companies that were established by Dutch entrepreneurs (e.g. Maji Milele Ltd,
Upande Ltd). The few lead innovating organisations that are African-owned were
initiated by tech entrepreneurs from different backgrounds, spanning from African
Diaspora returnees (e.g. Markets Mergers LTD) to locally trained techies
(e.g. Mobile Tech solutions) and consulting firms providing innovative technical
and social solutions to challenges facing many sectors, including water
(e.g. Caicedra consulting Mali, SkyFox Limited). Annex provides an overview of
lead innovators, their type of organisations and their country of origin.
In the context of VIA Water projects, the lead contract partners are not necessarily
the initiator of the innovation (idea); in some cases, they are chosen to lead the
partnership for pragmatic reasons. For instance, in the case of App service for faecal
sludge management (PULA) project in Mozambique, BoP Inc. is listed as lead
partner (along with WSUP who is actually the initiator) notably because of its
connection to the Netherlands.
These findings are not surprising though they are a reflection of the general
situation of innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa. According to some authors,
the most dynamic SMEs on this continent are mainly in the hands of non-Africans,
implying that the level of indigenous innovation and entrepreneurship (including in
the ICT domain) in general is still low [72, 73]. This is particularly true for the “tech”
industry in Africa which is still in its infancy.
5.2 Resources Exchange in VIA Water ICT-WIPs
As elaborated in the theoretical section of this chapter, (innovation) partnerships
between two or more organisations are in essence established to tap into the distinct
resources possessed by other organisations [29, 30]. In the VIA Water partnerships,
0
2
4
6
8
1 0
1 2
1 4
1 6
Enterprises
University and Research Institutes
Consulting Firm
NGO
Government
Fig. 4 Importance of ICT innovators leading the VIA Water-supported partnerships (n ¼ 24)
(Source: authors)
188
S. Mvulirwenande and U. Wehn
Upande Ltd). The few lead innovating organisations that are African-owned were
initiated by tech entrepreneurs from different backgrounds, spanning from African
Diaspora returnees (e.g. Markets Mergers LTD) to locally trained techies
(e.g. Mobile Tech solutions) and consulting firms providing innovative technical
and social solutions to challenges facing many sectors, including water
(e.g. Caicedra consulting Mali, SkyFox Limited). Annex provides an overview of
lead innovators, their type of organisations and their country of origin.
In the context of VIA Water projects, the lead contract partners are not necessarily
the initiator of the innovation (idea); in some cases, they are chosen to lead the
partnership for pragmatic reasons. For instance, in the case of App service for faecal
sludge management (PULA) project in Mozambique, BoP Inc. is listed as lead
partner (along with WSUP who is actually the initiator) notably because of its
connection to the Netherlands.
These findings are not surprising though they are a reflection of the general
situation of innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa. According to some authors,
the most dynamic SMEs on this continent are mainly in the hands of non-Africans,
implying that the level of indigenous innovation and entrepreneurship (including in
the ICT domain) in general is still low [72, 73]. This is particularly true for the “tech”
industry in Africa which is still in its infancy.
5.2 Resources Exchange in VIA Water ICT-WIPs
As elaborated in the theoretical section of this chapter, (innovation) partnerships
between two or more organisations are in essence established to tap into the distinct
resources possessed by other organisations [29, 30]. In the VIA Water partnerships,
0
2
4
6
8
1 0
1 2
1 4
1 6
Enterprises
University and Research Institutes
Consulting Firm
NGO
Government
Fig. 4 Importance of ICT innovators leading the VIA Water-supported partnerships (n ¼ 24)
(Source: authors)
188
S. Mvulirwenande and U. Wehn