Catalysing Digital Innovation Towards the SDGs: The Role of Digital Innovation Hubs
Jun 1, 2024
This paper explores the role of DIHs in the development of African digital ecosystems, their direct contribution to the SDGs, and how the work of DIHs can be strengthened to drive sustainable development.
Digital innovation has increasingly become an important driver for Africa’s social and economic development. Digital technologies are enabling solutions to address the region’s pressing social challenges and creating a growing number of economic opportunities.
At the center of this digital transformation are innovative entrepreneurs who are developing locally-led solutions towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For example, based in Kenya, Pezesha is a digital platform addressing financing gaps for SMEs; Ghana-based Agritech platform Farmerline, connects farmers to agricultural markets across West Africa and LifeBank, started in Nigeria, is known as the “Uber for blood” and delivers life-saving blood supplies to hospitals.
The emergence of these solutions is underpinned by innovation ecosystems which include actors such as investors, international development and philanthropic partners, policy makers and government actors, corporate partners, ecosystem enablers and Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs).
Still, African innovation ecosystems face structural challenges such as limited funding, skills gaps and unfavorable policy environments which is hindering the potential for digital innovations to sustainably create impact at scale. Existing research suggests that one way to promote SDG-focused digital innovation in Africa is to strengthen the innovation ecosystem by resourcing and building the capacity of DIHs.
Our study aims to understand more clearly, the role of DIHs in the development of African digital ecosystems, their direct contribution to the SDGs, and how the work of DIHs can be strengthened to drive sustainable development.