Private Sector and Development

Private companies, especially SMEs, play a pivotal role in the economic development of Sub-Saharan African countries. FERDI has established 3 chairs focused on examining the connections between the private sector and development, with a focus on the agricultural sector, digital technology, and impact investing.

AGRICULTURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN AFRICA

↪ The Chair of Agricultural modernisation policies in Africa proposes a blended finance model to reduce risks for private investors and mobilize additional funding for the African agricultural sector. This tool was presented and discussed at a conference in June 2024.

↪ On February 3, 2023, a conference was held on Private Agricultural Entrepreneurship in Africa and its Financing. the conference brought together 11 prominent figures and various stakeholders from the agricultural sector (researchers, farmers, seed companies, agro-industrialists, investors, employer organizations, funders) to exchange ideas, share experiences, and address the issue of financing private agricultural enterprises.


IMPACT OF DIGITAL ON AFRICAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

↪ On 29 and 30 November 2023, an international conference on digital trust was held at ENSEA in Abidjan. The conference, inaugurated by Nialé Kaba, Côte d'Ivoire's Minister for the Economy, Planning, and Development, provided a platform to present and discuss the findings of the book "Mobile Phones and Development in Africa: Does the Evidence Meet the Hype?" Discussions highlighted the potential of mobile telephony, the importance of digitizing SMEs, the state's utilization of digital technology for resource management, and the internet's role in democracy.

↪ Mobile Phones and Development in Africa: Does the Evidence Meet the Hype? is published by Palgrave McMillan (authors : Jenny Aker, Joël Cariolle). This book explores the influence of information technology on rural households in sub-Saharan Africa, where basic mobile phones have overtaken traditional communication and financial technologies, and offer significant development potential. 

↪ Studies are underway to assess the impact of digital connectivity on agricultural markets, household welfare, and farm productivity in the WAEMU region.


IMPACT INVESTING

 ↪ A map of impact investors operating in Africa has been created, listing over 300 investors. This initial output from the Chair was presented at an event in Abidjan on 20 June 2024.

↪  The mapping was detailed in a report entitled "Impact investing in Africa:
a 2024 analytical map". It provides an overview of the sector, clarifies the definition of impact investment, and analyses its specific characteristics in Africa.