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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fabian Stephany, Dr.Associated Researcher: Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Society
Georg von Richthofen, Dr.Senior Researcher & Project Lead: Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Society
Paul VilchezAssociated Researcher: Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Gesellschaft
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Ann-Kristin ZiesemerFormer Student Assistant: Science Communication -
Christian GrauvogelFormer Head of Dialogue & Knowledge Transfer | Project Coordinator SET -
Katja DerichsFormer Student Assistant: Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Society -
Marie BlümlFormer Researcher: Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Global Digital Transformation -
Melanie ChanFormer Student Assistant: Science Communication
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Mina Ji Young StrianFormer student assistant: Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Global Digital Transformation and Women* In Tech -
Moritz TimmFormer 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 & DigitalizationMaster 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: 09.11.2022Fabian Stephany
Multi Stakeholder Dialogue: Policies towards fairer online gig work. Digital Transformation Center Ghana. Marriott Hotel, Accra, Ghana: 25.07.2022Christian 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 Kenya09.11.2022. PrideInn Azure Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya (International) Further information
Marie Blüml, Fabian Stephany, Moritz Timm
Multi-stakeholder-dialogue: Towards a fairer online platform economy in Kenya09.11.2022. 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 economy26.07.2022. 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-work25.07.2022. 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 Entrepreneurship07.07.2022. 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 Africa06.07.2022. Golden Tulip Hotel, Cotonou, Benin (International) Further information
Georg von Richthofen, Marie Blüml, Christian Grauvogel
Research sprint: Sustainable Digital EconomiesFrom 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)
