Haifa Ben Salem work at the International Trade Centre sheds light on African technology markets
Haifa Ben Salem's work sheds light on African technology markets
The African technology ecosystem as we know it today is a complex machine with numerous moving parts. Everyone, from investors to entrepreneurs, contributes to the continent's technological advancement.
Certain individuals exist in the middle. They connect investors and entrepreneurs and ensure that national regulators adopt policies that benefit the ecosystem.
That is where Haifa Ben Salem enters the picture.
Our call occurs near the conclusion of her vacation. While she is in Spain at the time of our conversation, Haifa resides in Geneva, Switzerland, the home of the International Trade Centre (ITC).
The ITC was founded by the World Trade Organization and the United Nations to "promote inclusive and sustainable economic development." And, while economic development may appear to be a broad term, Haifa's work focuses specifically on the development of the digital sector in Sub-Saharan Africa.
When you look at the countries in focus, you'll notice that many of them have less developed markets and thus require significant assistance with growth.
“We are acutely aware that the ecosystems [in these countries] differ significantly from those in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and, more recently, Egypt. As a result, we locate ourselves in ecosystems where additional support is required and where we believe our contribution will have the greatest impact.”
From her childhood in Tunisia to her current position at the United Nations office in Geneva, her journey has been filled with discoveries and a passion for assisting the African tech ecosystem.
Haifa Ben Salem is her name, and this is her life in technology.
“Is there an engineer in the house?”
Haifa was about six years old and living with her parents in Tunis, Tunisia's capital city, when Microsoft released the first version of the Windows 98 operating system.
As we begin to discuss her youth, Haifa declares emphatically, "I was always a geek."
And, being the geek that she was, she relished tinkering with her first computer, which ran Windows 98.
Her home had a running theme of her being referred to as the 'engineer of the house.' It wasn't so much that she enjoyed tinkering with her computer; simply being able to print things on it earned her the title.
When she tells me this, I laugh because it appears to be a universal experience among African children. As a child, you perform the most basic functions on a device, and your parents look to you to resolve technical issues around the house.
Is this the point in the story at which Haifa develops an interest in technology and pursues a career in the field? Not quite.
As is the case with many inquisitive children, Haifa's fascination with technology may have been the beginning of that story. However, when the time came for her to attend university, she would take a detour.
“I mean, they desired that I become a lawyer. I attempted law school but did not enjoy it.”
Haifa was forced to study something else after deciding not to continue with law school in Tunis.
“At one point, I desired to live abroad and explore new opportunities in order to gain a better understanding of how things are done in other parts of the world.”
Apart from her desire to travel the world, the factor that would make Switzerland the most appealing destination for her would be the language – French.
Haifa is trilingual in Arabic, French, and English – and, following a brief visit to Spain, has learned enough Spanish to order food.
She studied political science at the University of Geneva and then worked for an NGO focused on sustainable trading.
“It was through this network that I ended up where I am now.”
Putting the ICT in the ITC
The International Trade Centre is currently investing in digital development in ten ecosystems across Sub-Saharan Africa. Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Mali, The Gambia, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Zambia are among them.
So how does the ITC's work in these ecosystems look? Haifa puts it succinctly:
“What we do is provide assistance to entrepreneurs in the technology sector. Thus, regardless of vertical; fintech, healthtech, or edutech. They must incorporate a digital component into their operations.”
Entrepreneurs receive assistance in a variety of ways. On the one hand, there is the aspect of interaction with policymakers and regulators. A case in point is the ITC's work in Senegal to develop an export strategy for information technology and business process outsourcing (BPO) services.
Apart from assisting countries in exporting their technology services, the center is assisting a few countries in establishing their own national startup act. When these types of actions are taken with entrepreneurs in mind, they foster an environment conducive to the launch and growth of businesses.
Haifa also works with business support organizations on a more general level. This includes accelerators for startups, information technology associations, chambers of commerce, and digital enterprises.
“As a result, we do not limit ourselves to very high-growth, scalable businesses. We also collaborate with more established IT firms that provide services with a less innovative bent.”
The ITC assists these organizations in a variety of ways, including training them on how to manage startup cohorts and developing their service portfolios.
Haifa's favorite aspect of her work is working directly with African entrepreneurs. Typically, the work entails developing the entrepreneurs' capacity through training and also providing access to markets.
Prior to the pandemic, the ITC hosted events that connected entrepreneurs with individuals and entities from a variety of markets, providing them with an opportunity to connect with potential customers and investors.
“Because we are not an investment firm, we do not invest directly in startups; however, we connect startups with our network of investors and have already assisted several startups in raising capital.”
An Africa full of ‘engineers’
To adapt to the new normal, the ITC has shifted a large portion of its programming online while maintaining local events where physical events can still be held. While this may remain the case for the foreseeable future, Haifa is optimistic about continuing the work and expanding into additional ecosystems and less developed markets.
Haifa's work at the ITC contributes to the ecosystem's function. Entrepreneurs can create digital solutions for their immediate environments with the right policies in place, access to services, and an investor network.
These solutions are critical for ensuring that every African is a part of the digital economy.
When Haifa returned to Tunis to visit her parents after an extended absence, she discovered that her mother was now instructing her on which apps to download and what to do with her phone.
And with that, we now have additional 'engineers.'
Courses and Certification
Fundamentals of Science and Technology Course and Certificate
Information Technology Fundamentals Course and Certificate
