Stimulating COVID-19 Solutions for Lusophone Africa

 Mozambique has long been considered a country with squandered potential: it possesses a wealth of untapped oil and gas reserves; its natural beauty and close proximity to South Africa makes it a country with high tourist appeal; and it has a rapidly growing population set to double in the next 30 years. Nonetheless, the country’s future economic outlook  remains challenging, owing largely to the deep economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the virus’s immediate impacts have not been felt as severely in Mozambique, the disease has nevertheless created a devastating ripple effect across the country: many people work in the informal business sector, making lockdown difficult to implement; the healthcare system is shaky and testing capacity low; and food and medication shortages, exacerbated by lockdown measures, are particularly dangerous for the already fragile population. Recently, the country and its citizens are working to reclaim its potential. Melissa Marketos, a senior at the University of Pennsylvania and Mozambican citizen, has been instrumental in working with the country’s businesspeople through the Carol and Lawrence Zicklin Center’s Wharton Africa COVID-19 Solutions Initiative, which is providing a platform for Mozambican entrepreneurs to iterate on their ideas and reach potential investors. The severity of the pandemic’s factors, among others, may cause far greater damage in the African states than in other countries, making the Initiative’s work all the more important and relevant. 

Melissa has driven the initiative through the local arms of two partners: the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), headquartered in Texas, and the European Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Mozambique (EUROCAM). YPO’s recently founded Mozambican Chapter is working to inspire growth in the local business community, and sees the initiative as a platform for accelerated development: Zimane Dzimba, member of the board of the YPO African Great Leopard Valley Chapter and Network Board Champion for Africa, stated, “we are delighted to cooperate with the Zicklin Center of Wharton in this excellent and very pertinent initiative. The dialogue and cross-fertilization of ideas between young African entrepreneurs and the academic community of Wharton can stimulate innovative responses to COVID-19.” In the same vein, EUROCAM represents the voice of European investors in the country and is, too, promoting a better business environment: “We need to work smart to come up with innovative COVID-19 solutions that work,” mused Simone Santi, EUROCAM’s chairman. He continued, “access to strategic investors and mentors can provide a major boost in building African entrepreneurs to [grow] and develop their business. This Zicklin initiative of Wharton captures all these elements and as EUROCAM we appreciate the opportunity to play our part.” Recognizing the need to reach a wider audience, these two organizations have sponsored advertisements in all major local publications, urging young entrepreneurs to submit their applications. The drive has increased participation from Lusophone countries, which was not previously possible until Melissa spearheaded the Initiative’s policy change to accept applications submitted in Portuguese.

These new opportunities for Portuguese-speaking countries are now supported by the south-south exchange between Brazil and African Lusophone nations, which has opened a new channel for knowledge sharing between two continents. Due to Melissa’s strong Mozambican local partnerships, the Initiative has established a system in which seasoned Brazilian professors and their students will review and provide constructive feedback on Portuguese-written applications from aspiring entrepreneurs. This exchange, an unparalleled opportunity, allows local entrepreneurs to access global best practices, and is working to reverse the devastation that COVID-19 is causing in Sub-Saharan Africa.    

Melissa’s work is now expanding outside of Mozambique to bring the Initiative to Cape Verde. Local partnerships are now being established there, and the Initiative is drawing governmental attention for the growing opportunities it will bring. Gilberto de Barros, the country’s Secretary of State for Finances, noted his appreciation: “thank you for your kind support to our young entrepreneurs, the country’s future [...], we will overcome these challenges and put the economy back on the path for growth, job creation, and the improvement of quality of life.” The COVID-19 Africa Solutions Initiative is excited to grow into Cape Verde and beyond, and to play a part in the dawning future of the continent’s entrepreneurs and businesses.