DIGITISING TO MEET SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: CHALLENGES IN THE AFRICAN CONTEXT

The advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) wields much potential to revolutionize operations and activities and fast-track the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, several factors impeding a full-swing technological revolution exist in developing regions like Africa...

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Main Authors: Beauty Zindi, Emmanuel Ndhlovu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Widya Mandala Surabaya Catholic University,Faculty of Business 2024-12-01
Series:Research in Management and Accounting
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Online Access:https://journal.ukwms.ac.id/index.php/RIMA/article/view/5767
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author Beauty Zindi
Emmanuel Ndhlovu
author_facet Beauty Zindi
Emmanuel Ndhlovu
author_sort Beauty Zindi
collection DOAJ
description The advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) wields much potential to revolutionize operations and activities and fast-track the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, several factors impeding a full-swing technological revolution exist in developing regions like Africa. Drawing on a qualitative semi-systematic literature review underpinned by thematic data analysis, this article explored the challenges of deploying 4IR tools to fast-track the attainment of SDGs. The findings show that limited internet access, underdeveloped ICT infrastructure, regulatory barriers, lack of awareness and education, and lack of collaboration and data sharing are challenges impeding digital adoption to meet SDGs in Africa. To fast-track technology uptake and increase the possibility of achieving SDGs before the 2030 deadline, it is recommended that African governments intervene. This is because most businesses and households in Africa cannot afford digitalization. Most of the households are smallholder farmers. Assisting these farmers with technology would help them increase production and, thus, help eliminate hunger, reduce poverty and gender inequality, promote industry, innovation, and infrastructure, and 12 responsible consumption and production.
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spelling doaj-art-4c75df5d35134ce9a508374f09d2b0bb2025-08-20T03:11:55ZengWidya Mandala Surabaya Catholic University,Faculty of BusinessResearch in Management and Accounting2723-38042024-12-0172799610.33508/rima.v7i2.57674983DIGITISING TO MEET SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: CHALLENGES IN THE AFRICAN CONTEXTBeauty Zindi0Emmanuel Ndhlovu1University of JohannesburgUniversity of JohannesburgThe advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) wields much potential to revolutionize operations and activities and fast-track the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, several factors impeding a full-swing technological revolution exist in developing regions like Africa. Drawing on a qualitative semi-systematic literature review underpinned by thematic data analysis, this article explored the challenges of deploying 4IR tools to fast-track the attainment of SDGs. The findings show that limited internet access, underdeveloped ICT infrastructure, regulatory barriers, lack of awareness and education, and lack of collaboration and data sharing are challenges impeding digital adoption to meet SDGs in Africa. To fast-track technology uptake and increase the possibility of achieving SDGs before the 2030 deadline, it is recommended that African governments intervene. This is because most businesses and households in Africa cannot afford digitalization. Most of the households are smallholder farmers. Assisting these farmers with technology would help them increase production and, thus, help eliminate hunger, reduce poverty and gender inequality, promote industry, innovation, and infrastructure, and 12 responsible consumption and production.https://journal.ukwms.ac.id/index.php/RIMA/article/view/5767fourth industrial revolutionequalityhungerpovertysustainable development goals
spellingShingle Beauty Zindi
Emmanuel Ndhlovu
DIGITISING TO MEET SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: CHALLENGES IN THE AFRICAN CONTEXT
Research in Management and Accounting
fourth industrial revolution
equality
hunger
poverty
sustainable development goals
title DIGITISING TO MEET SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: CHALLENGES IN THE AFRICAN CONTEXT
title_full DIGITISING TO MEET SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: CHALLENGES IN THE AFRICAN CONTEXT
title_fullStr DIGITISING TO MEET SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: CHALLENGES IN THE AFRICAN CONTEXT
title_full_unstemmed DIGITISING TO MEET SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: CHALLENGES IN THE AFRICAN CONTEXT
title_short DIGITISING TO MEET SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: CHALLENGES IN THE AFRICAN CONTEXT
title_sort digitising to meet sustainable development goals challenges in the african context
topic fourth industrial revolution
equality
hunger
poverty
sustainable development goals
url https://journal.ukwms.ac.id/index.php/RIMA/article/view/5767
work_keys_str_mv AT beautyzindi digitisingtomeetsustainabledevelopmentgoalschallengesintheafricancontext
AT emmanuelndhlovu digitisingtomeetsustainabledevelopmentgoalschallengesintheafricancontext