The “commercialization” of social problems is regarded as a form of social entrepreneurship whereby technological innovations are used to provide solutions to social problems such as healthcare, food security, educations and financial inclusion. Like many other countries, West Africa is experiencing the shift from traditional institutions to software and digital ‘institutions’ as a go-to-desk for social mobility. Where necessary, some traditional state-sponsored systems are replaced by commercial private owned entities. In fragile institutions, technology is deployed to fill the gap of socially important services, in many cases, the system has been efficient and can support or challenge a state.
In the health sector there exists vacuums due to state’s inability to fill healthcare needs. Where there is lack of trained personnel or infrastructure or affordable health services, social entrepreneurs has deployed technology for digital health.
It was observed that Africans in diaspora are consistently sending money to fund healthcare for their family and friends, most of whom do not have a traditional health insurance system. That observation includes reports of diversion of funds meant for a certain purpose. To solve this problem and the blackhole of out-of-pocket payments for medical bills, a team in Sweden, built a digital health insurance system called MANJEHEALTH, to enable people in diaspora find and fund quality healthcare in Africa.
Although about 960 million Africans remain unconnected to the internet especially in rural areas, digital health has helped healthcare challenges through telemedicine in diagnosis and treatment of patients by means of telecommunications technology. Some platforms match rural patients with urban doctors via telemedicine services. Ghana and Nigeria have dedicated software solutions to manage drug supply chain, improve access to essential drugs and provide health insurance plans. Although, these services are predominant in the cities with connectivity, these software-based solutions are helping to improve healthcare delivery, and create opportunities for medical professionals and tech talent.
In the financial sector, digital infrastructure has been used to cross barriers in banking areas that lack physical bank branches. With software like Opay and Palmpay in Nigeria and M-Pesa in East Africa, banking has transformed from its traditional landscape. Technology has bypassed the need for giant buildings that serve as banking halls, allowing millions to use an efficient alternative for savings, money transfers and credit facilities. It is a vital solution to the structural deficiencies that exist against social inclusion.
In education, which is a critical social problem of fragile institutions, many learners in underserved communities are facing the problems of infrastructure. However, there are digital solutions that provide comprehensive educational materials and practice questions for students. Although organizations like Educare, which is one of the leading digital learning providers in Nigeria are doing great work in this sector, a lot of work is required to cover the huge population of underserved communities who are part of the unconnected population. The educational platforms help to bridge the educational gap and provide students with access to learning materials to improve educational outcomes and contribute to building a more skilled workforce for the future.
In agriculture, simply put that software plays the role of automated “Agriculture Minister.”. While the realities of farmers in many underserved communities are usually captured in a general sense, there exists nuances according to geography and other social considerations.
There are software that provide market prices, advice on agricultural practices. For example platforms like VeightPay an e-commerce platform, allows small and medium scale enterprises to create profiles, showcase products and connect sellers and buyers. It also allows direct payment through VeightCoin.
In general, digital solution to social problems is a process that commercializes the access to capital that has been unavailable through the traditional platforms. However, it comes with its own complexity.
Like a coin with two sides, deployment of software as a solution to social problems comes with a possibility of tech providers becoming a firewall and increasing the digital divide whereby only those with digital literacy or internet access are allowed in the digital institution while others are locked out. By converting a social development need into data-driven solutions, commercialization of social problems has enabled entrepreneurs to create resilience. The ultimate goal must focus on ensuring that this rapid, automated digital state doesn’t become a new mechanism for insubordination but rather a tool that enhances our communities.
Written By: Byke Freeborn| X/Twitter: @bykefreeborn