Innovation and the Future of Work: How Africa Can Leverage Design Thinking to Achieve the SDGs
As the world grapples with the challenges of the 21st century, innovation has become a critical driver of economic growth, social progress, and environmental sustainability. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by the United Nations in 2015, provide a framework for achieving a better future for all. However, Africa faces unique challenges in achieving these goals, particularly in the context of the future of work.
According to the World Bank, Africa’s workforce is expected to grow by 20% by 2030, making it the largest and youngest workforce in the world (World Bank, 2020). However, this demographic dividend can only be harnessed if Africa’s youth have the skills and competencies to thrive in the 21st-century job market.
This is where innovation and design thinking come in. As a former Design Lead at the Natural History Museum of London and a UNLEASH ambassador, I’ve seen firsthand the power of design thinking in driving innovation and solving complex problems. Design thinking is a human-centred problem-solving approach involving empathy, creativity, and experimentation.
In the context of the future of work, design thinking can help Africa’s youth develop the skills and competencies required to thrive in a rapidly changing job market. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, by 2022, more than a third of the desired skills for most jobs will be comprised of skills not yet considered crucial to the job today (World Economic Forum, 2018).
This means that Africa’s youth must be equipped with creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, essential for innovation and entrepreneurship. Design thinking can help develop these skills by encouraging experimentation, prototyping, and testing.
Moreover, design thinking can help address the SDGs by providing a framework for solving complex problems such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. According to the UN, the SDGs can only be achieved if we adopt a more integrated and collaborative approach to problem-solving (UN, 2020).
However, there is a challenge. Very few people in Africa know about the concept of design thinking. Only a few institutions, such as the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), have developed design thinking programs to develop the skills and competencies of Africa’s youth in areas such as entrepreneurship, innovation, and problem-solving.
To address this gap, I incorporated design thinking into the Workplace Fundamental Skills (WFS) 3-year tested curriculum at the Skilled For Work Academy I founded. We also explain how design thinking can be used in any workplace, especially for innovators.
For innovation to thrive in Africa, design thinking—the methodology used in global innovation labs—must be taught to every youth. This will be a critical driver of Africa’s economic growth, social progress, and environmental sustainability. By leveraging design thinking, Africa’s youth can develop the skills and competencies required to thrive in the 21st-century job market and drive innovation and entrepreneurship. Moreover, design thinking can help address the SDGs by providing a framework for solving complex problems such as poverty, inequality, and climate change.
As Africa continues to grow and develop, we must prioritise innovation and design thinking in our education systems, workforce development programs, and entrepreneurship initiatives. By doing so, we can unlock the potential of Africa’s youth and drive sustainable economic growth, social progress, and environmental sustainability.
Dr Aderinsola Adio-Adepoju