Firm-level innovation in Africa: overcoming limits and constraints

Figures & data

Table 1. Rate of innovation in selected African countries.

Country	Reference period	% firms with an innovation
Egypt	2008–2010	40.1
Gabon	2010–2012	61.5
Ghana	2008–2010	72.5
Kenya	2008–2011	74.1
Lesotho	2010–2012	58.5
Nigeria	2008–2010	65.0
Senegal	2009–2011	63.1
South Africa	2005–2007	65.4
Tanzania	2008–2010	61.3
Uganda	2008–2010	77.0
Zambia	2008–2010	51.0

Source: Adapted from African Innovation Outlook II (AU-NEPAD 2014).

Note: Extensive dissimilarities in the survey methodologies, especially in sampling, across countries disallow statistically valid cross-country comparisons.

Table 2. Sources of information for innovation in selected African countries.

Category	Information sources	Per cent of innovative firms
		Egypt	Kenya	Nigeria	Senegal	South Africa	Tanzania	Uganda	Zambia
Internal sources	Sources within same enterprise group	25.0	95.7	51.7	46.3	41.7	61.9	53.7	5.7
External sources
Market	Suppliers of equipment	17.3	88.0	39.3	43.9	21.3	32.1	26.1	5.7
	Clients or customers	20.0	89.7	51.7	14.6	41.2	66.7	49	10.9
	Competitors	12.0	80.3	30.0	12.2	11.4	27.4	23	3.3
	Consultants	8.9	53.0	14.6	12.2	4.6	16.7	12.2	0
Institutional	Universities or technical colleges	2.7	33.6	6.8	2.4	2.1	7.1	3.2	2
	Government or private research institutions	3.0	40.2	4.2	2.4	1.5	11.9	5.0	0.5
Other	Conferences	10.3	70.9	11.5	7.3	13.3	16.7	16.4	0
	Scientific journals	8.1	64.1	7.1	4.9	10.1	9.5	8.3	0
	Professional associations	4.8	71.8	20.2	4.9	5.6	20.2	11.3	0

Source: Authors’ compilation from African Innovation Outlook II (AU-NEPAD 2014)

Note: Extensive dissimilarities in the survey methodologies, especially in sampling, across countries disallow statistically valid cross-country comparisons.

Table 3. Infrastructure endowment of low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions.

Measure	Measurement unit	SSA low-income countries	Other low-income countries
Density of paved-road network	kilometres per 100 square kilometres	31	134
Density of total road network	kilometres per 100 square kilometres	137	211
Density of fixed-line	Subscribers per 1000 people	10	78
Density of mobile telephone	Subscriber per 1000 people	55	76
Internet density	Subscribers per 100 people	2	3
Electricity generation capacity	Megawatts per 1 million people	37	326
Electricity coverage	% of households with access	16	41
Improved water	% of households with access population	60	72
Improved sanitation	% of households with access	34	51

Source: Yepes, Pierce, and Foster (2009) and Foster and Briceño-Garmendia (2010).

Table 4. ST&I policies of the 11 African countries.

Source: Iizuka, Mawoko, and Gault (2015).

Note: The degree of progress in the chart only refers to the specific country’s plan; hence, these evaluations cannot and should not be used comparatively across countries.

AU-NEPAD. 2014. African Innovation Outlook II. Pretoria: African Union-New Partnership for African Development.

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Yepes, T., J. Pierce, and V. Foster. 2009. Making Sense of Sub-Saharan Africa’s Infrastructure Endowment: A Benchmarking Approach. Working Paper 1. Washington, DC: Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic, World Bank.

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Foster, V., and C. Briceño-Garmendia. 2010. Africa’s Infrastructure: A Time for Transformation. Washington, DC: World Bank.

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Iizuka, M., P. Mawoko, and F. Gault. 2015. Innovation for Development in Southern and Eastern Africa: Challenges for Promoting STandI Policy. UNU-MERIT Policy Brief (I, 2015).

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