The COVID-19 pandemic demands a significant shift in how we live, work, and socialize. It has therefore made it necessary for society to prioritize innovation to meet immediate challenges caused by the pandemic. The ensuing response is also producing inspiring innovative solutions, catalysing the use of digital technologies, proving that necessity is indeed the mother of invention. 

Between June and August 2020, we conducted a deep dive into sectors on the African continent that have been significantly affected by the impact COVID-19 using a 5-step sectoral approach analysis. This approach provided a mechanism to identify the challenges associated with the pandemic, review interventions and innovations in the select countries, and measure how these interventions were supported, compared to the strength of the sectoral innovation systems in each of the countries.

The 5-step sectoral approach analysis compiled insights from key stakeholder interviews, desk research, Twitter sentiment analysis, and a qualitative survey. The analysis covered Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa.

Read about the research here.