Welcome to Voices of Resilience Season 3, brought to you by Na'amal, a non-profit and social enterprise dedicated to empowering forcibly displaced individuals through dignified remote work. In this episode, we delve into the exciting and sometimes challenging landscape of AI and Africa's digital future.

We're thrilled to welcome Elvis, a renowned researcher and consultant specializing in the future of work in Sub-Saharan Africa. He's joined by our fantastic co-host, Lorraine, as they explore the transformative power of AI and its implications for employment, skill development, and cross-border collaboration.

Episode Highlights

• Na'amal's Impact: Discover how Na'amal has empowered over 1,500 refugees and underrepresented individuals through remote work training, mentorship, and digital employment. With the launch of the NAMAL Agency, more than 40 graduates have secured paid tech projects, proving that talent truly has no borders. Learn more at namal.org.
• The Future of Work in Sub-Saharan Africa: Elvis shares his insights on why Sub-Saharan Africa, with its incredibly young demographic, is at the forefront of discussions about the changing world of work.
• AI's Impact on Junior Jobs: A critical conversation unfolds around how AI is impacting entry-level positions, traditionally crucial for career development. Elvis shares findings from his research, noting that AI often helps novice workers the most in controlled experiments, yet companies are sometimes hiring fewer junior staff in favor of more experienced professionals who can effectively manage AI.
• The Conundrum of AI and Employment: The discussion tackles the potential for AI to automate first-line support in customer experience roles, a sector that currently provides significant employment in Africa. The hope is that these companies can evolve and move up the value chain.
• Learning and Developing with AI: Clay and Elvis discuss the shift from traditional learning to an AI-driven approach, where learners are in the "driver's seat," using AI as a tutor to address specific knowledge gaps. This approach allows for a focus on advanced skills and personalized learning experiences.
• Managing AI for Enhanced Productivity: Learn why effectively managing AI is a crucial skill. The hosts emphasize that AI is a tool to enhance, not replace, human creativity and problem-solving, underscoring that the quality of input directly affects the quality of output.
• Gender Disparities and AI Adoption: Lorraine raises important questions about gender disparities in accessing skills and jobs in the digital economy. Elvis shares anecdotal but hopeful observations from his workshops, where women often demonstrate strong capabilities and produce highly-rated projects once they overcome initial skepticism about AI.
• Global Business Services (GBS) and its Role: The episode delves into the GBS sector (also known as BPO, ITO, CX, etc.) and its significance in knowledge transfer and job creation, particularly in regions like Africa. The discussion touches upon how AI might necessitate a shift in the GBS model towards higher-complexity tasks.
• Policy and Protection in the Age of AI: The conversation wraps up with a look at the policies needed to protect individuals in an AI-driven world. Elvis advocates for a cautious, step-by-step approach to legislation, acknowledging the "known unknowns" and the need for rapid adaptation in a fast-moving technological landscape.
• Opportunities in the Gaps: A powerful takeaway from the episode is the idea of "opportunity in the gaps" – leveraging AI to solve local and regional problems and create new entrepreneurial ventures that might fall outside the focus of larger corporations.

Connect with Us:

• NAMAL Website: namal.org
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/naamal/posts/?feedView=all
• Instagram: _naamal_
• Elvis's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elvismelia/

In this compelling episode of Voices of Resilience, host Clay Lowe sits down with Daniela Alba, an advocacy and communications specialist at Jesuit Refugee Service in Rome. Daniela shares her powerful personal story as a Mestizo woman from Colombia who experienced forced displacement as a child and has since dedicated her career to fighting for the rights of forcibly displaced people worldwide.

Together, they unpack the evolving landscape of labor rights in the digital economy, the increasing exploitation of vulnerable workers, and the systemic challenges facing forcibly displaced individuals. Daniela provides insight into the post-pandemic shift in labor policies, the lack of protection for climate migrants, and the grassroots advocacy efforts driving change.

In this episode, host Clay Lowe speaks with Giselle Gonzalez, Founder and CEO of EqualReach, and Susan Achiech, Founder of Tech-Femme Algorithms and a full-stack developer from Kakuma refugee camp. Together, they explore how transitioning from traditional freelancing to team-based project work can create meaningful opportunities for displaced talent. Giselle shares how EqualReach connects skilled refugee talent with global businesses through streamlined processes, while Susan discusses her journey as a South Sudanese leading Tech-Femme Algorithms, a platform training refugees in tech skills.

The two guests delve into the challenges refugees face in freelancing, including steep competition and limited visibility, and highlight how team-based models foster shared learning, collaboration, and better outcomes.

Susan also reflects on her mentorship experience with Giselle through Na’amal, gaining critical skills in client management and confidence. The discussion also emphasizes the importance of building trust, addressing systemic barriers such as platform access and payment systems, and fostering collaboration across sectors to unlock the digital economy for marginalized communities.

With actionable insights for businesses, displaced talent, and the broader ecosystem, this episode is a powerful reminder of the potential for resilience and transformation. Don’t miss Giselle’s and Susan’s inspiring takeaways: “Trust is our most valuable currency,” and “There is no shame in not knowing; that’s the only way you can learn.”

In this episode of Voices of Resilience, we explore the transformative potential of Jobtech in fostering inclusivity for refugees. Guests Brenda from the Jobtech Alliance and Simon from the African Youth Action Network, share their expertise, highlighting innovative approaches to reducing barriers, empowering displaced individuals, and integrating them into the digital economy. Key topics include scaling tech-enabled skilling platforms, bridging gaps in digital literacy and advanced training, and addressing systemic challenges like asset access and ecosystem fragmentation. They also discuss the importance of mentorship, mindset shifts, and collaboration between private and humanitarian sectors. Tune in to discover how job tech is reshaping the future of work for refugees and creating sustainable pathways to economic resilience.

In this episode of Voices of Resilience, host Clay Lowe speaks with Rai Friedman, founder and CEO of Global Rights Defenders, about the impact of government policies on refugee employment, using Kenya as a key case study. Rai shares her journey into refugee advocacy and highlights the importance of migration governance in creating sustainable solutions for refugee integration. The discussion explores Kenya’s innovative policies under the Global Compact for Refugees (GCR), such as transitioning refugee camps into settlements, which have fostered economic growth and social harmony for both refugees and host communities.

Key topics include the barriers to refugee employment, such as restrictive work policies and limited access to formal jobs, and the potential of digital work to empower refugees, despite challenges like lack of ID recognition and banking access. Rai emphasizes the need for inclusive policies and grassroots efforts to bridge gaps between law and practice, enabling refugees to contribute economically and socially. This episode underscores the importance of collaboration among nations and organizations to address the global refugee crisis and unlock opportunities for integration and self-reliance.

In this episode, we delve into the opportunities offered by digital platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Appen, as well as specialized platforms like NaTakallam and Step Up One, which leverage refugees' unique skills in areas such as language tutoring and cultural exchange. Emerging platforms like CrowdGen by Appen are also highlighted for their adaptability in supporting refugee workers.

The episode emphasizes the importance of soft skills for digital success, including communication, time management, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity. We also address the significant challenges faced by refugees, such as digital literacy gaps, payment barriers, and legal obstacles, while exploring emerging trends like platform cooperatives, microtasking platforms, blockchain technology, and AI integration.

Our guests share actionable tips for building strong client relationships, such as delivering high-quality work, maintaining clear communication, and focusing on professionalism. Key messages include the transformative power of digital skills, strategies to overcome systemic barriers, the critical role of soft skills, and freelancing as a viable career path leading to professional growth and entrepreneurship.

In this episode, we focus on education and skill development for the future of work, with guests Laura Jardine Patterson, founder of CONCAT, and Justin Justin Paluku Mbunzule, a data analyst and Kenyan refugee involved in supporting other refugees in Uganda.

Justine founded UP With Africa and supported MIT ReaCT in opening their Hub in Uganda at a center where he taught other refugees about IT. Justin, a refugee in Uganda, emphasizes the need for access to advanced education and technology to empower refugees to pursue self-sufficient careers in tech.

Laura's company, CONCAT, employs refugees and women in web design, promoting inclusive employment in tech. She highlights the importance of non-traditional education paths and personal development over formal degrees for sustainable employment in marginalized communities.

Both guests discuss the challenges faced by refugees, including limited resources like internet access and technology and barriers to traditional education. They advocate for more holistic support in skill development, combining education, technology access, and financial stability. The episode also explores the benefits of remote work and the importance of community-building for displaced individuals.