New Knowledge-based business models for Africa

e-Knowledge markets are becoming recognised as “disruptive and discontinuous technology innovation” (Kaieteur Institute for KM 2005) which are changing the way which people manage their social networks, education, wealth and intellectual property assets. The possibility here is the exploitation of intellectual capital in real-time by a larger number of people. Some of the categories of these business models which have emerged include:

• b2b (business-to-business) knowledge exchanges

• community / social capital knowledge networks
• e-education or e-learning exchanges
• expert knowledge exchanges/ question and answer exchanges
• intellectual capital/free-lance exchanges (human capital, talent, work, job, project, free agent or professional services exchanges )
• intellectual property exchanges
• knowledge auctions
• knowledge banks (know-how banks)
• knowledge grids
• knowledge market & exchange - enabling technologies
• knowledge stores or malls
• knowledge vortexes - vertical market or industry specific knowledge markets
• prediction/ futurology / idea markets
• stock market or investment knowledge exchanges

The software necessary to drive such systems has become commonplace and can be implemented at very reasonable cost for even the smallest NGO or community organisation In addition, even entry level telephones now have 3G and web browsing capabilities allowing even greater access to electronic resources

African Knowledge-Based Businesses

There are literally limitless opportunities for the creation of Knowledge-based business in Africa. The following suggestions represent new categories which could be opened to the rest of the world as authentically African. Examples of Knowledge-Based business in additional to traditional educational institutions could include:

• Knowledge Tourism – Strategically positioning knowledge offerings linked to local areas that invite exploration and experiencing in a variety of areas such as:
  • Archaeology / Anthropology / History / Cultural experiences (Cultural villages, Dig sites, Stay overs with families etc.)

  • Wildlife and Natural Resource Management Courses
  • African Storytelling / oral traditions - Soekershof Mazes and botanical gardens Soekershof website
  • Permaculture, Urban and Rural Agriculture and food production
  • Student exchange programmes at School and University Level
  • Participation in ancient rituals and rites - and example of this in South Africa are the Soekershof Mazes and botanical gardens Soekershof website
  • Spiritual tourism to places of spiritual / geological and cultural significance
  • Earthbuilding, traditional architecture and building methods
• Carbon Offset agreements – to stimulate the growing of trees that provide food, work, shelter and regular income for local communities in exchange for Carbon Offset.
• Waterway reclamation as part of carbon offset agreement to stimulate the cleaning of polluted waterways providing food, work, shelter and regular income for local communities in exchange for Carbon Offset see example of this at the Wet-Africa.org website
• Phytochemistry – there is increasing interest in the molecules contained in some of Africa's indigenous plants by international Pharma companies. It is important that projects be established to:
  • Identify and classify traditional uses of these plant and animal resources in such a way that the interests of local communities are protected and that they are suitably compensated should traditions of use lead to the isolation of useful molecules and practices.

  • Grow and protect such natural resources and record the oral traditions connected to them.
  • Ensure sustainable harvesting and management of such plants, in order to preserve the natural balance.

Indigenous Knowledge is part and parcel of the culture and history of any local community. Development agencies “need to learn from local communities to enrich the development process” (World Bank, 1998). Indigenous knowledge also affects the well-being of the majority of people in developing countries (Ngulube, 2002). Some 80% of the world’s population depend on indigenous knowledge to meet their medicinal needs and at least 50% rely on indigenous knowledge for food supply (Nyumba, 2006). Indigenous knowledge is indeed the cornerstone for building an own identity and ensuring coherence of social structures within communities.

Steve Banhegyi
steve@storytelling.co.za