Welcome to Voices of Resilience Season 3, brought to you by Na'amal, a non-profit and social enterprise dedicated to empowering forcibly displaced individuals through dignified remote work. In this episode, we delve into the exciting and sometimes challenging landscape of AI and Africa's digital future.
In this compelling episode, we sit down with Sharmi Surianarain, Chief Impact Officer at Harambee, to explore why the future of work is not just in Africa, but is African. Sharmi shares her two-decade journey connecting young people to meaningful work across the continent and makes a powerful case for Africa's demographic dividend as a global solution.
About Our Guest: Sharmi Surianarain is the Chief Impact Officer at Harambee, a youth employment accelerator operating in South Africa and Rwanda. Born in India and raised partly in Nigeria, Sharmi has lived across West, East, and South Africa, bringing a continental perspective to youth employment challenges. She previously worked at African Leadership Academy, where she founded Africa Careers Network. Sharmi also chairs Rwanda's Global Business Services Growth Initiative and serves as a part-time jazz singer.
Episode Highlights
The Demographic Opportunity
- Africa is home to the world's youngest population and will be its largest workforce by 2030
- 12-15 million young people enter the African labor market annually, but fewer than 3 million find jobs
- This represents both a challenge and the world's greatest untapped opportunity
Making the Business Case for Africa
- Companies come for cost competitiveness but stay for impact and meaningful stories
- Young Africans bring unique strengths: resilience, creativity, empathy, and digital nativity
- Real example: A young woman in Kigali seamlessly switching between French and English while helping elderly JetBlue customers
Redefining Africa's Global Position
- Moving from extractive relationships to partnerships "on our terms"
- Leveraging Africa's renewable energy potential and youthful workforce
- Challenging stereotypes through direct experience and authentic storytelling
Harambee's Impact
- Supports nearly 5 million young people in South Africa and 30,000+ in Rwanda
- Created 1.8 million work opportunities, with 8% being net new export-oriented jobs
- Operates a multi-channel, data-free support center with 100+ call center agents
Innovation in Adversity
- "Pessimism is a privilege" - African youth are optimistic by necessity
- Examples from Kenya's recent protests: young people translating tax legislation into local languages on TikTok
- Refugee success story: Young man from DRC who built schools in refugee camps
The AI Conversation
- Criticism of sensationalist "jobocalypse" narratives
- Advocating for AI as companion and partner, not threat
- African youth's relationship with uncertainty as an advantage in adapting to technological change
Redesigning Institutions
- Need for inter-generational learning in workplaces
- Call for political representation that reflects Africa's young demographic
- Creating "future-proof" institutions that accommodate youth potential
Cultural Renaissance
- Africa's creative industries as major value drivers
- New Grammy category for Afrobeats signals global recognition
- Pop culture as a vehicle for changing perceptions of the continent
Discussion Topics
- Labor Migration Reform: Creating dignified, mutually beneficial pathways for African workers globally
- Political Representation: The need for leadership that reflects Africa's young population
- Mentorship Models: Embracing inter-generational learning and reverse mentoring
- Technology Adoption: Positioning Africa as an AI-ready continent rather than a victim of technological change
- Stereotype Dismantling: Moving beyond narratives of war, famine, and disaster to showcase innovation and opportunity
About Harambee: Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator operates as a labor market matching platform, connecting young people to work opportunities while breaking down barriers to employment. Based in South Africa and Rwanda, they've pioneered the concept of "impact sourcing" - demonstrating that hiring young Africans delivers both business value and social impact.
Connect with Our Guest
- Organization: Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator
- Music: Sharmi is also a jazz singer with albums available on streaming platforms
- Focus Areas: Youth employment, impact sourcing, labor migration, AI and future of work
Connect with Us:
The future of work isn't just changing - it's African. Join us in reimagining what's possible when we recognize Africa's youth as the solution the world needs.
