Impact: Africa

Inclusive economic growth across the continent through entrepreneurship, investment, and business education

Our work in emerging markets across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) builds on Wharton’s strengths in data analytics, finance, entrepreneurship, and best-in-class business education.

GMC Rwanda2

We’re supporting inclusive economic development across Sub-Saharan Africa by improving economic mobility and sustainability through job opportunities and higher wages; overcoming misconceptions about ‘doing business in Africa’ by providing information to better assess risk and increase capital flows; and implementing business education across the continent through a blended model of online and in-person learning.

That work falls into three main focus areas:

Growing impactful enterprises tackling the continent’s most critical and complex issues by supporting capacity building and access to financing

We work throughout the entrepreneurial ecosystem by working directly with entrepreneurs, incubators, and accelerators to build capacity in small and growing enterprises.  Through the Wharton Africa Growth Partners program, students also work alongside impact investors to help source and conduct due diligence on early-stage deals, connecting high-quality entrepreneurs to capital.

Objective, data-driven research for better market intelligence and evidenced-based business practices

WSII provides critical, reliable market intelligence to inform those looking to increase business activities in SSA.  We produce industry reports and support faculty-driven research for publications in peer-reviewed, academic journals.

Education for emerging business leaders through a blended learning model

We’re providing cutting-edge content to established organizations on the continent and developing proprietary courses and workshops to bring our best-in-class education and training to rising mid- and senior-level business leaders throughout SSA.