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Das Titelbild des Projekts Digitalsierung und Unternehmertum (Digitalisation and Entrepreneurship)zeigt aneinander liegende Dreicke aus dünnen Holzbalken.

Digitalisation and Sustainable Entrepreneurship

How can the digital world of work in the global South be shaped sustainably? What role does fairness play in regulation and the exchange between different interest groups? "Digitalisation and Entrepreneurship" identifies approaches to solutions for the challenges of (de)regulation in order to enable a socially just gig economy. Together with local partners, the following stakeholder levels are involved on site in several countries: Employees, platform operators and policy makers. The research project is part of the research group Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and global digital Transformation.

Research formats & knowledge transfer

Based on the results of a Research Sprint and a related study, multi-stakeholder dialogues and public events will be held in cooperation with Digital Transformation Centers (DTCs) of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in selected countries. In this way, knowledge networks are strengthened locally and expanded by linking them with other international partners. In addition, local specifics, opportunities and risks are recorded and taken into account.

 

Research sprint: Sustainable digital economies

31st May - 17th July

During the six weeks of the Research Sprint, the interdisciplinary researchers will explore questions such as how platform work can be shaped sustainably in Africa and what role fairness plays in regulation and exchange between different stakeholders.

Meet the fellows

Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Work organisation of the future

25th July 2022

The MSD will present the results of the research sprint to stakeholders. The aim is to discuss these findings and possible conclusions for the online labor market in sub-Saharan Africa using Ghana and Kenya as case studies.

More information here

Public Event: The future of online labour markets and regulation of the platform economy

26th 2022 

A panel discussion on how to create marketable and sustainable labor conditions for workers on online platforms that take worker protections and participation in the global labor market into account.

More information here

Study presentation: Polarisation of remote work

January 2023

The study results aim to show how online work can be redesigned in a sustainable and inclusive way. The focus lies on the specific requirements of the economies in Ghana and Kenya.

Research Sprint: Sustainable digital economies

31st May - 17th July 2022

During the six weeks of the Research Sprint, the interdisciplinary researchers will explore questions such as how platform work can be shaped sustainably in Africa and what role fairness plays in regulation and exchange between different stakeholders.

Meet the fellows here

Multi-Stakeholder dialogue & Panel discussion: Towards a Fairer Online Platform Economy in Kenya

9th November 2022

This event is dedicated to exploring pathways for a sustainable regulation of online labour markets in Sub-Saharan Africa. The MSD will be initiated by a presentation of current research findings. The panel discussion will discuss how to shape sustainable regulation of Kenya’s online labour markets.

More information

NoC study presentation: Regulation of digital platforms for a socially-just gig economy in Kenya

9th November 2022

Together with the findings of the Research Sprint and the MSD, the study results are intended to identify regional best practices and guide future regulations for the platform economy in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa.

Event: Gig Economy – Platform Perspective

March/April 2023

Multi-Stakeholder dialogue: Sustainable Digital Entrepreneurship in Africa

6th July 2022

The MSD offers the opportunity to discuss the challenges for sustainable digital entrepreneurship in Benin and Francophone West and Central Africa in general. The goal is to develop best practices to address these challenges.

More information

Panel discussion: AI for Social Good?

7th July 2022

In this public event, panellists will discuss the opportunities and risks of applying Artificial Intelligence in sustainable entrepreneurship in Benin and Francophone West and Central Africa. 

More information

NoC study: Promoting Sustainable Digital Entrepreneurship in Francophone West and Central Africa

Februar 2023

Research on challenges to sustainable digital entrepreneurship in Benin. This study explains where Benin stands in digital entrepreneurship and offers ways to make its agricultural sector more sustainable.

Read the study here

Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Digital Entrepreneurship

6th July 2022

The MSD offers the opportunity to discuss the challenges for sustainable digital entrepreneurship in Benin and Francophone West and Central Africa in general. The goal is to develop best practices to address these challenges.

More information

Public Event: Digital Entrepreneurship

7th July 2022

In this public event, panellists will discuss the opportunities and risks of applying Artificial Intelligence in sustainable entrepreneurship in Benin and Francophone West and Central Africa. 

More information

The DTCs Niger and Cameroon are involved in the formats. DTC officials from the two countries will participate in the Benin events.

NoC study presentation: Promoting Sustainable Digital Entrepreneurship in Francophone West and Central Africa

November 2022

Research on challenges to sustainable digital entrepreneurship in Benin with a focus on developing strategies for entrepreneurs to overcome these challenges.

Online Roundtable Discussion: E-Government implementation in Morocco

17th March 2023

This event explores frameworks towards building and strengthening digital infrastructures for the expansion of E-Government services in Morocco.

Research Sprint: Green Technology, Entrepreneurship & Climate

October - November 2022

The goal of the research sprint is to help promote green technology startups and incubators in Vietnam specifically and in the global south more generally. Therefore, the research sprint focuses on exploring the reasons behind two persistent challenges in the Vietnamese green technology ecosystem: the shortage of aspiring entrepreneurs and the lack of investments.

Meet the fellows here

Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Digital entrepreneurship for climate

13th February 2023

This MSD will explore the potential of digital entrepreneurship in Mexico in order to mitigate climate change. The dialogue will bring together key stakeholders from Mexico’s green digital technology to take a closer look at the challenges that sustainable entrepreneurs face and pathways to overcome those challenges. 

More information here.

Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability

14th February 2023

This MSD will explore the deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to advance sustainability goals in Mexico. The dialogue will especially focus on the promises and perils of applying AI to tackle climate change and other sustainability challenges such as the loss of biodiversity.

More information here.

Study/Paper: Green Technology, Entrepreneurship & Climate

May 2023

Building on the Research Sprint, the study will focus on the social, institutional, and technological barriers to sustainable digital entrepreneurship in Vietnam. The goal is to develop strategies to overcome these challenges.

Former employees

  • Christian Grauvogel
    Former Head of Dialogue & Knowledge Transfer | Project Coordinator SET
  • staff dummy Katja Derichs
    Former Student Assistant: Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Society
  • Marie Blüml
    Former Researcher: Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Global Digital Transformation
  • staff dummy Melanie Chan
    Former Student Assistant: Science Communication
  • Moritz Timm | HIIG Moritz Timm
    Former Researcher & Project Coordinator

Journal articles and conference proceedings

von Richthofen, G., & Gümüşay, A. A. (2023). Impact Without Imposition: What Role for Northern Academics in the Global South? Stanford Social Innovation Review. DOI: https://doi.org/10.48558/B761-2W21 Publication details

Working paper

Kwanya, T., & Wakunuma, K. (2023). Promoting gender inclusivity in the gig economy in Kenya. HIIG Impact Publication Series. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7572535 Publication details

Kwanya, T., & Wakunuma, K. (2023). Mainstreaming gig work in the labour laws in Kenya. HIIG Impact Publication Series. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7572506 Publication details

Babo, S. R. S., & Odame, A. (2023). Where have all the women gone? The gender gap in Ghana’s gig economy. HIIG Discussion Paper Series, 2023(2). DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7913207 Publication details

Other publications

Ado, A. (2023). L’Entrepreneuriat Numérique Durable au Bénin: Opportunités, Défis et Stratégies. HIIG Impact Publication Series. Publication details

Kwanya, T., & Wakunuma, K. (2023). Regulation of digital platforms for a socially-just gig economy in Kenya. HIIG Impact Publication Series. Publication details

Bohn, S. (2023). Saving orangutan habitats – digital technology and rainforest protection in Indonesia. encore. Publication details

Lectures and presentations

Between Benin & Berlin: Research & Impact at the Intersection of Sustainability & Digitalization
Master in Global Economic Governance and Public Affairs. Centre internationale de formation européenne. Centre internationale de formation européenne, Berlin, Germany: 20.03.2023

Georg von Richthofen

Moderation of workshops and panels

Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Towards a fairer online platform economy in Kenya. Digital Transformation Center Kenya. PrideInn Azure Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya: 09.11.2022

Fabian Stephany

Multi Stakeholder Dialogue: Policies towards fairer online gig work. Digital Transformation Center Ghana. Marriott Hotel, Accra, Ghana: 25.07.2022

Christian Grauvogel

Organisation of events

Online Roundtable Discussion: How can we accelerate the production and adoption of e-government services in Morocco?
17.03.2023. Online, Rabat, Morocco. Co-Organised by: Digital Transformation Center Morocco (International) Further information

Marie Blüml, Fabian Stephany

Panel discussion: Workers’ Rights and Platforms’ Responsibility – Towards a Fairer Online Platform Economy in Kenya
09.11.2022. PrideInn Azure Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya (International) Further information

Marie Blüml, Fabian Stephany, Moritz Timm

Multi-stakeholder-dialogue: Towards a fairer online platform economy in Kenya
09.11.2022. PrideInn Azure Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya (International)

Marie Blüml, Fabian Stephany, Moritz Timm

Panel discussion: The future of online labour markets and regulation of the platform economy
26.07.2022. Marriott Hotel, Accra, Ghana (International) Further information

Marie Blüml, Fabian Stephany, Christian Grauvogel

Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Governing a polarised market – Policies towards fairer online gig-work
25.07.2022. Marriott Hotel, Accra, Ghana (International)

Marie Blüml, Fabian Stephany, Christian Grauvogel

Panel discussion: AI for Social Good? Chances And Risks Of Applying AI In Sustainable Entrepreneurship
07.07.2022. Palais des Congrès, Cotonou, Benin (International) Further information

Georg von Richthofen, Marie Blüml, Christian Grauvogel

Multi-stakeholder dialogue: Sustainable Digital Entrepreneurship in Benin and Francophone West and Central Africa
06.07.2022. Golden Tulip Hotel, Cotonou, Benin (International) Further information

Georg von Richthofen, Marie Blüml, Christian Grauvogel

Research sprint: Sustainable Digital Economies
From 31.05.2022 to 27.07.2022. online, Accra, Ghana. Co-Organised by: Digital Transformation Center Ghana (International)

Katja Derichs, Ann-Kristin Ziesemer, Fabian Braesemann, Marie Blüml, Fabian Stephany, Christian Grauvogel, Moritz Timm

Funding & duration

"Digitalisation and Entrepreneurship" is part of the overarching project in cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). HIIG supports the BMZ's Digital Transformation Centers (DTCs) as a scientific partner and carries out exchange and research formats in partner countries.

 

November 2021 – May 2023

Funded by the Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Man sieht das Wort "GIIZ" in roten Buchstaben und das Logo des BEZ bestehend aus einem schwarnze Adler neben einer stilisierten deutschen Flagge mit schwarzem Schriftzug

Contact

Georg von Richthofen, Dr.

Senior Researcher & Project Lead: Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Society

Christian Grauvogel

Former Head of Dialogue & Knowledge Transfer | Project Coordinator SET

Recent News from the project

17.05.

Mexico

Podcast: The last episode is out now

More information

27.04.

Kenya

Study on regulation of digital platform work in Kenya

More information

Part of the science engagement group