The political threat against USAID existence is a clear example of how anything can happen to the strong and mighty. No one would ever have imagined the level of political disruption in the United States of America. If a US Presidential Government led initiative for Africa with Billions of US$ in funding, can be brought to its knees, anything can happen to anyone. This just goes to show you that as much as money addresses many problems, there are problems that even money cannot solve. So? What happens to the business and millions of individuals who were so dependent on USAID money.
Well, remember CORVID19! The shock of global pandemic, which killed millions. The shock of lock downs, but yet the resilient human spirit still managed to navigate the pandemic by pivoting. Africa will have to pivot as well, and live in its self fulfilled prophecy of “The Africa We Want”. Yes! there is a new breed of African leaders like Captain Ibrahim Traore, the President of Burkina Faso, who are saying no to donor funding, and simply putting their hands to finding solutions that work for Africa. They are willing to walk away from anything that does not align to “The Africa We Want”
Social media, especially TikTok does not help matters either. Netizen have become reporters and are slowing making main news media irrelevant. The world has truly become flat, we all have access to do what large corporations can do. This should be a wakeup call to SMEs especially African SMEs. Your agility, the ability to move quickly and easily is what will enable you move faster and easily. You are going to have to be a David in your own sector, because Goliath has fallen. You are going to have to use your “smooth stones”, your social media marketing tools, and agility to win your sector over. Without a doubt donor funding has changed forever. African nations are saying enough is enough. Unfortunately, TikTok is revealing what many Africans have always suspected but were afraid to say about donor funding, and it is not funny.
Yes! African SMEs may not have the money, but they have the time and knowledge on African markets. And guess what they are doing. They are using their time and knowledge to sell on social media, especially TikTok. Kenya leads the world in TikTok market penetration (not users) in 2023 according to Reuters Institute Digital News Report. So African SMEs are using their time and knowledge to make money. African GenZs have fully embraced the “Gig Economy” and China knows it that is why they have made shipping, shopping, and trade logistics effortless for Africa. African SMEs are trading and making money. Many of them have discovered the value of their time and are saying “No to Employment”. It is a classic case of looking at what you have and choosing to trade with or without lots of money. In Kenya, we call it the “Kadogo Economy” and it is working, no wonder Facebook (Meta) decided to buy WhatsApp, then transferred the Facebook shop to WhatsApp Shop.
Guess who is leading in WhatsApp’s market penetration (not users)? Kenya is at position 1, with a 97% of internet users using WhatsApp monthly. Followed by South Africa 96%, Nigeria 95%, Argentina 93%, and Malaysia 92%. In the USA WhatsApp is not as dominate with only 50% if users chatting daily while 78% at least weekly. Why am I ranting? It is a simple message to Africa SMEs that we will be okay with or without donor funding. We must allow USA to focus on “Making America Great Again”, we on the other hand must use the little resources we have to trade globally. I am a strong believer that “Problems Are Opportunities Dressed in a Work Overall”. SMEs become a master at providing solutions and you will never be ignored. Most people are willing to pay for your product and services because they are desperate for the solutions you provide. That is your value. It is your measure of your problems solving skills.
Here is a trade opportunity for SMEs in United States of America, Canada, and Kenyans especially the diaspora to supply 60MTs every month of US or Canadian Green Lentils (Kamande) to a Kenyan FMCG Retailer. Happy trade amid trade wars. It shall be well. God bless you all.
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