AfriBlocks Community Blog 

The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the need for consistent, well-equipped, and reliable healthcare services around the globe. The healthcare sector in many African countries has come under criticism, with most of the challenges that are highlighted by citizens in different countries being similar in nature. While these challenges exist and cannot be ignored, there are many startups that are working towards creating solutions to the continent’s healthcare needs. 

In recent years, the African economy has been the fastest-growing, and this trend is expected to continue into the future. The growth of the economy has been due to a variety of factors including growing investments and an increase in net exports across the continent. Most of Africa’s economic growth has been through the continent’s economic powerhouses such as South Africa, Egypt, and Nigeria. 

We cannot talk about the building blocks of Africa without addressing money transfers, an issue that has a key role to play if the African continent is to reach the heights that it is destined for. We stole a page out of our co-founder’s book and decided to shed some light on an issue he raised on his LinkedIn page. Billions of dollars are lost in remittance fees, money that could help African families and businesses advance the African economy. The African diaspora is a major driver of the African economy through remittances, but a lot of money is lost in transfer fees. 

One of the most dominant conversations across the globe has to be that of sustainable and renewable energy. Many of the energy sources that have been in use globally for generations are unsustainable, and they are one of the major causes of global warming and climate change. While it has been determined by many experts that Africa produces the least greenhouse gases, and hence contributes the least global warming in comparison to other continents, the continent carries the highest burden when it comes to the effects of global warming and climate change. 

When we talk about the building blocks that will contribute to the further development of Africa, those in the education sector are at the forefront of that conversation. We simply cannot talk about the advancement of the African cause without talking about the education of the generations to come. Education has been defined as a human right in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and it is critically important that all children be given access to the education that they need. 

The global market has vast opportunities for freelancers in any field as the landscape of work has seen a shift over the last decade or so. For many people, the internet has become a tool that connects them to the best talent for the work they need done, crossing barriers that would have been difficult without the internet. Geography, language and other similar barriers are no longer determining factors when it comes to making decisions about who to employ. Instead, there is more focus on the skills that a person possesses and whether the potential employee fits in with the kind of culture that is being built. It is in this way that freelancers have found opportunities to work on projects across the world in various capacities, a method that demands that one steps out of the bubble.

Making a personal portfolio website is a great way to create a great resume that showcases your creativity or gains new clientele. It gives you a way to showcase the services you offer, your best creative work, favorite projects and notable accomplishments. 

Financial exclusion is one of the challenges that needs to be solved urgently in sub-saharan Africa. It is estimated that up to two-thirds of the adult population in Africa suffer from some form of financial exclusion. Marginalized communities, like rural communities are at greater risk of suffering from financial exclusion. Most of the adults in these communities do not have access to financial services that allow them to secure credit, have meaningful savings or have access to loan facilities which might be beneficial for their economic progress. 

Food security is one of the pressing issues globally. The world has taken a shift towards finding solutions that can guarantee food security for future generations while also taking care of a fragile environment and ecosystems. Food production will always be a vital component of our lives. It is important for the general economic development of countries and the continent at large. Given that food production is a major pillar of the African economy and that a number of countries on the continent recognise the agricultural industry as one of their major economic drivers, we saw it fit to kick off this series by looking at some of the startups doing amazing things in the food production/agricultural industry. 

The African startup scene has seen an unprecedented boom over the last couple of years. According to Big Deal, a database that keeps track of startup funding, over $4 billion was raised by African startups in 2021 (and this is only considering deals that are worth over $100 000). Bloomberg estimates this number to be over $5 billion, and both these numbers represent a record for the continent. If this serves as an indication of what is to come, startups in Africa are on their path to receiving even more funding as they continue to innovate, and the continent becomes a world leader in several sectors across the board.