But we are now at a change-point, where policymakers and other technology industry stakeholders must consider the opportunity cost of an uncertain and incoherent environment. To bridge the gap, over the last decade, AfriLabs has worked as a convenor of dialogue amongst all the relevant stakeholders in the African Innovation and technology ecosystem (startups, corporates, government agencies, academia, donor agencies, and investor groups). This has been implemented through interventions that empower innovation hubs and support entrepreneurs, in addition to collaboration with pan-African institutions and national governments in the development of appropriate innovation policies, startup bills, digital rights, and capacity-building programmes. To sustain our policy advocacy work, we have, in this report, identified 10 policy priorities that we believe will offer an opportunity for multiple stakeholders to create the desired business environment for innovators and startups. The report builds on our AfriLabs next Ten-Year Strategy, previous projects and advocacy initiatives targeting hubs, startups, Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), which are the engine of growth for most African countries. The report also elaborates the core principles that will henceforth guide our co-creation approach to policy and regulatory framework design. In each pathway, we rely upon our community and partners to provide context, identify salient issues, and policy alternatives. We believe that the Africa we want, as outlined in the African Union (AU)'s Agenda 2063, is within reach if we co-create a supportive ecosystem for innovators, entrepreneurs, and innovation hubs to thrive.
Anna Ekeledo, Executive Director
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