Visiting Jimma gave me a great deal of hope. The city has not changed much since I began

travelling there some 25 years ago. The roads, the houses, the hotels, the coffee, the wooden products, etc, remain essentially unchanged. But hidden in the familiar appearance is the desire to make a difference through innovation. 

In my latest visit 3 days ago, we met few dynamic innovators -- all young, bright, enthusiastic and full of ideas that can be transformative. The story is not unique to Jimma though. For the past year we have been conducting a study to understand the national innovation ecosystem—the enabling environment and the path that ‘births’ innovation. Through this study I have met many young and dynamic innovators. This does give rise to hope. 

Ethiopia is faced with many challenges. The societal challenges are the most visible. Underneath these are the marks and stigmata of poverty. And then is a technology and service system that is still in the 18th century. Studying innovation carefully in the past year suggests to me that Ethiopia can be transformed within the coming decade through innovation. Social innovations must be prioritised as much technological and service innovations. The core values that gel society together—love, compassion, respect—will not change. How we make sure society lives and gels through these values irrespective of changing political and economic models requires social innovation. 

In terms of technology innovations, drastic change to the macro level (national) and micro level (institutional) innovation ecosystem is a must and should be implemented with no delay. Universities and research institutions hold the critical key to unlocking the dividends of innovation. In a country like Ethiopia where the role of governments is substantive, government should play its part by creating the necessary legislative and policy frameworks. Governments should also investment creatively with the needed accountability mechanisms. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments of some countries like India and the US invested carefully in health technologies that they believed gave their countries competitive advantages. For countries in Africa, including Ethiopia, addressing basic societal needs, such as food and health, require business innovations to ensure local production capabilities. But there are areas where Africa may make strategic contribution to global welfare and governments should consider carefully what these are and what innovations would be required to realise these. 

The next decade will cement what citizens may expect from what is left of the 21st century and Ethiopia’s place in the world. Time is of the essence. 

The great Polish journalist and author Ryszard Kapuściński, during the transition years from colonialism to independence, admires the patience of Africans: Their life is endless toil, a torment they endure with astonishing patience and good humour. Yes, smart patience remains important for the integrity and survival of Africa. But, should Africa accept in the 21st century the prospect of patient and perilous toil just to ensure survival?

More dynamic innovators and innovation sites as we witnessed in Jimma may be the injection Ethiopia needs to wake up and roll on. Our problems need new ways of understanding them, new/innovative partnership models, and innovative solutions. Innovative solutions may come from any place and source if there is a system to capture and scale them up. The huge problems we have call for urgent innovative solutions—social, technological, and cultural. The serious multiple problems may prove to be the platforms to a new and prosperous Ethiopia if we decide to confront them boldly through innovation. Then the education system is the key!