**Key Sentences Extracted:**

1.

"Kenyan students to benefit from Sh33b Mastercard digital scheme"
2.

"Free zones may be Africa’s best chance to accelerate wealth creation"
3.

"Instability and lack of opportunity continues to result in brain-drain - drawing talent and skill away from the continent."

"SEZs (Special Economic Zones) are a solution."

"Businesses Thriving with Africa Employer of Record Services"
6.

"Using an Africa EOR provides numerous benefits for businesses looking to expand into new markets."

"Future trends to watch for include increased use of automation and AI in payroll processing and HR management, ongoing updates to labor laws and regulations, and growing demand for flexible and scalable EOR solutions to accommodate remote work and global expansion."

"MOVING INTO AFRICAN CITIES WITH A $1.6 MILLION RAISE"
9.

"The Summit should serve as the launch pad for inclusion of higher education perspectives in what is emerging as a formalized U.S.-Africa Partnerships."

"The evolution of African legal services: This means that there are opportunities for those firms, and individual lawyers, who can combine legal and management skills."

"SGS launches state-of-the-art digital operations which it plans to roll out worldwide"
12.

"Modi says Africa is top priority for India"
13.

"India is ready for the partnership and will share its capacities with the countries of Africa so that they can realise the potential to be a global economic and technological powerhouse."

"Defence has been a new area of collaboration between India and Africa."

"In the development journey of the world in this century and beyond, the voice of Africa will be crucial."

**Key Sentences Extracted:**

1.

Title:

Content: 18 NOVEMBER, 2021

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Good morning ☀

Davido, a renowned Afrobeats singer also known as OBO, raised pre-seed funding of ₦142,000,000 ($338,000) yesterday.

The round was led by angel investors who wrote check sizes starting from ₦1,000,000 ($2,380), some even going as high as ₦5,000,000 ($11,900).

Founded in 1992, the GOAT—known for good music and a charitable attitude—has announced his intention to use the funding to celebrate his founding year and expand his automobile collection.

While money didn’t fall on the GOAT per se, it definitely had no problem falling into his newly-activated Wema bank account.

TechCabal recognizes the opportunity to write a food-for-thought piece on this but we prefer to express our congratulations, and we’re quite grateful that we didn’t have to step in to save the day.

In today’s edition

  • Everything’s up at Jumia, including orders and ambitions
  • Crypto may be coming to Zanzibar
  • Moving into African cities with a $1.6 million raise

EVERYTHING’S UP AT JUMIA

On Tuesday, African e-commerce company, Jumia, released its earnings report for the third quarter of 2021.

Here are the highlights:

  • Jumia’s adjusted EBITDA and operating losses in Q3 2021 went up by 94% and 93% year-over-year to $52.5 million and $64 million, respectively.
  • Sales and advertising expenses reached $24.0 million, up 228% year-over-year, while technology and content expenses increased by 27% to $9.4 million.
  • Orders made on Jumia reached an all-time quarterly high of 8.5 million, representing a 28% year-over-year growth.
  • Annual active consumers reached 7.3 million and its gross merchandise value (GMV) reached $238 million, both up 8% year-over-year.
  • FMCG inventories is the fastest-growing category in terms of items sold while food delivery is second-fastest with over 2 million orders in Q3.
  • Jumia reached a major milestone by recording $1 million revenue from its logistics service. It delivered 2.9 million packages on behalf of 766 clients, this was a 123% increase on the 1.3 million packages that were delivered in Q2 2021.

Big Picture: One interesting part of the report highlights Jumia’s fintech ambition. In Q3, JumiaPay processed 36% of all orders on Jumia. Optimistic about this, the company has shared a roadmap to fintech-dom which includes launching payment cards, savings, insurance, and BNPL options to JumiaPay users.

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CRYPTO MAY BE COMING TO ZANZIBAR

Zanzibar is exploring ways to regulate and adopt cryptocurrency. Last week Zanzibar’s Minister of State for Economy and Investment, Mr Mudrick Soraga, said that the government is, “…seeking views on the matter before deciding whether it is viable or not” and would meet with stakeholders on the matter in the third week of November.

Crypto tourism

The government’s interest in cryptocurrency and blockchain tech could be for its tourism industry. Zanzibar is a premium, world-class, bucket-list travel destination. Its tourism industry raked in an estimated $2.6 billion in revenues in 2019.

There are a number of interesting use cases for crypto and blockchain in tourism. Last month, it was reported that Thailand’s tourism body is seriously considering developing its own digital token aimed at the upwards of 30 million (pre-pandemic) travelers that flock to the leading tourism destination each year.

What about Tanzania?

Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania.

This means that the island partially governs itself, has its own taxes, and elects its own administration. Zanzibar, however, does not issue its own currency.

That aspect of the island’s economy is run by the Bank of Tanzania (BoT). So, in order to see wide-scale cryptocurrency adoption, Zanzibar’s government will have to work with the central bank to develop a policy framework for crypto adoption. This might not be so difficult. Tanzania’s government has already demonstrated an interest in crypto with President Samia Suluhu Hassan, calling for the BoT to lay the groundwork for cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology back in June.

JOIN THE FUTURE AFRICA COLLECTIVE

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MOVING INTO AFRICAN CITIES WITH A $1.6 MILLION RAISE

Shuttlers, a logistics startup headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, has raised $1.6 million in seed funding to expand into African countries.

The investment round was led by VestedWorld, a Chicago-and-Africa-based investment firm, with Interswitch, Rising Tide Africa, Launch Africa, EchoVC, CMC 21 & Alsa, ShEquity, Five35, Consonance Investment, CcHub Syndicate, Sakore, and Nikky Taurus also participating in the raise.

Backstory: In 2016, Damilola Olokesusi founded Shuttlers to tackle the inefficient transportation system in Lagos, Africa’s most populous city. The startup was a tech-enabled bus-sharing company targeted at helping Lagosians commute in comfort at affordable rates.

At the time, Lagos was a city holding 23 million people and 90% of its transport system was road-based, with semi-formal mini buses or danfos accounting for 45% of trips while walking accounted for 40%. According to the Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority, in 2015, the city alone also accounted for 30% of the total number of road vehicles in Nigeria, with a vehicular density of 234 cars per kilometre.

With formal or public transport accounting for only 2.5 of the total network, there was space in the industry for a system that formalized commuting in affordable ways.

Cutting Lagosians Slack

When Shuttler drove into space, it didn’t have an application.

The company’s model at the time was messenger-based, using Slack, email, and WhatsApp to communicate routes and timelines to its customers. But this business model didn’t stop Shuttlers from getting customers on board, one of which was tech-talent sourcing company, Andela.

Read more: With 2 million trips and a $1.6 million raise, Shuttlers is driving past Lagos.

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OPPORTUNITIES

  • The Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership is offering a fully-funded fellowship to public health leaders in Africa. The fellowship is open to citizens of member-states of the African Union (AU) who possess post-graduate degrees and professional experience in public health. Find out more here
  • The 2021 Africa Legal Tech Innovation Awards is open to nominations for individuals championing revolution in Africa’s legal-tech space. Learn more about the awards here.
  • The Commonwealth Shared Scholarships for the 2022/2023 academic year are now open to applications from candidates in commonwealth countries seeking to pursue master’s degrees in selected courses at UK Universities. Accepted candidates will get tuition fees for the duration of their program, airfare, and living expenses of up to £1,390. Find out more here

What else we’re reading

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT #TCDAILY?

Written by – Timi Odueso & Alexandria Williams

Edited by – Kelechi Njoku

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"Kenyan students to benefit from Sh33b Mastercard digital scheme"
2.

Title:

Content: Kenyan students to benefit from Sh33b Mastercard digital scheme

Kenyan students will be among 10,000 young people from across Africa set to benefit from a $275 million (Sh33 billion) digital transformation investment programme in Africa by the MasterCard Foundation.

The foundation, in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University and the Rwandan government, has announced a partnership deal aimed at scaling up opportunities for young people from economically disadvantaged communities on the continent.

The University of Nairobi is among the universities recently added to the African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretec) and set to benefit from the partnership.

In the deal, the foundation will invest $175 (Sh21 billion) in grants to fund Carnegie Mellon University-Africa (CMU-Africa), based in Rwanda, and another $100.7 (Sh12 billion) to fund CMU-Africa’s Centre for the Inclusive Digital Transformation of Africa.

CMU-Africa, on the other hand, will expand its instructional capacity, grow the annual cohort of students by more than 33 percent and provide additional financial assistance to more students.

Some 300 students will get direct scholarship support.

The university will also run programmes to recruit and provide opportunities for marginalised groups, including women, people with disabilities and the displaced.

In his speech, Mastercard Foundation president and CEO Reeta Roy said scholars and graduates from this programme will be at the forefront of creating technologies and companies that will generate jobs and enhance Africa's economic competitiveness

“We are excited that this initiative will strengthen the role of African universities in developing the continent's scientists, innovators, and problem-solvers, as well as generating knowledge that will benefit society more broadly,” Mr Roy said.

For his part Mr Farnam Jahanian, president of Carnegie Mellon University, said the investment will provide an opportunity to 10,000 young people to gain the skills to compete in the global marketplace, innovate, design new tools that solve regional and global challenges and bring those tools to the market.

“With this new collaboration, we will accelerate our shared mission and provide life-changing educational and career experiences for students across the continent,” Mr Jahanian said.

Among the opportunities for beneficiaries, particularly young women, young people with disabilities and forcibly displaced young people, are financial assistance to enroll at CMU-Africa, research collaborations through the Afretec network of higher learning institutions and pilot programmes for English-language immersions.

They will be offered to undergraduate students from other African universities to help prepare them for graduate study.

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Which African countries are driving the venture capital ecosystem?

"Free zones may be Africa’s best chance to accelerate wealth creation"
3.

Title:

Content: Free zones may be Africa’s best chance to accelerate wealth creation

By Sylvia Brune

Co-founder of AHOY – a flight booking and concierge app – Sylvia Brune discusses why free zones may be Africa’s best chance to accelerate wealth.

Given the demand for goods and services from Africa’s growing middle classes, the continent has huge potential for growth. Over the past year, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Africa grew by 11%, bucking the global trend and potentially setting a bright precedent for the future.

Whether this upwards trend in FDI will have a positive effect on growth and wealth creation is, however, still unknown. Studies have shown that capital has little impact on an undeveloped foundation. Key components needed to enhance capital’s productivity are infrastructure (not just physical), a stable and transparent legal framework, and skilled labour.

Where these are lacking, investors into the continent have to first ‘build’ the commercial foundation, before commencing their projects. Like spending money on hiring advisors, lawyers, and accountants to navigate the various countries’ economic environments, political systems, and bureaucracy. This adds time and uncertainty to projects, acting as an effective ‘tax’ on any return on investment - meaning only projects with a very high upside will be embarked upon.

Evidence suggests that these key components are indeed lacking across most of Africa, albeit with a small handful of countries on the road to improvement.

Countries, like Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire, have made important strides to improve anti-corruption institutions. Cabo Verde and Gambia have managed to gain local trust with 85% and 84% believing their government is fundamentally sound. And Mauritius and Rwanda have made it into the top 35 countries in the world as measured by economic and personal freedom, with Mauritius marginally beating Norway in the global ranking.

The reality is, however, that corruption continues to undermine the rule of law across most of Africa (which hosts 13 of the globe’s 20 most corrupt countries). Rule of law relates to strong property rights, government integrity, and judicial effectiveness - the basis for a sound investment environment. What is even worse than corruption’s effect on FDI, though, is its effect on retaining and developing talent.

Instability and lack of opportunity continues to result in brain-drain - drawing talent and skill away from the continent. The World Bank estimates one-in-nine Africans with a tertiary education live away from Africa – a 50% growth since the mid-00s.

So, what’s the solution?

Given the long, tough road ahead towards building economically sound environments across Africa, I believe the only solution in the short run, is establishing 100s of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) throughout the continent.

For those unfamiliar with SEZs, they are areas which operate under a different legal framework to the country they inhabit – with investment-friendly laws around commercial transactions, taxes, and the protection of private property. SEZs’ advantage is that you avoid building on top of broken legacy system, instead creating a pre-packaged, investor-ready climate.

These zones have been successfully tested and run in China and the Four Tigers (Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan) to attract considerable FDI, and experience decades of double-digit growth. This format could likewise be used to boost and sustain investor interest in Africa.

SEE ALSO:

SEZs as talent hubs

While SEZs are known mostly as attractive investment environments, with conducive infrastructure and legal frameworks, the secret to their success rate is actually in their ability to attract and retain talent and skilled labour in specialised hubs.

China showed just how powerful an industry focus within SEZs can be. Because they provide a magnetic effect of highly specialised knowledge hubs - comprised of domestic, regional, and international talent.

Capital is like fuel, it’s only effective where there is a flame to throw it on. And that flame is talent.

The potential is clear, and I believe Africa has a burgeoning pool of talent waiting to be tapped into. But whether they are able to put their talents to best use, collaborate, and innovate freely is uncertain, and will determine whether they stay, or search for opportunities elsewhere.

A common hurdle, for example, is work visa rules between African countries, which means it’s easier for talent to find good opportunities outside Africa than within Africa. Talented individuals want to work alongside other talent. Similarly, talent and specialists from outside Africa face considerable barriers when trying to obtain work permits.

For example, Mr. Eazi’s emPawa Masterclass, like many creative undertakings, is dependent on bringing together the best talent. Earlier this year, emPawa struggled to bring artists, producers, and mentors together from across Africa. Due to visa rules and uncertain processing times, some were only provided with visas after the masterclass was already over, some not at all.

Here, again, SEZs are a solution. SEZs are able to receive visa allocations relating to their area of specialisation, which increases the likelihood of collaboration and innovation - which in turn attracts capital.

The Andela example

There’s plenty of evidence that talent wants to stay, provided there are the right conditions to do so. A great example is tech recruitment platform Andela, which proves that when start-ups in Africa have access to the best talent, including a global support network, and then tap into local opportunity, they can raise substantial foreign capital, and the local business community benefits as well.

Andela trains candidates for six months before pairing them with clients, many are the Fortune 500 and a number of Silicon Valley start-ups. So far, more than 90% of Andela’s first batch of alumni are still working in Nigeria.

SEZs would be able to turbocharge the work of companies like Andela. After talent has been developed, they need environments where they can make most use of their skills.

Already, countries like Mauritius, Senegal, and Rwanda have and are in the process of creating SEZs, with the view to building infrastructure, a stable legal framework, and enticing skilled labour – it’s an exciting time and I for one, am eager to see the results as more African countries follow their footsteps.

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"Instability and lack of opportunity continues to result in brain-drain - drawing talent and skill away from the continent."

"SEZs (Special Economic Zones) are a solution."

Title:

Content: Lire en français

Read this email in French.

22 FEBRUARY, 2023

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Good morning 🌞

Guess who’s ironing their voting pants?

The Nigerian elections are just two days away and everyone’s counting down to D-day, even the TikTokers!

TikTok launched a Nigeria election hub weeks ago. The hub’s got a timer ticking down to D-day, a polling unit locator, a fact-checker, a voting manual, and a bunch more juicy deets.

Here’s how TechCabal reporter, Ngozi Chukwu, used the hub to find her polling unit!

BOLT LAYS OFF 24% OF NIGERIAN STAFF

Days after pledging $530 million to creating jobs on the continent, ride-hailing platform Bolt has laid off 17 of its 70 employees in Nigeria.

The job cuts reportedly came as a surprise and affected mostly junior and mid-senior members of the operations team.

Why was it particularly surprising?

A few days ago, Bolt CEO Markus Villig pledged to invest $500 million in African operations to expand the platform and create opportunities for over 300,000 new drivers and couriers to join the platform in 2023.

Moreover, the company had told the employees that there would be an internal team restructuring and the creation of new roles and departments. Naturally, the employees were shocked to learn that 24% of the team would be laid off due to redundancies. Sources confirmed that the layoffs were indeed not performance-based.

Bolt’s severance terms include one month’s pay, three months of health insurance, and in some cases, leave allowance.

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KENYA TO BAN SALE OF NON-IPV6 DEVICES THIS YEAR

Kenya’s Communications Authority (CA) has announced its IPv4 to IPv6 migration strategy, and it’s the technical equivalent of a bouncer checking IDs at the door.

Sidebar: An IP (Internet Protocol) is like the highway for devices to communicate with each other on a network. IPv4 has been holding it down since 1983, but with the growing number of devices out there, it’s starting to hit some traffic. IPv6 is the bigger, better highway that’s here to save the day. While IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses, IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses, providing more space for devices to have their own unique addresses. IPv4 has a limit of 4.3 billion unique addresses, but with IPv6, we’re talking about approximately 3.4 x 1028 unique addresses. That means every single device can have its own unique address.

However, the uptake of IPv6 has been slow. IPv6 adoption rates for Kenya are reportedly under 8%, Uganda at 0.3 %, Tanzania at 0.11%, Rwanda at 6.34 %, and Burundi and South Sudan at 0%. Per Techweez, Kenya’s CA is taking regulatory measures to change the tides such as banning the sale of mobile phones, computers, printers, and scanners that don’t have IPv6 capability from July 2023. That means no more devices with old-school IPv4 addresses will be sold, including mobile phones, computers, printers, and scanners.

According to the CA, if more Kenyans don’t hop on the IPv6 train, the ICT sector will experience slow internet speeds and delayed tech advances.

SONATEL FALLS VICTIM TO $200,000 HACK

Senegalese telco leader Sonatel, recently, discovered a hack in its systems that cost it CFA143 million ($200,000).

According to Africa Cybersecurity Magazine, infamous hacker Massa Diouf infiltrated the company’s system and transferred amounts totalling $200,000 via mobile money app Andadoo.

Sonatel discovered the hack in January of this year and initiated an internal audit that led to the discovery of Diouf’s hacks.

The investigation also led the company to Orange money reseller Oulimata Diagne to whom Diouf had reportedly transferred the money. Upon her arrest, Diagne denied collaborating with Diouf to defraud Sonatel, but confessed to helping him resell the currency.

At this moment, it is unclear whether Diouf has been apprehended.

In more fraud and hacking news: In anglophone West Africa, the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB) is probing two banks—Zenith and Guaranty Trust Bank—for allegations of data breach. According to the NDBP, Nigerian banks haven’t taken data protection as seriously as they should with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) suffering 46,126 attacks by hackers within nine months—91% of which were successful.

RWANDA PLANS TO CONNECT 3,000 SCHOOLS TO THE INTERNET

According to Paula Ingabire, Rwanda’s Minister for ICT and Innovation, the country plans to connect 3,000 schools to the internet by 2024.

The project will be financed by the China Exim Bank and the World Bank.

An urgent problem to solve

According to Ingabire, 41%—about 3,000—of Rwanda’s 6,756 schools are not connected to the internet.

The Rwandan government plans to connect all the remaining schools to the internet under the Smart Education Project.

With over 3.54 million internet users, Rwanda’s internet penetration stands at 31% as per 2020 figures, much lower than Morocco’s 84% or South Africa’s 68%. This project should improve that number, and see more Rwandans gaining access to the internet.

EVENT: AUSTINSPIRE BUSINESS INCUBATION CENTRE

The AUSTInspire Business Incubation Centre in collaboration with @cchubnigeria is bringing innovation to the African University of Science and Technology through an AfDB-funded project.

As it officially opens the doors to the innovation ecosystem, the Centre looks forward to driving innovation and supporting startups in Africa.

Join the launch by 10 AM (WAT) today, Wednesday, February 22, at the NNPC hall, African University of Science and Technology (AUST) in Abuja, Nigeria.

For more information please call Joy Sani on +234 901 936 3183.

IN OTHER NEWS FROM TECHCABAL

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OPPORTUNITIES

  • The 100x Impact Accelerator is open to applications from impact-driven social enterprises that work across eight sectors including health, climate and education. Selected enterprises will receive £150,000 grants and access to LSE’s world-class expertise, plus a 12-week programme of bespoke support from experts and social unicorn founders. Register by March 10.
  • Do you have what it takes to become the next supplier to leading South African enterprises in the furniture sector? Apply for the 2023 eThekwini Furniture Cluster Acceleration Programme. Apply by February 28.
  • The Jasiri Talent Investor Programme is looking for highly driven individuals with a history of achievement and/or entrepreneurial action who aspire to launch a high-growth venture. Apply by April 23.
  • The Catalyst Fund makes grants between $2,500–$15,000 to anyone, anywhere in the world who has an early-stage idea or project that addresses pressing global challenges. Apply by February 28.
  • The Growth Africa Accelerator Programme is calling for applications from ambitious and committed entrepreneurs from Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia or Ghana with the potential to grow and create impact through their businesses. Apply now.
  • The African Development Bank’s Fashionomics Africa is seeking African fashion, textile, apparel and accessories entrepreneurs and businesses. Apply by February 22.
  • Applications are now open for the Nigeria Media Innovation Programme’s (NAMIP’s) Sustainability Challenge. Winners will be awarded up to $50,000 for their project and join NAMIP’s innovation and capacity building program that extends up till 2024. Apply by February 28.
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Edited by – Timi Odueso

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"Businesses Thriving with Africa Employer of Record Services"
6.

Title:

Content: Businesses Thriving with Africa Employer of Record Services

      Comments Off on Businesses Thriving with Africa Employer of Record Services

As the global economy continues to evolve, businesses are increasingly looking to expand their operations into new and emerging markets. Africa, with its diverse economies and growing market potential, presents a wealth of opportunities for international businesses. However, expanding into new territories comes with its own set of challenges, particularly when it comes to navigating complex legal and regulatory landscapes. Employer of Record (EOR) services offer a solution to these challenges, enabling businesses to establish a presence in Africa efficiently and compliantly.

Understanding Africa Employer of Record Services

An Employer of Record (EOR) is a third-party organization that serves as the legal employer for a company’s workforce in a foreign country. This arrangement allows businesses to hire employees in a new market without having to establish a legal entity in that location. The EOR takes on the responsibilities and liabilities associated with employment, including payroll processing, tax compliance, benefits administration, and adherence to local labor laws. This enables companies to focus on their core business activities while ensuring legal compliance and mitigating risks.

The primary difference between an EOR and traditional employment is that the EOR becomes the legal employer of the workers, although the client company retains control over their day-to-day activities and job responsibilities. This arrangement provides a seamless and efficient solution for international hiring, particularly in regions with complex regulatory environments.

Key Benefits of Using Africa EOR Services

Using an Africa EOR provides numerous benefits for businesses looking to expand into new markets. These benefits include simplified market entry, cost efficiency, legal compliance, access to a skilled workforce, scalability, and enhanced payroll and tax management. Global EOR providers help global businesses seamlessly hire and pay remote professionals with compliant recruitment solutions.

Simplified Market Entry

One of the primary advantages of using an Africa EOR is the simplified market entry it offers. Setting up a legal entity in a foreign country can be a time-consuming and expensive process, involving extensive paperwork, regulatory approvals, and compliance with local laws. An EOR provider acts as the legal employer for your workforce, allowing you to enter new markets quickly and efficiently without the need to establish a legal entity. This enables businesses to focus on their core activities and strategic goals while the EOR handles all employment-related matters.

Cost Efficiency

Expanding into a new market often involves significant operational costs, including setting up offices, hiring staff, and managing compliance requirements. EOR solutions can help reduce these costs by providing a cost-effective alternative to establishing a legal entity. The EOR provider manages all employment-related expenses, including payroll, taxes, benefits, and compliance, allowing businesses to optimize their resources and allocate funds to other critical areas of their operations. By outsourcing employment management to an EOR provider, businesses can concentrate on their core activities and strategic initiatives, driving growth and profitability.

Legal Compliance

Navigating the complex legal and regulatory landscape of a new country can be challenging. Labor regulations in Africa can vary significantly from one country to another, making it difficult for businesses to stay compliant. EOR providers have in-depth knowledge of local labor laws and ensure that all employment practices adhere to these regulations, reducing the risk of legal issues and penalties. EOR providers are responsible for ensuring that all employment practices comply with local labor laws and regulations. This includes managing employment contracts, handling terminations, and ensuring that employee benefits and entitlements are in line with legal requirements. By partnering with an EOR provider, businesses can mitigate the risks associated with non-compliance and focus on their strategic goals.

Access to a Skilled Workforce

Africa is home to a large and diverse talent pool, with a growing number of skilled professionals in various sectors. The continent’s workforce is young, vibrant, and increasingly educated, making it an attractive destination for businesses looking to tap into new talent pools. EOR providers can help businesses access this talent pool by facilitating the recruitment and hiring of skilled professionals in the target market. By hiring local talent, businesses can benefit from the expertise and knowledge of professionals who understand the local market, culture, and business environment. This can lead to better decision-making, improved customer relations, and enhanced business performance. EOR providers can assist with the recruitment and onboarding of local talent, ensuring that businesses have access to the right skills and expertise.

Scalability

One of the key advantages of using an EOR provider is the ability to scale operations up or down quickly and efficiently. Whether a business needs to hire additional staff to meet growing demand or downsize due to changing market conditions, EOR providers offer the flexibility to adjust the workforce as needed. This scalability is particularly valuable in dynamic and rapidly changing markets. EOR providers offer flexible contract terms and conditions, allowing businesses to tailor their employment arrangements to meet their specific needs. This includes options for short-term, long-term, and project-based contracts, as well as the ability to adjust employee benefits and compensation packages. This flexibility enables businesses to respond to market changes and optimize their workforce.

Enhanced Payroll and Tax Management

Managing payroll and taxes in a foreign country can be complex and fraught with risks. EOR providers handle payroll processing, tax withholding, and filing, ensuring accuracy and compliance with local tax laws. This not only reduces the administrative burden on businesses but also minimizes the risk of costly errors and penalties. EOR providers use advanced payroll systems to ensure consistent and accurate payroll calculations, reducing manual intervention and minimizing the risk of errors and discrepancies. These systems are scalable, accommodating growing workforces, which is essential for businesses expanding their operations in Africa.

How EOR Services Help Businesses Thrive

The benefits of using an Africa EOR extend beyond simplified market entry, cost efficiency, legal compliance, access to a skilled workforce, scalability, and enhanced payroll and tax management. EOR services can also help businesses thrive in the African market by providing ongoing support, fostering employee satisfaction and retention, and enabling businesses to adapt to changing market conditions.

Ongoing Support

EOR providers offer ongoing support to ensure that businesses remain compliant with local labor laws and regulations. This includes regular compliance checks, updates on regulatory changes, and ongoing support for payroll and HR management. The EOR provider also works closely with the client to address any concerns or issues that may arise, providing businesses with peace of mind and allowing them to focus on their core activities.

Employee Satisfaction and Retention

Attracting and retaining top talent requires offering competitive employee benefits. EOR providers can help businesses design and manage comprehensive benefits packages that meet local market standards and employee expectations. This includes health insurance, retirement plans, paid leave, and other perks that enhance employee satisfaction and retention. By ensuring that employees receive competitive benefits and support, businesses can foster a positive work environment and improve employee retention.

Adapting to Changing Market Conditions

As businesses grow and evolve, their employment needs may change. EOR providers offer the flexibility to adapt to these changing needs by providing customized solutions that align with the client’s strategic goals. This includes offering support for new market entry, managing remote teams, and addressing compliance requirements in different countries. By partnering with an EOR provider, businesses can remain agile and responsive to market changes, ensuring long-term success in the African market.

Future Trends in Africa EOR Services

The EOR industry is continually evolving, driven by technological advancements and changing business needs. Future trends to watch for include increased use of automation and AI in payroll processing and HR management, ongoing updates to labor laws and regulations, and growing demand for flexible and scalable EOR solutions to accommodate remote work and global expansion.

Technological Advancements

Increased use of automation and AI in payroll processing and HR management is transforming the EOR industry. Advanced technology enables EOR providers to streamline processes, improve accuracy, and enhance compliance. This includes the use of AI-powered tools for payroll calculations, tax filing, and HR analytics. Cloud-based solutions are also becoming more prevalent, providing real-time access to payroll data and reports, enhancing data security, and ensuring compliance with local regulations.

Regulatory Changes

Ongoing updates to labor laws and regulations require EOR providers to stay agile and informed. As governments in Africa continue to update and revise labor laws, EOR providers must ensure compliance with these changes. This includes staying updated on regulatory developments and providing guidance to clients to ensure ongoing compliance.

Evolving Business Needs

Growing demand for flexible and scalable EOR solutions to accommodate remote work and global expansion is shaping the future of the industry. Businesses are increasingly seeking EOR services that offer flexibility and scalability to adapt to changing market conditions and business needs. Integration of payroll systems with HR and financial management platforms is also becoming more common, enhancing data accuracy, efficiency, and compliance.

Final Thoughts

Expanding into a new market is a significant undertaking that requires careful planning and consideration. Legal compliance, payroll management, and access to a skilled workforce are critical aspects of this process. By leveraging the services of an Africa Employer of Record, businesses can ensure compliance with local laws, reduce legal risks, and focus on their core activities.

As the EOR industry continues to evolve, businesses that stay informed and adapt to new trends will be well-positioned to capitalize on the opportunities Africa has to offer. Whether you are entering a new market or expanding your existing operations, EOR services provide the support and expertise needed to succeed in the diverse and dynamic markets of Africa.

Which sectors received the most foreign investment?

"Using an Africa EOR provides numerous benefits for businesses looking to expand into new markets."

"Future trends to watch for include increased use of automation and AI in payroll processing and HR management, ongoing updates to labor laws and regulations, and growing demand for flexible and scalable EOR solutions to accommodate remote work and global expansion."

"MOVING INTO AFRICAN CITIES WITH A $1.6 MILLION RAISE"
9.

What trends are emerging for African startups in 2022?

"The Summit should serve as the launch pad for inclusion of higher education perspectives in what is emerging as a formalized U.S.-Africa Partnerships."

Title:

Content: Africa: Bringing African Universities into the U.S.-Africa Partnership

Group photo of leaders at the concluding afternoon of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, DC
analysis

In the aftermath of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington DC, what are the university perspectives in what is emerging as an institutional framework for U.S.-Africa relations? One thing is incontestable. Scholars and researchers at universities have their work cut out given the many ground-breaking pledges and commitments that have been made.

The Biden-Harris administration's commitment of $55 billion from the U.S. government to the African Union and African governments is the most consequential. Those who have downplayed the figure as too small for a 55-nation continent do not consider the fact that even just $1 billion per each of the 55 African nations would go a long way given squeezed budgetary deficits across the continent.

Already media coverage shows this figure being read in geopolitical competition terms – that the U.S. is looking to counter China. Most Africa-U.S. scholars will be keenly following this development. We can expect a couple of journal papers and masters and PhD theses in the next couple of months and years based on the Summit.

The "university community" will also be analysing the implications of key agreements and action plans. The establishment of the President's Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement (PAC-ADE) is, for instance, good raw material for scholars in the fields of race relations, history, black studies, and international relations.

The launch of the Digital Transformation with Africa Initiative will draw interest from scholars from the fields of information and technology scholars (how do the technologies align in technical terms), economics and finance (what are the business models and impacts), and international politics (what does this mean for China's huge ICT infrastructure investments?).

The announcement of the African Democratic and Political Transitions (ADAPT) initiative will attract political scientists. The other pledges and developments will equally fire up acknowledge production in universities.

The higher education aspects of the ramped-up Africa-U.S. partnership are conspicuously absent.

While the statecraft involved in the structuring and shaping the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit is a resource for the academia, it is clear that more could be done. If you observe the schedules and pledges, you realise that the missing link is that higher education aspects of the ramped-up Africa-U.S. partnership were the mixing link and are conspicuously absent. African and American universities can, however, not overly begrudge governments for not getting onto the agenda.

First, it appears universities did not lobby enough, as did other interest groups, for inclusion in the schedule of activities. (For this reason, there is no single action point expressly directed toward university partnerships.)

Secondly, it may be assumed that in their teaching and research roles and responsibilities, universities already feature in the work that governments, civil society, and businesses do, albeit indirectly. It might not therefore have occurred to the planners of the Summit that higher education needs specialized treatment even as it is part of the whole.

Thirdly, university-based scholars often follow developments from other sectors of society given that they need the fodder from which they can undertake research and teaching projects. The implication is that professors and students at universities would be relevant to the Summit anyway!

The Summit should serve as the launch pad for inclusion of higher education perspectives in what is emerging as a formalized U.S.-Africa Partnerships.

For these reasons, the Summit should serve as the launch pad for inclusion of higher education perspectives in what is emerging as a formalized U.S.-Africa Partnerships. The approach towards this is to consolidate the university partnerships already in place. Thus, the creation of an Africa-US universities network as a matter of urgency is a critical starting point. However, the creation of such a network does not need to start from scratch for at four reasons.

First, well over 40 universities in the U.S. have African studies centres which have long histories of association with their African counterparts. Second, the U.S. government and various foundations have been engaged with African universities over the years through scholarships and exchanges, of which the Fulbright scholarship and the University Partnerships Initiative are exemplars. Third, in the U.S., there hundreds of Historically Black Colleges and Universities which have a natural affinity to and with Africa. Fourth, American studies centres are being launch in Africa.

Since the establishment of the African Centre for the Study of the U.S. at Wits University in South Africa in 2018, the universities of Pretoria and Nairobi have since launched similar centres with at least eight other universities set to follow suit in 2023 and beyond.

If there is a strategic approach that can be gleaned from the above factors, it is that the building blocks for the inclusion of universities in the emerging partnership are in place. What is left is for key actors within the universities to put their heads together and present their ideas to the relevant U.S. and African authorities and agencies. This further suggests that the universities would have to speak with one voice, even though academia by its very nature is a site for scholarly contestations, disciplinary rivalries, and institutional competitions.

An Africa-U.S. universities network would be a critical component of the broader partnership.

An Africa-U.S. universities network would be a critical component of the broader partnership in terms of research, teaching, knowledge sharing, public engagements, and exchanges across disciplines. First, some of the best ideas for tackling pressing challenges such as climate change and poverty, can be generated from collaborative research. Stakeholders would have to invest in the resources for university-based research to ramp up.

Second, we may assume that students who constitute the future of the partnership understand both regions, but the reality is that there are huge knowledge gaps on either side. Third, it is evident, and let's be clear, many African universities face serious financial problems that have hampered their contribution to society. American universities would have to be magnanimous to share their intellectual resources with African counterparts. But American universities too have their own problems to grapple with. Ultimately governments have to step in if universities are to be involved in the partnership(s).

In seeking to be part of what might be a historic turning point in U.S.-Africa relations, university leaders would have to tap contacts within the U.S. and African governments. On the U.S. front, a key ally would be Ambassador Johnnie Carson who has been appointed as Special Presidential Representative for U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Implementation.

Dr Wekesa is Deputy Director at the African Centre for the Study of the US, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.

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Which countries are actively investing in Africa besides China?

Title:

Content: / 30 Aug 2023

Modi says Africa is top priority for India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

In a question and answer session with the Mail & Guardian, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expands on the fast-growing country’s relationship with Africa, and the push for the AU to become a member of the G20.

India has a long history of partnership and solidarity with Africa. How do you see this relationship evolving further?

You are absolutely correct. India and the great nations of Africa are connected through the golden threads of history, bound by a spirit of camaraderie and shared resilience against the shadows of colonialism. There is a deep sense of mutual admiration.

Mahatma Gandhi first fought against colonial oppression and apartheid in Africa and then led India’s freedom struggle. His ideals inspired Nelson Mandela in his struggles as well.

India’s freedom struggle inspired the independence struggles in the global south, especially in Africa.

In earlier times, our bonds were strengthened thanks to this shared struggle against colonial rule. Today, as we stand shoulder to shoulder. It is the shared aspiration for prosperity, and inclusive and sustainable development that lights the path forward, intertwining our futures ever more closely.

In modern times, India has demonstrated its strong commitment to the countries in Africa and has shared its capacities; development experience based on the needs and priorities of the countries of the continent.

I believe that Africa has the capacity and the ability to contribute to the global good. If we listen to their voices and ensure representation, the countries of Africa can make an immense contribution to global growth and development.

When I became the prime minister of India, one of the earliest summits that I hosted was the India-Africa Summit in New Delhi in 2015. It was remarkable that leaders of the 54 countries of Africa had joined. I will always cherish this historic summit.

Not many people know that in 2017, I hosted the meeting of the African Development Bank in Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat in India. It was the first time that the bank held such a meeting outside Africa. Our institutions learnt a lot from these exchanges.

After India took over the presidency of the G20, one of the first events we hosted was the Voice of the Global South Summit. Here, 125 partner countries, a large number of them from the African continent, participated and shared their priorities. It was only after that we set the agenda for our presidency.

I have personally taken the initiative to give the African Union full membership of the G20. I remain confident that we will realise this during the forthcoming G20 summit.

We have a strong partnership in various areas of human endeavour that include trade, investment, defence, energy and health, among others. Trade with Africa stands at around $100 billion. Our investments are touching $80 billion.

We have a robust development partnership. Human resource capacity building and skill development programmes have benefited more than 37 000 people in the past decade or so. We have committed over $12 billion in developing capacities in the fields of agriculture, health, education, power generation and infrastructure development, among others. Our development partnership model is unique as it is based on the needs and priority of our partner countries.

The true test of our enduring partnership is that we have stood with each other in the times of need. During the challenging Covid times, we worked together to supply vaccines and essential medicine for the people of Africa.

We have partnered in establishing pan-Africa networks for tele-education and tele-medicine.

This year, in April, we set up the offshore campus of the National Forensic Science University in Uganda. Last month, we set up the offshore campus of the premier Indian Institute of Technology at Zanzibar in Tanzania. These will serve educational needs, especially in the areas of science, technology engineering and innovation of the entire region.

Africa has great potential. Most of the countries are experiencing high rates of growth. India, with her ancient roots and youthful spirit, is ascending on the global stage. Together, we can weave a tapestry of shared aspirations and dreams, destined to illuminate the annals of history with tales of mutual prosperity.

At the Brics Outreach Summit, I had the opportunity to reflect on the future potential of cooperation and collaboration between India and Africa. The sky is the limit.

India is a growing economy and is projected to be the third-largest economy before the end of this decade.  How can Africa benefit from this? Beyond the conventional areas of political relations, trade and commerce, what are the new areas of collaboration that India can offer to Africa?

In the past 10 years, we have moved from being the 10th biggest to being the fifth largest global economy. But, we are not just that. The world over, India is seen as a global bright spot — a nation that can enhance global prosperity.

And, I assure you we are not content with these great jumps — our people are powering India towards becoming the third largest economy in a few years.

India is now considered as the country with the largest population in the world. But not many realise that we are not only the largest in terms of population, we are also young in terms of demography. So, we are a unique combination of being the fastest growing emerging economy with a very young population. This will remain our great strength in the coming times.

We have already seen that our youth has made India a home of digital innovations and solutions. The Indian youth is synonymous with success in information technology, bio-sciences, robotics and informatics.

Last week, our space journey took us to the moon. Our Chandrayaan successfully landed at the South pole of the moon, where no one has ever gone before. What many did not see, was that our young scientists constituted a very strong part of this mission.

Today, India is the third-largest start-up ecosystem in the world. We have over 100 unicorns and nearly 100 000 registered startups. These numbers will grow in the future.

India has the ability to create unique and scalable solutions to problems. The digital public infrastructure, the India Stack, is promoting e-governance, financial inclusion, transparency and efficiency. We have been able to ensure public service delivery to the last mile. We have plugged leakages of billions of dollars.

India is moving ahead on its ambitious programme for 500 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030. We are working towards increasing solar, wind, biofuels, nuclear, hydrogen and other sources in our energy mix.

Africa is an aspirational continent. We welcome its vision to modernise and industrialise through the ambitious Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

India is ready for the partnership and will share its capacities with the countries of Africa so that they can realise the potential to be a global economic and technological powerhouse.

Given the shared nature of challenges and the development journey, I strongly believe that the innovations and solutions that are developed in India can be easily replicated in the countries in Africa. These include those in digital, health, renewable, agriculture and other sectors.

India is ready to work on challenges that affect the planet. The initiatives for strengthening food security are a priority for all of us.

Africa has significant land for production of various products. Both sides can build partnerships between the public and private sectors to invest in agriculture production and the agro-industry. It will not only promote food security, but also generate large scale employment. It will bring prosperity to the people and enable the African economies to move up the value chain through the creation of agro-processing facilities.

The 3.5 million Indian diaspora in Africa constitute a strong bond of friendship between India and the region. I am sure that the youth of India would be excited to work with the youth of Africa to forge a partnership that will be a force for the global good.

I would like to reiterate that India shall remain an enduring partner for Africa in its development journey of realising its aspirations.

India assisted Africa during Covid and supported it during the natural calamities it has been facing. What is your perspective on that?

This is what true friends are for. And, it is a part of our Indian value system and that we never leave our friends alone at the time of their needs.

We are proud of our longstanding friendship with the people of Africa and consider it our duty to stand with the people of Africa in meeting their needs for vaccines and medicine during one of the most challenging times of a lifetime.

When regional geopolitical tensions and disruption in supply chains was creating food shortages, we stepped in to supply food grains to several African countries.

We are privileged to have been the first responder in extending humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in times of crisis, including in Mozambique, Madagascar and Malawi.

True friendships are tested during the time of need. And, I am confident that we shall win the test of friendship every single time.

Defence has been a new area of collaboration between India and Africa. How do you see India-Africa defence relations progressing?

India is connected to the East coast of the African continent through the Indian Ocean. Therefore, our defence, security and maritime interests are intertwined.

In 2015, during my visit to Mauritius, I spoke about Sagar — Security and Growth for All in the Region. This vision defines our approach towards defence and maritime security while working with our partners in Africa.

There is mutual desire to further enhance defence cooperation that is driven by common security challenges, threat perceptions, and a collective commitment to work towards the security and stability of the region.

Today, defence cooperation has emerged as an important pillar in India-Africa relations. Two India-Africa defence conclaves have been held in 2020 and 2022. This year, in March, we conducted the first joint Army Chiefs Conclave.

We are cooperating with several countries in the region in providing training and capacity building. We hold joint exercises too.

The Indian Navy has emerged as a security provider in the Western Indian Ocean Region, offering timely delivery of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief during emergencies.

India has contributed to enhancing the defence capabilities of African countries, including by providing reliable and affordable military hardware like patrol craft and light helicopters.

It is not just about supplying equipment. India is committed to empowering African states to indigenously meet their military requirements by sharing expertise and knowledge in defence manufacturing, research, and development. India has assisted countries like Nigeria and Tanzania in setting up defence academies and providing them with instructors and training material.

India is among those few countries that contribute troops in large numbers to the UN peacekeeping operations in Africa. Nearly 5 000 Indian personnel, including women, are serving in these peacekeeping operations. Our troops have also made supreme sacrifices for furthering peace, security and stability in this part of the world.

India is increasingly becoming a space power. What lessons can Africa draw out of it?

I think you are asking this question after the success of India’s Chandrayaan Mission. It has made people all around the world very happy.

I had said in my remarks after the success of the mission that this success is also dedicated to all developing countries around the world. I believe that it will act as a source of inspiration that if India can realise its dreams, the rest of the developing world can also achieve their dreams.

I know many countries in Africa have their aspirations for developing a space programme as part of the AU’s Agenda 2063.

I assure them that India stands ready to share its experience and help in various ways.

As the Chair of G20, where does Africa figure in India’s priority?

Africa is of top priority. In the development journey of the world in this century and beyond, the voice of Africa will be crucial.

Since India assumed the presidency of the G20, we have worked with the motto “One Earth, One Family, One Future”. It has been our priority to bring the concerns, priorities and aspirations of the global south, including the countries of Africa, to the forefront of the G20 agenda.

We believe that we need to hear the voices who are affected the most by the decisions that are taken in the G20.

We started our presidency with the Voice of Global South Summit in January where 47 African countries participated and shared their thoughts. It helped us to frame the agenda of our presidency. We have made a lot of progress in the past nine months and have been able to impress upon our partners within G20 the importance of taking into consideration the priorities of the developing world.

We have strongly advocated for permanent membership for the AU in G20. This stems from our belief that Africa should be given its due. And, I am confident that we will achieve this during our presidency.

Proper representation to Africa in global institutions would help us achieve inclusive sustainable global growth and development.

"The evolution of African legal services: This means that there are opportunities for those firms, and individual lawyers, who can combine legal and management skills."

Title:

Content: The evolution of African legal services

By Carrie Davies

With Africa being a diverse place where no two countries run the same Carrie Davies, Gowling WLG discusses the evolution of the African legal services.

In many parts of Africa, increasing commercial investment, combined with major infrastructure and natural resource-focused developments, have supported the growth of the legal services sector. The speed of development, as well as its multidimensional nature, means that investors and governments increasingly demand complex legal and professional support. Ensuring delivery of advice in an efficient and holistic manner, however, comes down to more than technical legal skills.  Successfully co-ordinating the advice, and the legal advisors involved in giving it, requires excellent management skills.

The legal services sector in the UK has been relatively slow to recognise the importance of management skills in the profession, but a number of law schools are now incorporating management training as a core part of their programmes. This is a direct response both to client demands on firms, and to the requirements of running law firms themselves, in today's fast-paced commercial environment.

Increasingly complex transactions mean that lawyers are expected to go beyond providing technical legal advice, to working alongside clients in various aspects of their businesses. This includes co-ordinating the inputs of other professional services into deals, and demonstrating a comprehensive appreciation of wider macro-economic or industry-specific factors that have a bearing on any legal work. Managers at client businesses expect to be able to engage with their legal advisers on various levels, and for lawyers understand commercial, as well as purely legal, issues.

New entrants into the legal services sector are challenging the traditional structure of law firms. This is resulting in law firms needing to expand their service offerings. Firms are also beginning to recognise that promoting those who are technical experts, or consummate rain-makers, does not necessarily equate to promoting those who are best equipped to develop teams and manage the business of a firm.

In the UK, some firms have been relatively slow to acknowledge the importance of management skills for lawyers. The traditional nature of legal practice means that there is sometimes resistance, particularly among more established lawyers, whose careers have focussed on developing detailed technical knowledge of their particular practice area. This means that there are opportunities for those firms, and individual lawyers, who can combine legal and management skills.

In many jurisdictions in Africa, lack of management skills is a major constraint to business development. For forward-thinking African lawyers looking to differentiate themselves and grow their practice, combining technical expertise and management capability will set them apart.

SEE ALSO:

One way in which firms in Africa might consider developing the lawyer-manager of the future is engaging with law schools to include management training in law programmes. By incorporating management skills as part of an overall training package, these become embedded as a core competency, rather than a 'nice to have', by the time junior lawyers qualify and begin practicing.  This will benefit firms themselves, and their clients.

Training is only part of the solution, however. Experience in the UK shows that lawyers who want to develop their management skills benefit from a range of opportunities requiring them to step out of their technical, legal, comfort zones. This might take the form of client secondments that allow legal professionals to get under the skin of an industry, as well as to develop a closer relationship with a particular client, or pro-bono work that allows junior lawyers to manage a particular matter or case, and thus develop their skills. At the same time, firms might consider adapting their motivation and reward structures to take account of the changing needs of the market. Finally, taking advantage of the offering of training from international partner firms is vital as this can include opportunities for exchange visits; co-working is a great way to develop lawyer-managers, as it offers new scenarios that challenge and strengthen fee earner skills sets.

Law firms in Africa can derive opportunity from clients' challenges that arise from lack of skilled managers. By providing the skills of lawyer-managers, firms have a unique opportunity to get alongside clients and become trusted advisers, securing a lasting and mutually beneficial relationship. This may require lawyers to reconsider their traditional roles, but there are long-term benefits for firms, clients and the lawyers themselves.

For more information on business topics in the Middle East and Africa, please take a look at the latest edition of Business Chief MEA.

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"SGS launches state-of-the-art digital operations which it plans to roll out worldwide"
12.

"Modi says Africa is top priority for India"
13.

Which Asian countries are investing in Africa?

Which countries are actively investing in Africa besides China?

Europe, U.S. Japan, South Korea, India
India

"India is ready for the partnership and will share its capacities with the countries of Africa so that they can realise the potential to be a global economic and technological powerhouse."

Which Asian countries are investing in Africa?

Which countries are actively investing in Africa besides China?

Europe, U.S. Japan, South Korea, India
India

"Defence has been a new area of collaboration between India and Africa."

Which Asian countries are investing in Africa?

Which countries are actively investing in Africa besides China?

Europe, U.S. Japan, South Korea, India
India

"In the development journey of the world in this century and beyond, the voice of Africa will be crucial."