Africa faces a pressing unemployment challenge, particularly among youth. As of 2024, the continent’s youth unemployment rate stands at over 30%, with more than 12 million young people entering the labour force each year, but only 3 million formal jobs created annually. SMEs already account for 80% of employment in many African countries, yet their growth is constrained by limited entrepreneurial capacity, skills gaps, and weak enabling ecosystems. In this context, investing in entrepreneurial skills is not only a development imperative but a key strategy for driving sustainable job creation.
Founders of high-growth African fintechs are demonstrating how digital innovation can expand markets, formalise micro-enterprises, and create employment pathways. However, unlocking this potential at scale requires targeted support: building digital literacy, strengthening data-driven decision-making, and embedding financial and operational resilience in business models.
Potential discussion points:
- What entrepreneurial skills are most critical for African SME owners in a digital-first economy?
- How can fintechs, banks, and development actors co-create scalable skills programs for underserved entrepreneurs?
- What models are succeeding in building practical business competencies (e.g. inventory management, pricing, working capital planning) through mobile-first tools?
- How do we equip founders to navigate regulatory complexity, cross-border expansion, and partnership development?
- What role can AI and open data play in enabling smarter, faster entrepreneurial decisions at the last mile?
- How do we integrate entrepreneurial training into broader financial health and inclusion strategies?
