As I sit here reflecting on my work and what truly matters to me, I find my mind wandering to the bustling markets, vast landscapes, and the vibrant communities of Africa. The more I think about it, the more I am certain that the crux of our global tech revolution lies not in the Western Silicon Valleys of the world, but in the rich soil of this continent.
It's not just about making a buck. Sure, it would be naive to ignore the potential for financial returns from the opportunities in Africa. But it's not the promise of profit that keeps me awake at night, buzzing with excitement. What inspires me is the potential to use technology to build a better future for all. The true value of tech in Africa, I believe, goes beyond ROI, and beyond investors.
We're talking about places where there's a deep need for foundational technologies - where the right tools can provide something truly transformative. We can bring efficient internet and payment, banking, and fundraising infrastructure, communication and coordination networks to places that desperately need them. And the payoff, the potential impact on people's lives, is just tremendous.
Take Kenya as an example, where there are around 300,000 registered "Chamas" – self-organized groups formed for various civic purposes. These communities use very basic technology, if any at all. But imagine if we could supercharge these collectives with tech. What if we could help them to organize more effectively, share best practices, protect their local environments in even more impactful ways?
There's this amazing impulse by Africans to protect nature in Africa. It's not driven by money or rewards, but by an intrinsic motivation. And that's a powerful thing. How incredible would it be to boost this motivation with technology? To give these dedicated guardians of our earth the digital tools to be even better at their work, to access global carbon and biodiversity markets, to be truly valued for their invaluable work.
Admittedly, the road to monetizing these efforts as a tech developer isn't entirely clear. But that doesn't dampen my enthusiasm. I'm certain that there are enough creative financial minds out there to raise the necessary funds and build a sustainable ecosystem of tech and beneficiaries of that tech. A system that provides the tools these civic superheroes need to do their amazing work, to fight for their causes against big corporations, to make their voices heard.
These earth guardians currently don't have the power to stand up to the likes of Monsanto or ExxonMobil. They currently don't have the digital presence or the economic voice to coordinate like a union would.
But what if we could give them that power? What if we could bind them together for shared strength, to supercharge their individual efforts?
I have many ideas, and though the specifics are still in the works, my direction is crystal clear. I want to invest my time and talents into empowering these civic and ecological superheroes. These unsung heroes, who don't get nearly enough credit for their work, yet persist because they care deeply about the longevity of our planet.
This, to me, is the most exciting prospect. And it's why I am convinced that the most important work for us, as technologists, lies in Africa. It's there, in the bustling markets, the expansive landscapes, and the resilient communities that we have the power to enact change - change that can ripple out across the world.