The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted systemic weaknesses in the health systems across many African countries, and has triggered a change.  

This podcast episode explores the digital health landscape in Kenya with Dr. Daniella Munene, Head of External Affairs at Africa Health Business. She has extensive experience in the health sector as a practitioner, policy advisor and advocate for Universal Health Coverage. 

We discuss the interplay between the government and private sector, the state of the health workforce and the role that digital health services can play in democratising access to affordable healthcare in Kenya. 

Furthermore, Daniella provides incisive advice to investors and start-ups considering entering this nascent, but important sector.

2023 will see Nigeria, the continent's most populous nation, hold elections alongside eSwatini, the last absolute monarchy on the continent. The two countries could not be more different, but they share something in common - a growing young population. Much has been said about Africa's "demographic dividend" and its potential to change Africa's trajectory. However, there has been little discussion about how that potential can be realised.

In this episode, we focus on creating change through the ballot box and how Africa's demographics have and will continue to shape results at the polls. We talk to Jonathan Moakes, a leading expert in strategy, communications, campaign design and campaign management. He is currently a Director at Sabi Strategy. 

Jonathan shares his thoughts on how election campaigns in Africa have changed over the past two decades and which upcoming elections he’ll be watching closely. He analyses the impact of the demographic dividend on election campaigns, and we look at what the private sector can learn from the changing electoral landscape. 

In 2020, South Africa launched its 2050 Low Emission Development (LED) Strategy, which outlines a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. President Cyril Ramaphosa followed this up in November 2021 with a Political Declaration that established a partnership with the EU, US, France, Germany and UK. All members have committed to work towards creating just transition to a low carbon economy and a climate resilient society in South Africa. 

In this episode, we speak to Rudi Dicks, Head of Project Management Office (PMO) at Presidency. He sheds light on the Presidency’s efforts to ensure South Africa transitions to a low-carbon, socially inclusive, and resilient economy. We discuss the challenges surrounding the financing mechanisms and mechanisms and the country’s long-term ambition to develop the green hydrogen sector. Coal will remain a feature of South Africa’s energy mix until at least 2050; Rudi explains how and why. 

This conversation was recorded on 30 August at the South Africa Sustainable Finance Intensive, hosted by Africonomie, in Cape Town.