4 ways Africa can prepare its youth for the digital economy

More than ever, it is vital for Africa to prepare her youth for the digital economy and the future of work. The World Development Report 2019 notes that the labour market of the future will require new skills including digital fluency, creative thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, empathy and adaptability. With these new demands in place, it would be remiss of Africa not to strengthen her biggest asset: the youth who make up around 60% of the continent’s population.

Appropriate action will help the continent to harness this promising demographic dividend. Furthermore, a proactive stance is likely to reduce the risk of massive labour substitution and endemic unemployment, while enabling the continent to leverage the new entrepreneurial and economic opportunities associated with the digital economy.

Although countries like Rwanda and Kenya are already making considerable progress in preparing their youth for the digital economy and the future of work, more African countries are yet to take meaningful action to address the yawning skills-gap and digital infrastructure inadequacies bedevilling the continent. Here are four strategies African nations should use to prepare their youth for the digital economy and the future of work:

1. Creating responsive education systems

This entails reviewing and updating the education curricula at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Equipping youth with technical skills like digital fluency will empower them to assume responsibilities like coding and virtual designing, which will be in demand in the digital economy. Other African nations might draw lessons from Kenya’s Secondary School Practical Open-source Curriculum (SPOC) which is training high school students to code. In addition, soft skills like creativity and adaptability will enable young people to thrive in a fast-paced digital economy in which employment will likely be more about brief online tasks than long-term onsite jobs.

2. Formulating policies for the digital economy

Given the uncertainties of the technological revolution and the consequent susceptibility of the digital economy to cyber-crime and monopolies, African nations must formulate regulatory policies that keep stakeholders in check. Such policies will help to create an environment in which young people’s digital enterprises can grow, and in which appropriate education and employment opportunities will be accessible to all young people. Policies that promote life-long education in organisations are also critical in helping our youth easily adapt to volatile environments. In addition, formulating digital policies is vital for African nations to guard against situations where young people are the perpetrators or victims of data theft and invasion of privacy, among other ethical issues plaguing the digital space. African nations should, however, be careful not to stifle creativity, innovation and warranted freedoms in this process of regulating the digital economy.

3. Expanding digital infrastructure

Developing nationwide digital infrastructure, especially fibre optic networks, and improving access to electricity and digital devices may help to improve connectivity within African nations. This will enable more young people, including those in rural areas, to access high-speed internet as they acquire and utilise new skills - thereby alleviating inequalities and optimising shared prosperity in a digital economy. The Icyerekezo broadband satellite launched by Rwanda in February this year is a good example of expanding digital infrastructure - and which can be emulated by other African nations. Expanding digital infrastructure is particularly important because, compared to other continents, Africa has the poorest internet connectivity.

4. Optimising public-private cooperation

Collaboration between governments, multinational development banks and the private sector will create room for innovative financial models which promote upskilling among Africa’s youth. This will also reduce inequalities caused by duplication of efforts, especially when establishing digital infrastructure in African nations. Public-private cooperation will therefore enable more young Africans to access training programmes and digital infrastructure.

If African nations do adopt the above-outlined strategies, they will enhance the chances of Africa’s youth to prosper in the digital economy and the future of work. With a well-prepared young population, it will be possible for Africa to leapfrog into prosperity and make progress towards achieving the African Union’s Agenda 2063 programme, which aims to transform Africa into a global powerhouse. Implementing the proposed strategies will, however, require genuine political will and unwavering commitment on the part of African governments and their citizens.