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Shedding Light on the Dark
Continent
For more
than 10 years,
Dr. Doug Woodward (on right), director of the Division of
Research and professor of economics, and
Dr. Robert Rolfe (on left), professor of international
business, have conducted research on the African economy. They are now collaborating on a book that
will highlight viable business sectors in Africa, including success stories of U.S.-based companies
like Coca-Cola, the largest private employer in Africa today.
In May 2007, Woodward and Rolfe led the first CIBER Faculty Development in International Business (FDIB) program in Africa. During 17 days of travel through South Africa and Kenya, faculty from many U.S. colleges and universities learned about Africa’s business climate through visits to universities, embassies, nongovernmental organizations, manufacturing exporters, and other businesses, including a Coca-Cola bottler, to assess their impact on the African economy.
The FDIB-Africa program seeks to raise faculty awareness of the economic, political, business, and cultural environments that exist in sub-Saharan Africa and, ultimately, leverage the new knowledge to enlighten others and pursue new avenues of research relating to Africa. “What we are trying to demonstrate to the faculty is that there is much more to Africa than what they often read or see on TV,” explained Rolfe. “Infrastructure is being built, companies are being privatized. The U.S., China, and Europe have dramatically increased investment in Africa in the past five years.” Rolfe’s and Woodward’s ongoing research examines the impact this investment is having on the African economy.
Rolfe and Woodward see the most positive changes when companies invest in the African people by teaching them skills that will help them sustain an income. Coca-Cola has trained and mentored thousands of local entrepreneurs in every country and almost every community on the continent. “ Coca-Cola serves as an example to other investors and sends a message that if you make a long-term commitment, you can make a difference even in the poorest communities,” said Woodward. “While companies are there to make money, they can also help elevate the African economy through capital investment and, even more important over the long run, by helping the Africans cultivate 21st century business skills.”
For more
than 10 years,
Dr. Doug Woodward (on right), director of the Division of
Research and professor of economics, and
Dr. Robert Rolfe (on left), professor of international
business, have conducted research on the African economy. They are now collaborating on a book that
will highlight viable business sectors in Africa, including success stories of U.S.-based companies
like Coca-Cola, the largest private employer in Africa today.
In May 2007, Woodward and Rolfe led the first CIBER Faculty Development in International Business (FDIB) program in Africa. During 17 days of travel through South Africa and Kenya, faculty from many U.S. colleges and universities learned about Africa’s business climate through visits to universities, embassies, nongovernmental organizations, manufacturing exporters, and other businesses, including a Coca-Cola bottler, to assess their impact on the African economy.
The FDIB-Africa program seeks to raise faculty awareness of the economic, political, business, and cultural environments that exist in sub-Saharan Africa and, ultimately, leverage the new knowledge to enlighten others and pursue new avenues of research relating to Africa. “What we are trying to demonstrate to the faculty is that there is much more to Africa than what they often read or see on TV,” explained Rolfe. “Infrastructure is being built, companies are being privatized. The U.S., China, and Europe have dramatically increased investment in Africa in the past five years.” Rolfe’s and Woodward’s ongoing research examines the impact this investment is having on the African economy.
Rolfe and Woodward see the most positive changes when companies invest in the African people by teaching them skills that will help them sustain an income. Coca-Cola has trained and mentored thousands of local entrepreneurs in every country and almost every community on the continent. “ Coca-Cola serves as an example to other investors and sends a message that if you make a long-term commitment, you can make a difference even in the poorest communities,” said Woodward. “While companies are there to make money, they can also help elevate the African economy through capital investment and, even more important over the long run, by helping the Africans cultivate 21st century business skills.”