LEE-ANN MOSES | Mobile technology can be harnessed to unlock potential of Africa's youth

In many ways, Africa stands out as a continent with a youthful population. According to the World Economic Forum, over 60% of Africa’s population is under the age of  25. By 2030, young Africans are projected to make up 42% of the global youth population. As other regions experience an ageing and dwindling workforce, Africa has the potential to leverage its demographic advantage.

The continent’s young population offers an opportunity for global corporations to tap into a growing labour force, and it also positions Africa as a hub for innovation and invention. Africa’s true value lies in its people rather than just the mineral resources that can be extracted from the continent. However, this potential can only be realised if young people possess the skills required to fill these roles, necessitating enhanced literacy at all levels.

Luckily, in mobile devices, Africa has a powerful tool for improving literacy rates, particularly among young people. Before examining how mobile devices can play this role, it is essential to note the progress that has already been made in Africa’s literacy rates in recent decades. According to data from the World Bank, basic adult literacy rates in Sub-Saharan Africa increased from 56% in 2000 to 67% in 2020, thanks in part to significant economic growth in the region. However, as significant as that increase has been, it does not tell the full story. 

There are still significant gaps in literacy across the region. Even in SA, the continent’s most advanced economy, there are significant gaps when it comes to literacy rates among the youth. According to the most recent Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, 82% of South African grade 4s cannot read for meaning. How can we reasonably expect the continent’s future workforce, no matter how big it might be, to compete globally if they are already falling behind at such a young age?     

Turning those kinds of situations around will require collective efforts from governments, educators, investors, and civil society. But utilising readily available technologies, such as cellphones that young people already use extensively, can go a long way to helping. 

To some, that might sound counterintuitive, especially if they believe young people spend time on their cellphones instead of reading. But ICT, and mobile connectivity in particular, has long been recognised for promoting and facilitating social inclusion in terms of the participation of individuals and groups in society’s political, economic, and societal processes. That is because cellphones offer the most direct, personal and measurable way to connect with people through content and services that are relevant and impactful. 

They are also near ubiquitous in many African countries. The likes of Kenya, Nigeria and SA, for example, all have mobile penetration rates of more than 100% (meaning that there are more mobile connections than people). 

At Fundza, we have seen first-hand how technology can help young people access content, communicate their understanding of the world, seek out information, and take learning into their own hands. Between January and December 2022, we published more than 8,000 original pieces written by young South Africans on our LoveWriting platform. Over 3-million youth spend close to 30 minutes a day accessing our platform annually.

It is also worth noting that 66% of our readers have indicated that their reading has improved “a lot” and that content has not only improved their vocabulary and helped them gain knowledge about new topics but has also given many hope and a sense of purpose in these tough times. 

That is just what we’ve managed to achieve in one country. Imagine if the concept was scaled across the continent or if every country had a similar platform tailored to its specific needs. How many more young people would come from the formal education system ready to compete with global talent? How many innovative, world-changing ideas would come out of the continent?

Those are the questions that we should all be asking ourselves because reading and literacy are at the heart of all education. And if we want Africa’s young people to reach their full potential, it is something we need to invest in en masse right now. And that means using all the proven tools, including mobile technology. 

• Lee-Anne Moses, Executive Director, and Trustee at Fundza Literacy Trust