The power of the private sector in advancing an inclusive society

Stephen Chege, Chief Regulatory and External Affairs Officer at Vodacom Group.

---

Inclusion is a critical pillar to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 10 of reducing inequalities. Without inclusion, we risk deepening existing disparities and limiting socio-economic progress. 

The private sector is well-positioned to champion inclusion by ensuring that opportunities are accessible to all and fostering environments where diversity thrives. 

At Vodacom, empowering people is a core pillar of our purpose to connect everyone to a better future. By investing in meaningful empowerment programmes, we can help to ensure that no one is excluded from the tools and resources needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving digital world.

Empowerment programmes targeting historically marginalised groups, particularly women and people with disabilities, are transformative on multiple levels.

For individuals, such initiatives provide access to education, skills development, and employment opportunities, creating pathways out of poverty and dependency. On a societal level, inclusive policies foster greater equity and social cohesion, challenging stereotypes, and reshaping perceptions about the capabilities of marginalised groups.

Barriers continue to exist to inclusion in the workplace and society at large. Findings of the Africa Gender Index 2023 Analytical Report, released last year, show that women in Africa score just 50.3% in equality across economic, social, and public representation areas. 

Furthermore, people with disabilities are more likely to be unemployed and paid less in the labour market than those without disabilities. This is despite studies showing that diverse workforces are more innovative, productive, and profitable. 

According to McKinsey’s latest triennial report on the business case for diversity, companies with higher gender diversity on executive teams are 39% more likely to outperform their peers financially. Similarly, an Accenture study highlights the correlation between disability inclusion and organisational business gains.

Although it is important to provide opportunities for everyone in an economically active population, creating an inclusive organisational culture requires more than just hiring diverse talent. 

Employers need to ensure that workplaces are free from discrimination and unconscious bias. Empowerment programmes should target all levels of the organisation, considering diverse needs such as parental leave policies, accessible infrastructure and ongoing training and development. 

For example, Vodacom has established employee networks, including the Women’s Network Forum, Disability Employee Forum, and Africa Accessibility Forum, to raise awareness about inclusion and enable employees to connect, network and be empowered.

Companies that genuinely commit to inclusion must do so at multiple levels – not only within their workforce but in their engagement with society. By empowering employees, customers and communities, businesses can make wide-reaching, long-lasting impact while fostering broader socioeconomic upliftment. 

Organisations like Vodacom have taken significant steps in this regard, launching products and services that drive digital and financial inclusion, from zero-rated digital learning platforms and mobile money solutions to integrating accessibility in design processes when developing innovations.

Technology serves as a powerful enabler of inclusion, and the private sector has an opportunity to lead in this space. Digital solutions can break down barriers, providing access to education, employment, and essential services for marginalised communities.

Recognising the need to create pathways for women in technology and leadership, Vodacom has launched initiatives to bridge the gender gap in traditionally male-dominated industries. 

One such programme is #CodeLikeAGirl, which equips young girls with digital skills and coding knowledge, fostering greater female representation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers. 

By investing in digital literacy for girls, Vodacom is not only empowering the next generation but also ensuring a more diverse and inclusive digital economy.

Technology has also been vital in delivering new levels of accessibility to people with disabilities and ensuring they are able to participate in the digital economy and modern-day society at large. 

This is why the digital inclusion of people with disabilities through tailored products and services is imperative. This includes initiatives such as a bespoke call centre for deaf customers in Egypt and South Africa, and dedicated help desks for blind customers and sign language interpreters for deaf customers in Tanzania. 

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, through the Je Suis Cap programme, we empowered 1 450 women with disabilities to be M-Pesa agents, and our Insight Centre in Lesotho provides visually impaired people with access to information.

The responsibility to drive inclusion, however, extends beyond individual companies. Collaboration between the private sector, government, and civil society is essential in creating systemic change. 

Cross-sector partnerships can amplify the impact of programmes, ensuring that efforts to promote gender and disability empowerment are sustainable and far-reaching.

This was the motivation behind our inaugural Disability and Accessibility Conference last year, which brought together global thought leaders, policymakers, and business pioneers to explore how we can collectively bridge the digital divide for people with disabilities in Africa. 

Discussions focused on how digital technology can intentionally advance the participation of persons with disabilities as both employees and consumers. The conference was an opportunity to share real-life experiences, establish strategic partnerships and recognise the importance of inclusion for the continent.

Companies that embrace diversity are not only more innovative and competitive but also contribute to a more equitable society. Through impactful empowerment programmes, the private sector can play a transformative role in breaking barriers and creating opportunities for all.