in technology, fintech and digital services (with about $1.31 billion of VC in 2021 and Internet‑economy projections to 2025), supported by incubator and university partnerships and by bilateral initiatives, while infrastructure gaps (electricity and internet) remain a major constraint for broader investment.

Since January 2021 the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has been in effect across African Union member states.

Title:

Content: Is Africa a good place to start a business?

Africa is experiencing a technology boom: the rapid penetration of Internet and mobile technologies make this region more and more interesting for IT entrepreneurs, despite the specificity and heterogeneity of the market.

IT in Africa

The African continent is a large market, as well as a source of direct access to a large audience with smartphones and a wide range of resources. The region is rich in coal, oil, ferrous metal ores, graphite, aluminum, and phosphate and consists of 54 countries, extremely diverse in terms of population, digitalization, economy, and purchasing power. Since January 2021, the continent has had a free trade zone between the countries of the African Union.

The market entry threshold is low, there is no fierce competition, and the potential for growth and demand for technology projects is enormous: the region has many problems that can be solved through innovation.

The continent has a crazy rate of Internet development and a native love of smartphones. You can buy bananas on the street and pay with your mobile account.

Students are often interested in starting their businesses. More often than not, students choose completely new locations and new startup ideas. We recommend that you consider Africa for your business because in a few years it will bring you success. But first, we recommend visiting Africa as a tourist to get a feel for the atmosphere. If you got carried away with preparing for a trip to Africa and forgot to write a research paper on time do not panic. After all, it’s no trouble, because a student service will always come to your aid. So if you’re wondering if you can pay someone to write my paper, always go to the WritingAPaper service. Its experts will help with any academic paper, and you will have time for exciting trips.

By 2025, experts predict Africa’s Internet economy should reach 5.1% of GDP – about $185 billion. FinTech, AgroTech, eCommerce, InsureTech, HealthTech, and CleanTech are considered the most in-demand areas.

According to research firm Briter Bridges, venture capital investment in African startups totaled $1.31 billion in 2021, most of which came from fintech projects. Kenya, Nigeria, and Egypt are considered to be the drivers of the region’s venture capital ecosystem: projects from these countries have received the most investment over the past few years compared with their neighbors on the continent. More than 30% of the continent’s technology hubs are concentrated here.

“The GDP of the entire region is $6.8 trillion. If Africa were a single country, it would be fourth in the world after China, the U.S., and India. Undoubtedly, the economic power of the region is still small, but in the next 30-50 years, it is predicted a stable growth in the range of 6-12% per year, and this process will be accompanied by the creation of new industries and businesses.

GDP per capita in terms of purchasing power parity in Africa is $5.2 thousand, for comparison, in the Russian Federation – $29.4 thousand, in the USA – $68.3 thousand, in Europe – about $41 thousand. However, in the top 20 fast-growing economies of the world, six lines are African countries: Benin, Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Cote d’Ivoire. The main technological hubs on the continent are concentrated in South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt.

The level of development of the IT market in Africa is 5-10 years behind other countries. Until now, only 28% of the continent’s population has access to the Internet, but in the last few years, the situation is gradually changing. Now the digital industry in Africa is actively developing, and the international market is noticing this trend.

African Accelerators & Incubators

There are more than 600 technology centers in Africa, among them incubators, gas pedals, and co-working spaces for companies. One of the most famous technology centers is the CcHUB. It is located in Yaba, Nigeria’s Silicon Valley. CcHUB boasts a rich network of 650 startups across Africa.

CcHUB partners with Amazon, and Google for Startups, Visa, and other international companies. The incubator focuses on projects in health, smart transportation infrastructure, fintech, education, and cybersecurity.

Another major center actively developing a technology and innovation startup environment is the MEST incubator in Ghana. Assistance from the Meltwater Foundation allows MEST to target startups from all over Africa at the earliest stages of development, train entrepreneurs for free, and help with product prototyping and hypothesis testing.

MEST is an educational program for IT entrepreneurs, an internal seed fund, and a network of incubators for technology startups in Africa. The hubs are located in Accra, Lagos, Cape Town, and Nairobi. The organization has been active since 2008, actively supporting programmers and engineers. One of the programs lasts a year, is designed for 60 start-ups, and is completely free. MEST has many famous partners, such as the acceleration program for fintech startups supported by the French bank Societe Generale.

In Ethiopia today, three private business incubators are systematically working with technology startups: BlueMoon, iceAddis, and iCog/Solve. The first has more AgriTech, the second has eCommerce startups, and the third has programming, including AI projects.

The iCog/Solve gas pedal hosts Ethiopia Hacks, a series of 12 hackathons in which 600 people have already participated. The project is funded by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development, with Google Developers Group (GDG) and the Center for Accelerated Women’s Economic Empowerment (CAWEE) as partners.

Here, with the support of Kenya’s Ministries of Health and Transport, the famous MSafari service was created to monitor the passenger flow of public transport.

The Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative (CiTi) is the oldest technology business incubator on the continent. Located in Cape Town and founded in 1999, it focuses on the development of IT projects. During its existence, it has helped three thousand entrepreneurs to create more than two thousand companies and continues to be actively involved in the Cape Town technology community.

iHub – each year the gas pedal supports 450 startups. The gas pedal has a wide range of programs for business startups. One of them is aimed at the development of IT projects run by women.

Startupbootcamp Afritech – runs several accelerator programs, including ASIP Accelerator Program and iNovo. Project recruitment happens all the time, and there is a virtual and offline passing format. The program is supported by Amazon, Nedbank, PwC, and other large companies. Participants have a chance to receive an investment of 15 thousand euros.

The most specialized technoparks are presented in South Africa – Technopark Stellenbosch, Highveld Techno Park, and The Innovation Hub. Notable technoparks exist in Senegal (Dakar Technopolis), Rwanda (Kigali ICT Park), Madagascar, and Zimbabwe at NUST University.

Africa, with a population of 1.35 billion, could overtake China and India in the next decade. McKinsey estimates that by 2025, the region will have 360 million smartphones and 240 million computers and laptops, and digitalization will increase GDP by $140-320 billion. Not surprisingly, such a large – and still technologically untapped – market is beginning to play an increasingly prominent role in the economic arena.

Thanks to the serious penetration of smartphones and the large percentage of the young population, the African market is becoming a convenient environment for launching and developing technological projects. A large number of fragmented states at different stages of economic development makes it difficult to create a unified startup industry in the region but does not prevent the effective functioning of individual technology hubs with which large international companies are willing to cooperate.

Localization of foreign projects in Africa is complicated by a large language group, corruption, and the specific mentality of the population, but the potential growth opportunities and lack of serious competition more than offset the possible risks.

We are committed to Africa

Unlike many global publications, for nearly a decade we have been committed to showing a complete picture of Africa – not just a single story.  Offended by one-sided coverage of wars, disasters and disease, the founders of Africa.com created a website that provides a balanced view of Africa – current events, business, arts & culture, travel, fashion, sports, information, development, and more.

Will you support us?

Experts predict Africa’s Internet economy will reach about 5.1% of GDP, roughly $185 billion, by 2025.

Venture capital investment in African startups totaled $1.31 billion in 2021, with most funding going to fintech projects.

McKinsey estimated that by 2025 Africa will have about 360 million smartphones and 240 million computers or laptops and that digitalisation could add $140–$320 billion to GDP.

More than 600 technology hubs, incubators and co‑working centres operate across Africa.

Which sectors are Chinese investments in Africa focusing on?

South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt are identified as the main technological hubs on the continent, with Kenya also cited as a driver of the venture capital and hub ecosystem.

Kenya, Nigeria and Egypt together host over 30% of the continent’s technology hubs.

Prominent incubators include CcHUB in Nigeria, which partners with Amazon, Google for Startups and Visa, and MEST in Ghana, which partners with Societe Generale and has hubs in Accra, Lagos, Cape Town and Nairobi.

Which countries are preferred FDI destinations in Africa?

Reports name fintech, agritech, e‑commerce, insuretech, healthtech and cleantech as the most in‑demand technology sectors across Africa.

Chainalysis reported that $562 million of investment remittances in sub‑Saharan Africa were sent via cryptocurrencies such as Ripple.

Title:

Content: How crypto will change banking in Africa

Africa is a relatively untapped goldmine as there are tons of opportunities that are yet to be fully explored. Smart investors can see this and are continuously pouring huge sums of money into the continent. The infusion of crypto into Africa’s banking sector is an opportunity that is yet to be fully explored. Though the crypto movement is relatively new when compared to other financial markets like forex and stocks, it has had a notable impact on the banking and financial markets globally and in Africa inclusive. Africa’s banking is still largely cash-based but there has been an increase in the use of digital payment systems within Africa, especially in the sub-Saharan region.

In Africa, crypto is currently opening new ways for small and medium-sized businesses to get easy access to investors’ funds. Also, we believe cryptocurrency is not just a temporary wave that will soon disappear but a permanent solution to long-lasting challenges posed by traditional banking systems. Crypto users in Africa will likely continue to increase as digital payments are gradually becoming preferred to cash payments as it saves time and is so easy even from a mobile phone.

The Present Role of Cryptocurrencies in African Banking

Early adopters in Africa have decided not to be left out of the crypto move which is the latest innovation in the world of money. According to a policy brief by a United Nations agency known as UNCTAD, Cryptocurrencies are becoming increasingly popular in African countries. A notable percentage of some African countries are currently using digital currencies as a means to bank their money. According to the policy brief, the percentage of crypto users as of 2022 in Kenya is 8.5%, in South Africa is 7.1% and in Nigeria is 6.3%. Another African country known as the Central African Republic has made a bold move and has adopted bitcoin as a legal tender, after this announcement all south african forex brokers increased the purchasing price of Bitcoin following the market’s trend.

Crypto in Africa has real use cases as digital currencies currently address a number of economic challenges in the African region, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. One notable use case of crypto in Africa is the reduction of financing challenges for micro, small and medium-sized enterprise sectors to give easier assess to investment funds. According to Chainalysis, $562 million worth of investment remitted in sub-Saharan Africa was done via popular cryptocurrencies like Ripple. As financing is a major challenge in Africa’s business and housing sector, easier access to investors’ funds through crypto crowdfunding is definitely a much-needed innovation.

Apart from businesses that are using crypto to get investment funding, individuals are also using crypto to facilitate personal banking transactions. Among the crypto-savvy population in Africa, it is not uncommon to see people use crypto to accept payments, especially from international clients or employers. Due to rising inflation, some crypto users even store their wealth in stable cryptocurrencies like USDT to preserve the value of their money rather than leaving it in their local currency. Also, some experienced and smart investors in South Africa (and other African countries) are involved in crypto trading, and the best crypto trading platform in South Africa is likely Exness.

See more: Overcoming the treasury challenges of operating in Africa

How Crypto will Change Banking in Africa in the Future

Africa’s banking is still heavily dependent on cash but digital payments are slowly taking over the region’s banking, especially in the cities. Cryptocurrency is a notable part of digital payments in Africa but no one can know for sure the future of cryptocurrencies in the world and Africa inclusive. Corruption within some African governments has resulted in a lack of trust in the government by its citizens. Perhaps, this is why the launch of Nigeria’s national digital currency called the e-naira was not well-received by its citizens.

Mobile payment is currently a crucial part of Africa’s traditional digital banking. This is due to the convenience and easy accessibility even in remote villages where the internet is not available. Some of the challenges of the traditional banking system are the heavy reliance on third-party payment intermediaries and the lack of full transparency on transaction details. Hence in the future, crypto will most likely be the chosen platform for many peer-to-peer transactions among Africans. As more people in Africa continue to adopt cryptocurrencies, the power of the government to create arbitrary laws in the banking sector will be slowly eliminated. It can be very annoying to have unnecessary sanctions and restrictions over your bank account just because the government feels they can do anything they feel like.

In addition, crypto is a solution to the financial insecurity currently experienced in Africa’s banking sector. The intense security of the blockchain makes it almost impossible for hackers to have access to people’s funds without the wallet seed phrase. The security, transparency, and easy accessibility of crypto will most likely be the key influencers of Africa’s banking in the years ahead.

On the Flipside

The future of crypto in Africa’s banking sector is full of opportunities but there is a possibility that the growth of crypto in the region’s banking might be a road full of toils. Crypto threatens the sovereignty that some African governments currently enjoy as they don’t have access to control and place unnecessary restrictions on citizens’ crypto earnings. Hence, the fight against crypto adoption might be so fierce and maybe even enough to stagnate the growth of crypto in some African countries.

It is evident that crypto will continue to shape the future of banking in Africa. The question is, what future will crypto actually create in Africa’s banking sector? It is a valid concern that crypto may end up being the safe haven to hide away illegal funds as it is possible to create a crypto wallet that no one knows the actual owner of.

Why Should You Care

As a crypto enthusiast, you may or may not reside in Africa. This does not matter as crypto is a global change in the world of money and even if you don’t live in Africa you may want to invest in businesses that promote crypto adoption in Africa. A business idea as simple as educating Africans on how to buy crypto could turn out to be a great investment if managed properly with the right business skill set.

If creating a business around crypto in Africa does not interest you, simply investing in popular cryptocurrencies and keeping them for the long term might be a smart investment decision. Of course, you probably should not place all of your life savings into crypto investment or trading. Remember that cryptocurrency is here to stay, do not be left out.

Source: Analytics Insight

The Central African Republic adopted bitcoin as legal tender.

UNCTAD‑based figures cited in the documents show crypto user rates in 2022 of about 8.5% in Kenya, 7.1% in South Africa and 6.3% in Nigeria.

Russia announced writing off more than $20 billion of African state debts and reported trade turnover with African countries of almost $18 billion in 2022.

Title:

Content: Russia-Africa: Dynamics Of Educational And Humanitarian Diplomacy – OpEd

By

For this discussion, it necessary to set the premise using the United Nations. In UN resolutions, codes and standards, the governments have agreed that humanitarian assistance should be allocated according to the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. This normative framework, however, must not lead to an incorrect assumption that humanitarian aid is divorced from political power.

But instead, the decision as to where, how and why to provide humanitarian assistance is part of more extensive foreign policy considerations which are guided by both norms and interests, such as geopolitical concerns or the aim of a donor to demonstrate benevolent behavior.

The good humanitarian donor-ship initiative was set up in 2003 as a forum for best practices and to discuss to agree on principles of giving humanitarian aid. Given the current geopolitical environment, these questions are still pursued with vigour in different countries around the world.

Based on this premise therefore, in discussing the potential for cooperation between Russia and African countries in the humanitarian sphere and what needs to be done to improve the effectiveness of contacts between people in Africa and Russia, it is essential to note that humanitarian principles are embedded in the Russian culture as people of humanity. The values and culture of Russia influence the country’s concept of humanitarian assistance. Russia believes in the oneness of all human beings and a gift without expectation, the willingness of the strong to help the weak.

At this point, I would like remind and emphasize that we are witnessing an emerging new world order distinctively different from the Soviet days, and the catchphrase is now such new initiatives, partnership and participation. Undoubtedly the new realities are pushing African countries to diversify their post-colonial relations with external players. Today, Africa is now the centre of attraction as significant powers are moving into Africa, and Russia’s potential for cooperation with African countries in the humanitarian sphere is enormous.

The decolonization of African countries in the 1950s and early 1960s created an opportunity for the Soviet Union after the second world War. As the process continued, the Kremlin planned its policy agenda for the newly liberated African countries.

That policy agenda could be categorized into four parts:

1. To gain a lasting presence in the African continent.

2. To have a voice in African affairs.

3. To undermine Western influence in the African continent by equating capitalism with imperialism.

4. To keep communist China out of the African continent.

These were the four pillars of the Soviet Union’s African policy from 1945 to 1991, when the Soviet Union suddenly collapsed.

As we know, the interest of a nation determines the form of relation it maintains with other states. This gives credence to the notion that there is neither a permanent friend nor a permanent enemy in international diplomacy. It is the interest of the country that is permanent.

For many African countries, the willingness to support Russia goes back to the cold war when the Soviet Union provided military and economic assistance to the liberation movements across the continent.

This reservoir of goodwill created by the Soviet Union today forms part of the foundation for modern Russia’s relationship with African countries.

Since Soviet’s collapse and combined with the global changes taking place around the world have obviously brought new challenges, threats and opportunities. Despite that the Russian Federation has successfully been implementing cultural and humanitarian cooperation programmes with various African countries, including contacts in education, science, culture, media, sports and music.

This type of cooperation with African countries, especially in education, science and technology, is essential in resolving African problems, particularly overcoming social inequalities and also involvement of women and youth in sustainable economic development. African graduates educated in Russia will contribute to their respective individual countries to enter a new scientific and technological development stage.

This factor of strength pertaining to the training of specialist and professionals has still remained fom Soviet days. It beholds on us to strengthen this component within the policy framework, to make cooperation truly beneficial for Africa. Many African students are presently in Russia, including about four thousand whose education is funded by the Russian Government. Of course, there many studying on private contracts in the regions of the Russian Federation.

For context, we understand that Russia and Africa have taken a unique plan to develop partnerships, in tandem, between pan-African universities and Russian universities. A closer look at this kind of cooperation shows a huge potential for exploring new ways to boost bilateral relationship. The educational programmes should not be limited to traditional or regular students, but must include wide-range of specialised short-term courses, as factual backup to acquiring new (upgrading) knowledge, for a multitude of specific target groups instrumental in bolstering bilateral cooperation.

We have to acknowledge the fact that there have been tremendous efforts in Africa to promote higher education, but these efforts are still behind the global trends. With the population of Africa growing to over 1.3 billion, it is surprising the continent produces fewer research publications than Canada a country with a population of 37.8 million. The United States has an estimated 380 million. Therefore, Russia-African cooperation in education will further provide multi-dimensional chances to undertake knowledge-based research and educational fellowships in Russia and Africa.

The next significant point is that – Russia also has indicated an interest in developing and organizing the practical training of African diplomats at the Diplomatic Academy of the Foreign Affairs Ministry. This could serve as an interesting place to learn and exchange the best diverse practices and valuable principles of contemporary diplomacy, particularly in the emerging multipolar world.

According to my research – Russia currently ranks 6th in the number of international students, with an estimated 35,000 coming from Africa. We know that there are foreign students from Asia and Latin America. As part of the expansion of humanitarian cooperation, the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia has further announced doubling the number of budget places in Russian universities for African students.

Other programmes in the pipeline include the opening of Russian educational centres in Africa and the training of national teachers to staff African secondary schools. I would like to note here that Russkiy Mir has 10 offices in Africa. But there is still room for expansion. That compared to its counterpart, China’s Confucius Institute operates in 25 African countries, half the continent.

Speaking at an international parliamentary conference titled Russia-Africa in a Multipolar World on 20 March 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow has written off the debts of African states worth more than 20 billion dollars. He further said that the trade turnover between Russia and African countries is growing yearly, reaching almost 18 billion dollars in 2022.

Writing off $20 billion debts of the African counties is one the most extraordinary humanitarian art by Russian towards African countries, and African countries, through press releases and official statement, publicly acknowledged this wonderful gesture with tremendous appreciation and feelings of admiration and gratitude.

The humanitarian crisis in the African continent remains one of the world’s most severe, with record levels of displacement and suffering, and it is hopeful that Russia, in its long-standing humanitarian commitment, will design more programmes to assist categories of people such as:

–        Displaced people and those affected by conflict and disaster.

–        Programme to help reduce violence against girls, children, and women in Africa.

–        Help those who suffered rebuild their livelihood and support community resilience.

–        Help separated children, trauma survivors, and children with acute malnutrition.

At this point of our analysis, it very useful quoting Professor Fyodor Lukyanov, Research Director at the Valdai Discussion Club and Editor-in-Chief of Russia in Global Affairs journal. He is the powerful Chair of the State Commission on Defense and Foreign Policy.

In his words, notwithstanding all things, Africa has its own strengths and weaknesses based on history, but the balance is positive in this new multipolar world. Most potential success also depends largely on African countries themselves and their ability to build up relations with outside powers on rational and calculated basis in the changing global situation.

Professor Maurice Okoli

Professor Maurice Okoli is a fellow at the Institute for African Studies and the Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences. He is a fellow at the North-Eastern Federal University, Russia.

Russia hosts an estimated 35,000 African students and the documents note about 4,000 African students funded by the Russian government.

China’s engagement in higher education and cooperation includes scholarships, a 'China‑Africa 20+20 universities' pairing plan and the fact that 52 of 54 African countries have signed Belt and Road cooperation documents.

Title:

Content: People 's Network > > Education
Enhancing the Connectedness of the People: An Effective Way to Deepen Cooperation between Chinese and African Universities
October 31, 2023 08: 33 | Source: Guangming Daily
Small number
Original title: Enhancing people-to-people communication: an effective way to deepen cooperation between Chinese and African universities
The recently held third "Belt and Road" international cooperation summit forum people-to-people thematic forum released the "Silk Road" common initiative, and stressed that further exchanges and cooperation in education and other fields will be carried out to enhance people-to-people communication.
The Belt and Road Initiative is one of the main contents of the Belt and Road Initiative and an important guarantee for the smooth implementation of the Initiative. After the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed in 2013, the Chinese government set up a special scholarship for the Silk Road, which opened a new era of Belt and Road higher education exchanges.
Africa is an important part of the Belt and Road international cooperation. Fifty-two of the 54 African countries have signed the Belt and Road cooperation documents with China. China ’ s education cooperation with Africa began in 1956, and large-scale university cooperation began in 2009 with the “China-Africa Cooperation Forum – Sharm el-Sheikh Action Plan ”.
In the plan, China "proposes the implementation of the '20 + 20 Cooperation Plan for Chinese and African Universities', selecting 20 Chinese universities (or vocational education colleges) and 20 African universities (or vocational education colleges) to establish a new model of 'one-to-one' inter-university cooperation."
This plan was further emphasized in the 2015 FOCAC Johannesburg Plan of Action and the 2018 FOCAC Beijing Plan of Action. In July 2023, the Chinese Society of Higher Education and the Association of African Universities (AAU) jointly established the China-Africa University Alliance Exchange Mechanism, and its secretariat and research institute were also established in Beijing Foreign Studies University and Zhejiang Normal University respectively.
Based on interviews with most of the participating institutions and Confucius Institutes in Africa in the “20 + 20 Cooperation Program between Chinese and African Universities ” and the sorting of relevant documents, this paper puts forward some suggestions for further deepening cooperation between Chinese and African universities from the perspective of ensuring project effectiveness and sustainable development.
The program needs to be aligned with the university ’ s own development mission.
University cooperation is a bilateral international activity, and cooperation with non-universities cannot be regarded as a unilateral aid, but needs to be considered in the light of the unique attributes of the university itself and the mission of the university itself.
From the perspective of the existing project implementation, the significance of the implementation effect is closely related to the position of discipline in the discipline system of the university.
If the content of cooperation happens to be a key subject of the university, then cooperation will be highly valued and implemented more smoothly.
For example, the cooperation between Nanjing Agricultural University and Egerton University in Kenya has not only promoted the development of the two sides, but also strengthened the social impact of Egerton University, which enjoys a high reputation in the agricultural field in East Africa.
If the university itself already has a teaching and research strategy for Africa, it will also help the development of the China-Africa university partnership.
For example, Zhejiang Normal University has set up an African Studies Center since 2003, and its comparative education discipline also focuses on African education research, which plays an important role in the overall development of the school.
For example, the Middle East Institute of Peking University has long established the Arabic Department, and has a long history of cooperation with Cairo University, and many teachers and students have gone to Cairo University to study, which has played a positive role in its growth and development.
Setting up collaborative projects that can “grow in African soil ”
“Studying Africa and understanding Africa ” is the key to the success of China-Africa university cooperation.
On the one hand, it is necessary to understand the development stage and development needs of different countries on the continent at a macro level, so that cooperation projects can be adapted to the country's development strategy.
Africa is a diverse continent, encompassing different economic, social and political patterns, and therefore has different development needs and priorities.
Some countries already have relatively developed economies and high levels of per capita income, such as Morocco, Tunisia and Mauritius.
Other countries are becoming centres of information technology and innovation, such as the S & T ecosystem in Kenya, e-government in Rwanda and the S & T Innovation Centre in Egypt, but others face serious challenges in poverty reduction, food crisis, disease treatment and peace maintenance.
On the other hand, there is a need for an in-depth understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of higher education and the development needs of different African countries in order to embed cooperation projects in their development plans and become priorities.
Higher education on the African continent shows diversity and diversity, and its stages of development are also very different.
Some countries have world-renowned universities or disciplines, such as archaeology at Cairo University in Egypt, medicine, engineering, computer science at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, economics and law at the University of Ghana, and medicine and engineering at the University of Nairobi.
Many universities are actively developing and implementing development plans to meet the development needs of the country and society, such as Cape Coast University in Ghana, Lagos University in Nigeria and Dar es Salaam University in Tanzania.
Countries in conflict and turmoil, such as Niger, Burkina Faso, Somalia, South Sudan and Libya, have struggled to develop higher education.
As a result, in the Union of Central African Universities, some universities have remained largely in aid relations, others in cooperation that can benefit from each other, and some disciplines are learning from Africa.
In short, only on the basis of understanding Africa and African higher education, can scientific cooperation projects be set up to "grow in the soil of Africa".
Strengthening cooperation in agriculture, forestry, water, medicine and humanities and social sciences
African countries, confined to their own stage of development, have given priority to agricultural modernization and industrialization.
In terms of cooperation in higher education, Confucius Institutes, the "20 + 20 Cooperation Plan for China-Africa Universities", the Luban Workshop, and the "Future Africa-Africa Vocational Education Cooperation Plan" have contributed to the cultivation of talents for improving people's livelihood and modernizing governance in Africa.
The main areas that have taken root and achieved remarkable results are agriculture, forestry, water science and engineering, medicine, language and teacher education.
Future cooperation should encourage more agricultural and forestry universities, high-level comprehensive universities with water science and engineering, normal universities, and higher vocational colleges to participate in the current scale of cooperation.
In the field of medicine, the Chinese government has made remarkable contributions in providing medical supplies, building medical facilities, providing vaccine assistance, and sending medical experts and medical teams to Africa to provide medical services and technical training.
Cooperation between universities in the future can explore new ways, such as establishing medical education centers in Africa, or making full use of modern distance learning resources and artificial intelligence to create new types of joint medical education programs. Livestock is also an important industry in Africa, while animal medicine is a discipline lacking in Africa, and relevant fields can be incorporated into university cooperation.
He said that Sino-African cooperation in the fields of humanities and social sciences has a long history and has made great contributions to the people-to-people
From the successful experience of existing projects, language education, teacher education and modern governance are still key areas of cooperation.
In addition, Chinese universities can jointly set up research centers on local history, languages, cultural heritage and social dynamics in African universities on the basis of full research, thus jumping out of the one-way aid mindset and training Chinese talents who understand Africa and understand Africa.
Optimize project operation mechanism
A good working mechanism is the key to the success of the project.
Operational mechanisms include project rules and procedures, resource allocation and management, communication and collaboration, feedback and adjustment, monitoring and evaluation.
Only when both parties participate in the development and implementation of the operational mechanism can the project be successful.
The Confucius Institute has become a successful model of cooperation between Chinese and foreign universities after 20 years of development.
However, there are also some cooperation projects that need more financial and resource support from Chinese and African universities, so as to enhance the importance of cooperation, participation and support of the management and staff of the two sides.
Another important factor affecting the success of the cooperation is the cultural and linguistic background, and in the course of the cooperation, both sides have had difficulties in continuing the project due to poor communication.
Therefore, the establishment of clear and efficient communication and cooperation mechanisms is the key to the success of cooperation.
At the same time, it should also be noted that barriers to communication and difficulties of understanding caused by different cultural and linguistic backgrounds require both sides to actively strengthen cultural exchanges and promote mutual understanding and adaptation.
In addition, supervision and feedback are the key to project optimization and entering the virtuous circle, which is a relatively weak link in the mechanism construction.
In the future, in the process of policy entering a new cycle, the actual participants, stakeholders, researchers, etc. of the project should participate in policy formulation, actively listen to the existing problems and suggestions for improvement, so that the project setting is more in line with the logic of scientific development, which is the key to the project not being a formality.
(Author: Tian Xiaohong, Associate Research Fellow, School of Education, Zhejiang Normal University)
(Editor: Li Fang, Hao Mengjia)
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In 2023 China and African universities formed a China‑Africa University Alliance with a secretariat at Beijing Foreign Studies University and a research institute at Zhejiang Normal University.

Tony Elumelu committed $2 billion to improve electricity access, and his group reports around 2,000 megawatts of generation capacity and supplying power to the Republic of Benin.

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Content: Elumelu: I Was Not a Billionaire’s Son, I Created Wealth Out of Entrepreneurship

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The Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) and Chairman of United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu during a discussion at The United States Institute of Peace and The Heritage Foundation in the United States of America recently, spoke about his humble beginnings. He also stressed that extreme poverty and hopelessness are threat to peace and stability in Africa. Dike Onwuamaeze who monitored the event brings the excerpts of the questions and answers session with Elumelu:

Why is the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) focusing so much young entrepreneurs?

Africa is a continent of entrepreneurs and I encourage it. My own story validates that. Today’s Tony Elumelu started from nowhere. And I just will imagine if 100,000 or a million across Africa will have this kind of opportunity in 10 years’ time it will be a different continent. That is why the TEF is key. Today, I am lucky to be the chairman of the UBA Group that operates in 20 African countries, in Paris, London and is the only African bank in United States of America and all over America that has a deposit taking license. I did not start like that. I was not a billionaire’s son. We created this out of sheer entrepreneurism. Today we have a part of our group that is into power generation because access to electricity is important. When President Barrack Obama launched the Power Africa Initiative, I committed $2 billion to improve access to electricity in the continent.

Today we have a generating capacity of 2,000 megawatts of electricity in addition to supplying Republic of Benin power. I did not start like that, but it was just sheer entrepreneurism and determination to succeed. I see in Africa today more people more determined than I was in their age. The difference between those guys and Tony Elumelu of today is access to opportunities. And that is what I want to create. That is what I am mobilising others in the private sector in particular to do. Let’s team up and do something that will be impactful. Let’s think legacy and less about what we will have in our bank accounts. But as we do, so we need our government to also prioritise the kind of policy that will make this to succeed. And also the friends of Africa like the United States of America, all of us will poll resources to see how we can create more Tony Elumelus across the continent.

They are ready and the reason they go into extremism today is because they do not see hope. So, we need to show examples so that they will also get encouraged to know that there could be a better future for them. Yes, I believe strongly that entrepreneurship is one of the ways we can develop Africa in a manner that will be really sustainable. Talking about aid, we get a lot of support into Africa, and that is the truth. But my own take is that we should re-imagine how we give that support because we need to give from the point of view of creating self-reliance, self-independence and making people less dependent on donor aid.

If we give and forever people cannot implement their budgets without aid and people cannot do things without aid then we should question that mechanism, that approach because it seems that something is not working because it should be a brief intervention for a period. But in a situation where it becomes perpetual it calls for a rethink. And I believe that entrepreneurship does not lead to that. Entrepreneurship and laziness do not go together. Entrepreneurship and that level of dependence do not go together. You can’t keep giving support to someone all the time. You provide assistance and he starts running. And then, you should also be able to also expand and replicate that so that collectively we will all work in a manner to improve the society.

How will the private sector engage the governments on issue of good governance that is important in creating enabling environment that brings in Foreign Direct Investment to build the social wealth you have talked about?

We need to understand, and more so our government needs to understand, the role of the private sector in economic development. Often times I see disconnect. At times, and I speak not just about one country but about most of the governments across Africa, you see the government erroneously viewing the private sector as competitor. No! We should see the private sector and public sector as development partners with all hands working together to advance humanity, all hands working together to advance economic prosperity, economic growth, social wealth and social justice in the system. For the private sector to do this the enabling environment must be first of all be established and once it is established the private sector should take advantage of the opportunity that has been created and play its own role. I see the private sector helping to catalyse economic growth like creating jobs. Governments do not have the capacity to create the jobs that we need as a continent.

The rate at which we are growing and the demography of Africa and the rate people are entering the job markets in Africa is far, far, more than we can even imagine. So, we need a collaborative approach in making this happen. I want to see a private sector that is strong on the continent because their being strong and succeeding will help to drive economic growth. I will want us prioritise the big and small enterprises in the continent so that when we talk about the private sector it is not just about the big corporations. We need to cut across all layers and make sure that every segment is included. I believe in inclusivity in government. We need to make sure that we carry everyone along. There should be gender or youth inclusivity and of all facets of the society. The lack of this is part the reasons we are having problems.

Peace in the world, and Africa in particular, cannot be addressed if we do not address youth engagement. Private sector does have a role to play and so does our governments in creating the enabling environment. And more so the private sector must engage with the governments to let them know the truth about what I felt was happening. This is not a criticism per say. It is actually what I have seen and believed that we need to address it so that we can attract more investments into the continent. Because need massive investments to help create jobs. And when we do not have some of these investments coming in because of these issues it further takes us back away from achieving our objectives of creating development, prosperity, and youth engagement in the continent. So, yes, we need a more active private sector.

What are the things will the United States of America and other development partners be doing to help African people and government improve their governance to see higher returns?

 I think for the USA government; they need to see how the USA is perceived across the continent. The USA is respected, it is admired and it is loved across the continent. If anything people are beginning to wonder if the USA is still, there for Africa because of the fray into Africa by other world powers. We will like to see USA government engagement first reimagine to what the 21st century Africa needs. Aid is good, but we need to measure it to the last mile. We need to make sure that we prioritise those who should get it. A situation where you have billions of dollars coming into Africa and yet we still have the level of youth’s unemployment should tell us that something is not right. The healthcare system is fragile. I will like to see, one, a change in policy that help to prioritise the ultimate recipients of whatever come into the continent.

Two, I will like to help to develop infrastructures that help to drive sustainability.  In summary, I will like to see the United States’ government helping us to engage in a manner that will enable policy makers to see the linkage between the private sector and the public sector’s goal for the people. I believe some of the approaches will help to get there. But in summary, I will like to see a rethink of how to engage with Africa, especially when it comes to aid. I like to see how it gets to people who really need it. We need to strengthen our infrastructures and institutions because there are a number of institutions that are weak to enable them to engender good governance.

After training 16,000 young entrepreneurs, are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future for African youths?

I am extremely optimistic about the future. When I travel through Africa I see a lot of excitement and I also see first-hand the people that we have supported that are succeeding. The difference is tangible in terms of the changes they are bringing to their businesses and communities. I know for a fact that if we can prioritise them further and give them the support they need to do more. We have over 600 million people in the continent that are under the age of 30 and we are talking of 16,000 beneficiaries of the foundation. It is like less than a drop of water in the ocean. For us to make the kind of impact that will increase our optimism and about the future of the continent we need to massively scale up things.

And again that is the message I bring to the table: Let us pool resources together to deal with it realising that if there is poverty in Nigeria and Africa it will affect everyone everywhere. There are young Africans who want to get to Europe, even by crossing the Mediterranean Sea in a very, very hard condition. And they do not care. In fact they will tell you we will rather die trying to get there than stay here. So, we need to work together to see how to make this change occur. Yes, I am optimistic. The people we have supported are making progress but we need a Marshal Plan. We need something much bigger than this 16,000 story to make a different. We should be talking of millions on yearly basis across the continent.

Who are those to make this happen? The African private sectors that are succeeding, the global development institutions and the friends of Africa across the world and those who realise and see the linkage that what happens in any part of the world affects people everywhere. So, I see a future but that future should be driven by fundamentals and for me the key fundamental there is prioritising the younger people and entrepreneurship. Though entrepreneurship is not the only way, but it is still the core for us because we have tested it and have seen in our own life stories where we were before and where we are today, it is all because of entrepreneurship and success we achieved.

This is why we created the Tony Elumelu Foundation to help democraticise luck and create access to economic opportunities for others because that is the difference why I am not on the street today. We want to make sure that we take more people out of the streets through this kind of initiative. And the good thing is that they are intelligent. Seeing some of the young companies coming out of Africa being valued publicly and people investing in them tell what the future can be if we give more support to this people. And there are millions of them in the continent of Africa.

There have been six coup d’état in Africa since 2021, so how do you see this from a business perspective?

What Africa needs is prosperity. That will bring peace and reduce conflicts. Lack of economic opportunities, hope, poverty, joblessness, and gender inequality are issues that create political instability. We cannot have political stability if we do not address these fundamentals. So, it is a problem and we hope and pray that it stops there with the countries that have experienced it. And I hope that it becomes a wakeup call to others to sit up and prioritise these young ones and address these social issues and the economic problems so that prosperity, at least a drastic reduction of poverty, will help to reduce instability. I preach always that poverty anywhere is a threat to all of everywhere. We can’t have stability if people are hungry.  We cannot have stability if people are starving. We cannot have stability if there is no economic hope. People can endure and say okay the way things are going in three or five-year time things will be okay. But where there is hopelessness, anarchy reigns. That is what we are seeing. So the solutions are good governance, prioritisation of our young people in particular and engaging with the private sector to increase their ability to create jobs on the continent so that we can engage these people. We will also make sure that we run an inclusive society that brings everyone to the table. That is the solution.

How do you perceive the private sector’s role in conflict resolution and peace negotiation?

The private sector is not trained to be involved in conflict negotiation. However, we can play a role to prevent it. For me, rather than dealing with consequences, how about making sure that it does not happen in the first instance? And the private sector can play a role there. Again, we have issues on the African continent. Imagines what will happen in 10 years’ time giving the rate of our population and its demography. It is going to be worse. So we need to do something urgently. We cannot be creating a future of unequal opportunity and thinking of stability. No! It cannot happen. So, for me the private sector has a role to play. And that is at the Centre of Africapitalism, which emphasises the leadership role of private sector in the 21st century Africa in catalysing economic growth, opportunities and development. But for that to happen, we need our government to create the enabling environment. I look forward to the oncoming dialogue with African leaders.

I pray and hope that it is a true dialogue that brings the private sector and African leaders together and one that people should not come and make written speeches. Let us have conversations like this so that we can engage and dialogue and let leaders know what the private sector needs to do well and let them understand that the success of the private sector helps them to fulfill their manifestos so that they will work in harmony within what is generally acceptable so that we can operate an inclusive government. Private sector will play a role in helping to avert conflicts rather than being involved in its resolution. But if come to the point where there is conflict, the private sector may be involved in discussing the terms of resolutions on the table. And I am sure that what the private sector will be saying is let us be creating jobs, improve access to electricity. Let us deal with internet connectivity and bandwidth issue. Let make sure that we run an inclusive government. Let make sure that the society is inclusive and the women have a place at the table, young ones have a seat at the table and that everyone is involved irrespective of religion.

Do you consider dearth of infrastructure a hindrance to flow of investment into Africa from America?

In my remarks earlier, I said that it is time we reimagine the relationship between the USA and the 21 century Africa, which should not be Africa of dependency but Africa of dignity and self-reliance. And for me the way to get there is entrepreneurship. Let’s prioritise the young ones and support them. Because so much billions of dollars have come into Africa in the form aid yet the continent still remains perpetually dependent. If you do something over a period of time and it is not giving the desired impact and result you have to reassess it. So it is time to reimagine how that engagement could have been.  We have been doing things for so long maybe it is time to have a new deal. We need to fix infrastructure that is such a problem in the continent as I have talked about access to electricity and internet connectivity so that entrepreneurship and even the private sector can do some things. There are so much that can happen in the continent. However, we cannot give up.

If we weight for 100 per cent access to electricity before we begin the journey it will be too late. So let us begin to do something because the entrepreneurs you support today can go into solar project. Let’s continue with the little, little, things while we wait for the big thing to happen. I said a few minutes ago that we need a Marshal Plan for Africa to lift Africa sustainably out of poverty. Yes a lot will be done in the area of infrastructure to enable entrepreneurs to do well. That is why I say to my private sector friends that we can say all these things but on our own let’s try to make a difference. So, let us not give up. I am optimistic. In my own time if I had been hindered or defined or characterised by my background, maybe I won’t be where I am today. So, let us keep encouraging people while playing our own role in making sure that all is not word of mouth but by doing something that can bring about the change that we needed.

United Bank for Africa operates in 20 African countries and has operations in Paris, London and the United States.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation reports training about 16,000 young entrepreneurs.

Multiple documents identify electricity access and internet connectivity as key infrastructure constraints to investment and entrepreneurship in Africa.

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Content: Columnists

Refine skills in unemployment war

Africa faces a pressing problem of youth unemployment. Steadily worsening over the years, youth unemployment on the continent stands at 60 percent. Collective action is needed to find solutions while addressing the structural causes of the problem.

Africa’s youth (aged 15-24) comprise 32 percent the working-age population and 10.6 percent of the unemployed. The face of Africa's youth is an eighteen-and-a-half-year-old female living in a rural area, with some education and literacy but not attending school. Her main challenge is finding and sustaining productive employment with a reasonable income.

There are several dimensions to the problem of youth unemployment but let's focus on two. First, there's a demographic dimension: Africa's population profile is shaped like a typical pyramid with a "youth bulge" at the base.

Almost half of Africa's population is under 25; about 75 percent is under 35. By 2050, Africa will account for 35.5 percent of all people aged 15 to 24 or about 462 million of the total 1.3 billion persons globally.

For Kenya, the broader policy questions top of mind include “How many young Kenyans are gainfully employed? How many are actively looking for work, how many are furthering skills and education for employment, how many are inactive, how many are in unpaid domestic work, and how many have given up looking for paid work?” Data research can help pinpoint answers to these questions in the form of granular models and predictions up to 2030.

While a rise in unemployment is a crucial problem, comparing employment data with population data is essential. Understanding the population trends provides further insight into employment trends within 15-35 years old.

With overall population growth, Kenya's unemployment rates over all age groups have increased from six percent in 2020 to 6.6 percent in 2021 and young people tend to be particularly affected by unemployment.

While of the 15.2 million 17 to 35-year-olds in Kenya, eight million are employed and 1.2 million are unemployed, the more concerning number, which is often overlooked, is that of the six million inactive youth.

Then there is a labour market dimension. The rate at which young people find jobs depends on how prepared the labour market is to receive them and how ready they are for the labour market.

Even with high primary school enrolment with an equal number of girls and boys starting school today, primary school completion can no longer be our goal. Experience worldwide has shown that no nation has achieved a technological and socio-political advance where less than 15 percent of its qualified young citizens have access to tertiary education.

It is not surprising that potential employers in Kenya and elsewhere say that our institutions aren't graduating people with the skills they need. But, fundamentally, the skills gap and the skill mismatch need to be addressed. The problem is Africa-wide and reflected in Kenya.

We need a plan for action to address these challenges. First, policymakers must build capable states to expand economic opportunities to deliver essential services to citizens. In other words, every Kenyan shilling spent on education, health and other essential services must deliver commensurate value.

We must focus on developing micro, small and medium enterprises as a credible springboard from which to canvas for Foreign Direct Investment. International investors follow the lead of local entrepreneurs.

In addition, policymakers must modernise the curriculum and sponsor programs to assess and re-equip youth, so they have the skills the market will be looking for tomorrow. They must also aim to expand tertiary and university education, explore public-private partnerships, and use technology to innovate and expand education beyond their walls.

While there are challenges, Kenya also has proven potential. It has a dynamic private sector and a vibrant civil society; it is making its mark on the global stage in mobile technology innovation and is vital in the service sector.

Real-time data modelling

The World Data Lab (WDL) together with Mastercard Foundation are partnering to address the youth unemployment challenge in Africa. WDL will lead the development of a pioneering real-time job growth model for young Africans.

The objective is to monitor and forecast employment trends by disaggregating labor force data into sub-groups by age, gender and sector. It will examine employment trends across a minimum of seven countries in Sub-Saharan Africa: starting with Kenya, Rwanda and then Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal.

To initiate the project, WDL will be meeting with public and private sector partners in Nairobi from 1-6 September and Kigali from 7-10 September 2022.

The purpose is to engage on broader objectives of this innovative project and to seek stakeholder views on the youth unemployment challenge in these respective countries. WDL intends to build a robust consultation process as the project evolves to ensure that the findings can be validated and disseminated.

The job growth model will serve as a standard setter for any policy intervention as it will allow for an immediate quantification of proposed policies.

It will also help in evaluating trade-offs of key policy interventions. In addition, it will enable the general public to monitor progress and discuss this critical issue of their country on the basis of credible estimates.

The provided documents show that much recent foreign engagement takes the form of partnerships with local incubators, accelerators and universities rather than a detailed catalogue of large‑scale announced greenfield projects.

The documents do not provide a comprehensive list of major foreign multinational companies making large‑scale extractive or manufacturing investments beyond the incubator, university and bilateral partnership examples noted above.

Overall, recent trends in the provided documents show growing foreign engagement focused on technology and digital finance, rising venture capital into startups, expanded educational and humanitarian partnerships, and continued constraints from infrastructure gaps which shape where investments and partnerships take place.

What trends are emerging for African startups in 2022?

Which sectors are Chinese investments in Africa focusing on?

What trends are emerging for African startups in 2022?

Which sectors are Chinese investments in Africa focusing on?

What trends are emerging for African startups in 2022?

Which sectors are Chinese investments in Africa focusing on?

What trends are emerging for African startups in 2022?

Which sectors are Chinese investments in Africa focusing on?

What trends are emerging for African startups in 2022?

Which sectors are Chinese investments in Africa focusing on?

Summary: Based on the provided documents, recent foreign investment and engagement in Africa are concentrated in technology, fintech and digital services (with about $1.31 billion of VC in 2021 and Internet‑economy projections to 2025), supported by incubator and university partnerships and by bilateral initiatives, while infrastructure gaps (electricity and internet) remain a major constraint for broader investment.


Interest in four-day workweek trials has grown globally since the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated remote and flexible work.

Large trials include the UK 4 Day Week Global experiment with 70 companies and over 3,300 workers.

Researchers from Boston College, Oxford, and Cambridge are involved in some of these studies.

Countries and firms testing the model include Iceland, Spain, Scotland, Wales, Japan (Microsoft), New Zealand (Unilever), Belgium and various start-ups.

Reported benefits across trials include higher productivity, improved wellbeing, reduced absenteeism, and easier hiring and retention.

Specific findings include a 22% productivity rise reported in a large UK trial and a 40% productivity increase in Microsoft Japan's experiment.

The Henley Business School survey reported that 66% of adopters saw cost savings, 64% saw improved productivity, and 78% reported less-stressed staff.

Implementation challenges include meeting customer demands, management complexity, and limits in sectors such as healthcare or other customer-facing roles.

Other pitfalls reported include monetary concerns and worries about future retirement income, increased work intensity for some employees, and reduced social bonding.

Trials also vary between condensing hours into fewer days and reducing total weekly hours with pay maintained, which has different equity and continuity implications.

Conclusion: Trials show potential benefits for productivity and wellbeing but highlight implementation, equity, and business-continuity challenges that require sector-specific design.

Interest in four-day workweek trials has grown globally since the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated remote and flexible work.

Title:

Content: Finally, the four-day work week trial is here

  • Marie Claire is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
  • Progressive change is coming

    Britain is officially trialling the four-day work week and I’m thrilled. No, I’m not a skiver, I just believe that flexible working is the key to making life work, and the next step is the four-day workweek.

    Organised by 4 Day Week Global, the world’s biggest trial of the four-day work week began in the UK on Monday 6 June. The six-month-long trial will see 70 companies – totalling more than 3,300 workers – test out the four-day week (working 80% of their normal hours) with, it’s critical to note, no reduction in pay.

    Marie Claire has long advocated flexible working rights, supporting writer Anna Whitehouse with her Flex Appeal campaign, which started in 2019 when she was denied flexible working and told it would ‘open the floodgates’ to others seeking it.

    But for the majority, it was Covid-19 that truly changed attitudes towards the workplace, because the pandemic had so profoundly affected people’s working lives.

    Prioritise flexible working

    In 2020 Marie Claire‘s first Future of Work collaboration with LinkedIn explored how the British population felt about the prospect of returning to the pre-pandemic routine.

    The message was clear: employers need to prioritise flexible working going forward, because we realised we could work from home successfully (and that was during an unimaginably stressful period).

    The future of work

    The believed benefits of the four-day working week include:

    • More productivity through greater focus
    • Drive to adopt more efficient processes
    • Greater mental health through more time spent with family or on passions

    As with all trials, it’s important to recognise the potential negative effects – less manageable workloads, less breaks and longer hours, but I hope this pioneering movement will help shape the future of work for the better.

    Work-life balance

    It is currently impossible to have a work-life balance when we work five days and have two days off. Where is the logic? In my opinion, the four-day working week is less about motivating me to work harder – I already work hard, thank you. The four-day working week is actually about giving people enough free time to be healthy, happy and fulfilled.

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Content: Four-day workweek’s popularity grew during the pandemic — survey

As companies scrambled during the COVID-19 outbreak to reorient their workplace procedures and processes, one idea that gained ground was a shorter workweek.

More businesses adopted a four-day week during the COVID-19 pandemic as the shift to remote working spurred a major rethinking of work practices, according to a poll of senior leaders at 500 UK businesses by the University of Reading’s Henley Business School.

The survey, an update to research from 2019, showed that 21% of respondents adopted a four-day workweek for all staff in 2021, up from 18% in 2019. The majority of respondents (65%) said a four-day workweek is in place for at least some of their workers, up from 50% who said that in 2019. A four-day workweek is defined in the report as involving a reduction from five to four workdays for the same pay or a compressed workweek with the same hours across four days instead of five.

Though a four-day workweek has gained popularity, the UK numbers are perhaps higher than expected; job posting site Indeed told Computerworld that less than 1% of job postings on March 11 included the term “four-day week,” for example. A Gallup survey of full-time U.S. employees in March 2020 — prior to the pandemic — indicated that only 5% put in four days a week, with the vast majority (84%) working five days (and 11% working six days each week).

That said, numerous organizations have adopted or trialled a shorter workweek for staff since the start of the pandemic, including firms such as Atom Bank, Bolt, Buffer, and Kickstarter. And pilot projects are under way in several countries, including the US, UK, and Spain.

Such projects are not new, of course; Microsoft launched a trial at its Japan offices in 2019 that resulted in higher productivity, for example, while the UK’s Wellcome Trust ran into issues around complexity with its own project the same year.

A shorter workweek has been talked about for decades, but a shift from the five-day, 40-hour week that has been the standard for over a century has so far failed to gain momentum.

What’s behind the recent interest in the idea? One reason is that the widespread, and largely successful, shift to remote work during the pandemic showed the benefits of a more flexible approach to work, said Rita Fontinha, associate professor in Strategic Human Resource Management at the University of Reading’s Henley Business School.

“The pandemic led to a situation where most firms were forced to implement remote work and this has accelerated previous discussions that we have been having over the last two decades on flexible working,” said Fontinha. “Working from home led to increased trust [between employers and employees] and awareness of other ways of measuring performance that go beyond presenteeism. The pandemic showed that flexibility works.”

Report highlights four-day week advantages

The Henley Business School survey pointed to several advantages for businesses that implemented a four-day workweek, including costs savings (66%), improved productivity (64%), better quality output from staff (64%), and  less-stressed workers (78%).

Improved employee wellbeing is connected to business outcomes too, said Jack E. Gold, founder and principal analyst at research firm J. Gold Associates.

“Keeping employees happy and motivated makes for far more productive employees, no matter what hours they work,” said Gold. “Maximizing employee productivity is a much more important way to gain business value than hours worked.”

Another benefit, noted by 68% of survey respondents that had adopted a four day week, involved hiring and retention. “People were less likely to take sick leave, people were more productive, and it was easier to attract new staff, and to retain them,” said Fontinha.

The so-called Great Resignation is also likely contributing to interest in a shorter workweek.

“What’s different now than prior to the pandemic is that we’re seeing a temporary spike in the difficulty that firms are having in hiring and retaining workers, and the four-day work week is a relatively easy benefit to extend to help ease the challenge in the short term,” said David Brodeur-Johnson, principal analyst at research firm Forrester.

A shorter workweek can mean challenges

The survey also highlighted several challenges around implementing a shorter workweek, though employer concerns have softened during the pandemic.

Among companies that did not offer a four-day week, 65% said they were worried staffing costs would outweigh any productivity benefits (though that number was down from 80%). The biggest challenge cited by employers was meeting customer demands (75%), while 70% thought a shorter week would be too complicated to manage.

Some companies may find a switch to a four-day week easier than others, said Fontinha. IT-focused firms are more likely to switch, she said, largely due to the relative ease with which tech worker output can be tracked in comparison with other roles. “Areas where we were less likely to see the four-day week were sectors that involve contact with customers, or healthcare, for example,” she said.

A shorter workweek is also more suited to companies with a relatively homogenous workforce in terms of job roles, she said, meaning large businesses with a diverse workforce may find a short workweek complicated to roll out. At the same time, the smallest companies might not have the resources to support the shift, said Fontinha, adding that there are steps all businesses can take to implement a four-day week, even if they are more gradual.

“Having this overnight shift to a four-day working week will be hard for smaller firms,” she said. “What we suggest is a progressive reduction in working hours, moving towards a four-day working week by assessing how things are going and how needs are being met, how productive people are.”

Even if the benefits outweigh the costs for many, businesses should consider their reasons for moving to a four-day week. While a shorter week provides clear benefits to work/life balance and employee wellbeing, Brodeur-Johnson warns against adopting a four-day week as a shortcut to improving employee experience. “[T]he science is clear that what really engages people is being able to make progress in meaningful work every day; to know that they can and are succeeding,” he said.

“Employee experience peaks when we can leave work knowing that we made a difference, and had a really good day," he said. "It also comes from having a supportive manager, a supportive team environment, and feeling recognized and seen uniquely for the work that we do.

“All of these things are much harder for businesses to do for their people, because it involves behavior changes, manager development, culture changes, deeper resourcing and more that a four-day work week won’t solve on its own.”

Copyright © 2022 IDG Communications, Inc.

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Large trials include the UK 4 Day Week Global experiment with 70 companies and over 3,300 workers.

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Wouldn’t it be nice if the weekends were just a little longer?

A study is currently being conducted to determine if employees benefit more from four-day work weeks.

A movement named 4-Day Week Global has launched an experiment in Britain. For the past few months, thousands of employees have worked four days per week.

Even if there are only four days instead of five, the employees are still paid the same and expected to complete the same amount of work. The largest experiment of its sort has reportedly been conducted.

CNN reports that several employees say the new timetable has changed their lives. Everything from chores and errands to rest and relaxation is done on that extra day. But that does not imply that everything has gone smoothly.

Working fewer days means doing more work in a shorter amount of time.

The planned duration of this experiment is six months. The study includes 70 businesses and more than 3,000 employees. Researchers from Boston College, Oxford University, and Cambridge University are participating in the study.

The involved companies will decide whether to keep the shorter work week in November.

Read the full story here.

Researchers from Boston College, Oxford, and Cambridge are involved in some of these studies.

Countries and firms testing the model include Iceland, Spain, Scotland, Wales, Japan (Microsoft), New Zealand (Unilever), Belgium and various start-ups.

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Content: The 4-day work week: Who is trialing it and does it work? | World | Breaking news and perspectives from around the globe | DW | 17.02.2022

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World

The 4-day work week: Who is trialing it and does it work?

Belgium will now offer employees the opportunity to work a four-day week. Various countries and companies have experimented with the idea, which is gaining traction in many parts of the world.

Who doesn't dream of less time spent at work?

Four days working, three days relaxing with friends and family. And all this for the same money. What's not to like? Surely most employees would jump at the chance. Advocates for the four-day work week suggest that when it is implemented worker satisfaction increases, as does productivity.

Belgium will now be introducing four-day work weeks for those who want it. However, employees will not be working less. They will simply condense their hours into fewer days, if they want to. They will be allowed to decide flexibly on whether to work four or five days a week.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo hopes that the model will help to create a more dynamic economy and will make it easier for people to combine their family lives with their career. But some full-time employees will be working very long days if they choose to condense their hours. Others, like shift workers, will simply not have the option of that flexibility.

DW explores which countries and companies have already experimented with the four-day working week.

Iceland: Fewer hours at full pay

Iceland tested a similar model from 2015 and 2019. However, it reduced the working week from 40 to 35 or 36 hours and maintained pay levels. Some 2,500 people took part in the test phase.

A study by the Icelandic non-profit Alda (Association for Democracy and Sustainability) and the British think tank Autonomy found that the well-being of participants had improved significantly, working processes had been optimized and there was closer collaboration between colleagues. Productivity either stayed the same or improved.

After the test phase, trade unions and associations negotiated permanent cuts in working hours. Some 86% of employees now have the right to a four-day week.

The shorter work week is a success in Iceland, whose prime minister is Katrín Jakobsdottir

Scotland and Wales: An expensive experiment

Scotland is also currently testing the four-day work week, with the state supporting participating companies with about £10 million (ca. $13.6 million). In Wales, Sophie Howe, the future generations commissioner, has also called on the government to introduce a similar four-day working week trial, at least in the public sector.

Mixed results in Sweden

In Sweden, a four-day working week with full pay was tested in 2015, with mixed results. Even left-wing parties thought that it would be too expensive to implement this on a large scale. But some companies chose to keep reduced hours for their workers. The car firm Toyota had already decided to do this for mechanics 10 years ago and has stuck with its decision.

Watch video 02:25

Working less for the same money

Fake news from Finland

Finland also hit the international headlines for a brief moment, after reportedly cutting working hours dramatically. The northern European country allegedly wanted introduce a four-day working week, as well as a six-hour day. But it turned out that this was fake news, which the government then had to put straight.

Spain struggles to start trial phase

In Spain, the four-day working week will also be tested on request of the left-wing party Mas Pais. Some 6,000 employees of 200 small and medium-sized companies will be able to extend their weekend by one day, with full pay. The trial phase is due to run for at least one year, but it is not yet clear when it will begin.

From start-ups to corporate giants

In Germany, it is mainly smaller start-ups that are experimenting with a shorter working week. But in other countries, such as Japan, it is bigger companies that are venturing into this territory: For example, the tech giant Microsoft has experimented with the model by offering employees three-day weekends for a month.

In New Zealand, the consumer goods giant Unilever is currently trialing a four-day work week at full pay. If the experiment turns out to be a success, it will reportedly be extended to other countries.

This article was originally written in German.

Reported benefits across trials include higher productivity, improved wellbeing, reduced absenteeism, and easier hiring and retention.

Title:

Content: New normal | Will 2024 be the year of the four-day week boom? Probably not…

At one point in time, flexible working was a prime example of the benefits that truly had the power to lure and retain talent.

Those days are now behind us.

This isn’t because the prospect of working from home, or altering office hours around childcare or medical appointments isn’t still alluring. In fact, far from it. It’s because in the interim, the world experienced a massive shift. One that not only forced many businesses to adopt remote working policies or face the prospect of inactivity, but also changed the perceptions of workers about their careers, and the value of wellbeing in their working lives.

In a post-pandemic world, the concept of flexible working is largely considered a given. This is acutely true among companies that understand the persistent challenges in the talent market. So, where do we go from here? Where are those looking to push the boundaries of their benefits offering to turn? The answer is the four-day week.

You’ve likely heard the words ‘four-day week’ uttered at conferences, or read it plastered all over LinkedIn. In short, whilst there’s some variation in implementation, for most adopting a four-day week involves quite literally ditching one full working day. Employees work their normal hours, minus one fifth, and get paid the same amount for their effort.

The concept may sound ludicrous to some, yet the value of the idea goes far beyond simply being a valued benefit. Data from the largest trial ever to have taken place in the UK, as reported by Buffer, found that productivity among workers increased by 22%, job applications went up 88%, absenteeism went down by 66%. Employees are also reportedly less tired and happier.

So, we have an exciting new concept with stellar outcomes when trialled and the vast majority of businesses are yet to adopt it. Inevitably, this will be the next big thing in 2024, right? In reality, this is doubtful. Here’s why.

Whilst flexible working has been adopted en masse, let’s not forget the impetus that caused this boom – the pandemic. According to data from IPSE, the proportion of workers reporting they work exclusively at home rose from 5.7 per cent in January 2020 to 43.1 per cent in April 2020. Whilst flexible working was no new concept in early 2020, the pandemic served as the catalyst for huge change, convincing many traditionalists that ditching the nine-to-five and introducing remote working could actually work.

The pandemic was the biggest trial of such a concept in recent history. And herein lies the issue with the four-day week. Leaders need to be convinced. Yes, it’s likely that it will grow in 2024, but without a major shift in working culture to encourage those who dismiss it to give it a try, there’ll be no sudden boom. So no, 2024 will not be the ‘year of the four-day week’, but for early adopters, it could well be a vastly positive development.

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What did  the trial of 4-day workwee in New Zealand show?

The productivity  increased
The employees were happier

What has the implementation 4-day wrokweek in Dubai, UAE indicated?

Increase in productivity
Increase in work quality indicators

What did  the trial of 4-day workwee in New Zealand show?

The productivity  increased
The employees were happier

What has the implementation 4-day wrokweek in Dubai, UAE indicated?

Increase in productivity
Increase in work quality indicators

Specific findings include a 22% productivity rise reported in a large UK trial and a 40% productivity increase in Microsoft Japan's experiment.

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Content: BETA
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A Psychologist Explores The ‘Shorter Workweek Paradox’

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Have you ever wished you never had to work on a Monday? Your dream might be closer than you think. The concept of reduced working hours is gaining traction globally as organizations and governments recognize the detrimental effects of long hours on employees and employers.

This perspective is catalyzing a shift toward rethinking and reducing work hours to promote healthier life practices. For instance, the post-pandemic adoption of hybrid work models contributed to the understanding that a healthy work-life balance boosts employee satisfaction and productivity. Shorter workweeks can be achieved in different ways. For example:

  • Four-day week. Apart from the weekend, you are also given a day off on Monday or Friday.
  • Fewer daily work hours. You still have to work a five-day workweek, with a reduction in your daily working hours.
  • Half-days off. You are given two afternoons off in a five-day workweek.

What Are The Benefits Of Reduced Working Hours?

In several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden and Spain, trials have been carried out to test the efficiency of shorter workweeks, highlighting the following benefits:

  1. Improved work performance. Shorter workweeks might encourage you to finish your work quicker and with fewer distractions. In 2020, Buffer, an American company, introduced four-day weeks. Based on their extensive trials, 34% of their employees felt more productive, resulting in Buffer permanently shifting to a four-day workweek in 2021. The reduced hours also incentivize you to be creative with your time and encourage efficiency. In their 2019 four-day workweek project, Microsoft Japan initiated collaborative online communication, reduced meetings to 30 minutes and limited meeting participants. Not only were the workers happier, they also experienced a 40% increase in productivity.
  2. Improved health and well-being. Having more time to recuperate from work can positively influence your well-being. A 2022 study found that upon reducing work hours to 30 hours per week, individuals experienced reduction in stress and sleep problems. A four-day week trial conducted in the USA and Ireland showed that employees experienced a 9% reduction in fatigue and 67% also experienced a drop in burnout levels.
  3. Higher life satisfaction. Shorter work hours and more free time tend to improve one’s perception of their life situation. A study in Sweden examined the effects of reduced work hours and canceled lunch breaks for nurses while retaining their wages. The participants reported greater life satisfaction and higher energy levels. “You get a life. I can say as much. You do get it, actually—it is unbelievable what a big difference these two hours make,” a participant explained.
  4. Better work-life balance. Reduced work hours can foster a healthy balance between work and leisure activities. A study found that reducing employees’ work hours while retaining their full pay led to positive work-life balance. They experienced more positive emotions before work, reduced work-related worries and improved relationships with partners, colleagues and their children.

While reduced working hours might seem like a revolutionary idea from afar, reality may be more complex up close. Which brings us to:

What Are The Potential Pitfalls Of Reduced Working Hours?

Here’s why ditching the time-tested five-day workweek needs to be considered carefully:

  1. Monetary issues. Some companies provide shorter workweeks with salary deductions. Employees might also face issues in wage regulations and overtime pay. These can adversely impact their living standards and savings. A 2022 study found that working reduced hours left 45% of individuals worried about having low future retirement income and 33% of individuals found it harder to make ends meet.
  2. Reduced employee bonding. The time crunch to complete tasks in less time can impede social aspects of the job. Some companies also shorten lunch breaks to compensate for missed hours. In such cases, employees rarely get to meet their colleagues and miss out on social interaction.
  3. Higher work pressure. Reducing work hours can increase strain on employees when implemented without foresight. A four-day workweek trial conducted in the UK found that work felt more intense for 36% of the employees. Forty-five percent of employees also felt that their productivity either remained the same as before or decreased in comparison.
  4. Short-term effects. Extensive research on reduced working hours has yet to establish its effectiveness in the long run. A 2022 Gallup survey revealed that the high well-being once associated with four-day workweeks leveled out to match that of the five-day workweek. Four-day workweeks also led to greater burnout than five-day workweeks.

Your desire for a shorter workweek is well-founded. However, initiating a conversation about reduced work hours with your team requires tact and consideration. You must engage in open dialogue, highlighting the potential benefits and addressing concerns to ensure a healthy consensus and eventually, a smooth transition to a work environment that accommodates diverse work styles.

Working less can improve your quality of life. It’s also important to find a “psychologically safe” workplace. Learn if your employer is meeting your needs by taking the evidence-based Psychological Safety Scale.

The Henley Business School survey reported that 66% of adopters saw cost savings, 64% saw improved productivity, and 78% reported less-stressed staff.

Implementation challenges include meeting customer demands, management complexity, and limits in sectors such as healthcare or other customer-facing roles.

What did Labor economist Jonathan Boys say about 4-day workweek?

Healthcare industry may face more problems.

Other pitfalls reported include monetary concerns and worries about future retirement income, increased work intensity for some employees, and reduced social bonding.

Trials also vary between condensing hours into fewer days and reducing total weekly hours with pay maintained, which has different equity and continuity implications.

Conclusion: Trials show potential benefits for productivity and wellbeing but highlight implementation, equity, and business-continuity challenges that require sector-specific design.