Podcast
Afri-CAN by Pharo Foundation
Hosted by Afri-CAN Podcast · EN
Africa: lost continent, aid-dependent basket case of economic development failures? Forget the old clichés. Francesca Beausang and her guests explore the ideas and concrete innovations through which Africa is becoming a model of innovation-driven development for the world. Afri-CAN is a podcast run by Pharo Foundation, a mission-driven, impact-oriented organisation that designs, funds and operates economic development programmes towards a vibrant, productive and self-reliant Africa.
14episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Can Technology Fix Africa’s Construction Problem?
5d ago00:23:32Tap to summarizeWhat happens when construction equipment is needed urgently, but the right machine is hundreds of kilometers away?In Episode 3 of the Afri-CAN Podcast, we speak with Arthur Abaliwano, CEO of Anchor Machines, about how technology is helping contractors and mining companies across Africa access heavy equipment faster and more efficiently.Arthur explains how Anchor Machines connects project teams with nearby excavators, graders, bulldozers, and other equipment, reducing sourcing time, transportation costs, and costly project delays. He also shares how the company is expanding beyond equipment access to address other industry challenges through fleet management, fuel partnerships, insurance, financing, and real-time data.The conversation also explores Arthur’s entrepreneurial journey, the lessons learned while building a startup without a technology background, and the barriers African innovators continue to face, including limited patient capital, slow payment cycles, procurement requirements, and cross-border regulations.Listen to learn how Anchor Machines is rethinking one of Africa’s most important industries and making construction and mining more connected, collaborative, and efficient.
Transcribe →Impact Investing, Low-Fee Schools, and the Future of Development
2w ago00:42:18Tap to summarizeAs aid flows decline, can impact investing help fill the gap in global development?In this episode of the Afri-CAN Podcast we speak with Corina Gardner, CEO of IDP Foundation, and Rob Alhadeff, CEO and Co-Founder of Jackfruit Network, about the future of education finance in Africa.They discuss the role of low-fee private schools in underserved communities, why education receives less impact capital than healthcare, and how innovative financing can help schools improve infrastructure, learning outcomes, and long-term sustainability.The conversation also covers outcomes-based financing, trust-based local decision-making, microfinance, guarantees, local currency lending, and new ways to leverage endowments and investment capital for greater impact.This is a deep but practical conversation about what comes after traditional aid and how capital can be structured to reach the schools and communities that need it most.
Transcribe →Development After the Fall of Aid
4w ago00:34:02Tap to summarizeIn the first episode of Season 4 of the Afri-CAN Podcast, we speak with Paul Ronalds, CEO of Save the Children Global Ventures, about the future of development at a time when global aid has been severely cut.Paul explores how the development sector can move beyond traditional funding models and incorporate markets, impact investment, and financially sustainable approaches to support life-changing programs.This episode looks at one of the biggest questions facing the sector today: how can development organizations continue creating impact when aid funding is no longer guaranteed?Listen to the full conversation to hear Paul’s perspective on rethinking development, funding long-term solutions, and building programs that can help sustain themselves.
Transcribe →Why Africa’s Future Needs Science
May 1200:38:51Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we explore why science is investable, why it matters more than ever in an age of growing scepticism, and how Africa’s young people can be inspired to see science as a creative and powerful force for solving society’s most urgent challenges. The conversation also highlights the new telescope being built in Namibia as part of Sera Markoff’s BlackHolistic ERC Synergy Grant, and what it represents for African science, global collaboration, and the future of discovery.Our guests are esteemed scientists Sera Markoff, Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at the University of Cambridge and a leading member of the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, and Tolullah Oni, Clinical Professor of Global Public Health and Sustainable Urban Development at the University of Cambridge and Founder & CEO of UrbanBetter. Together, they offer a thoughtful conversation on science, innovation, data, culture, creativity, and the importance of making science more inclusive, exciting, and relevant to the next generation.
Transcribe →Forced Migration, Climate Change, and the Fight to Stay
Apr 2800:32:02Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Afri-CAN, we speak with Rania Sharshr, Director of Climate Action at IOM, about the human story behind climate-driven migration.As climate emergencies become more frequent and more severe, communities around the world are being forced to make impossible choices. But as Rania explains, many people do not want to leave their homes or depend on endless cycles of assistance. They want long-term solutions that allow them to adapt, rebuild, and stay.Together, we explore why climate migration must be understood through people’s lived experiences, not just data. We also discuss the role of local governments, the private sector, and communities themselves in shaping practical, lasting responses to the climate challenges they face.
Transcribe →Feeding Recovery in Rwanda
Apr 1700:34:39Tap to summarizeWhat if food security is only half the story?In this episode of Afri-CAN, we sit down with Nassir Katuramu, CEO of Solid’Africa, to explore a question that does not get asked enough: if a country can produce enough food, why do so many people still struggle to access the nutrition their bodies actually need? Solid’Africa is a Rwanda-based organisation focused on ending nutrition insecurity, and its work starts with one simple but powerful idea: food should not just fill people up, it should help them heal. We unpack how Solid’Africa identified a major gap in access to nutrient-dense meals, especially for vulnerable hospital patients, and built a one-of-a-kind model around medically tailored meals designed to support recovery. The conversation also looks at how the organisation works across the supply chain and alongside government to make that model possible at scale. It is a thoughtful conversation about food, health, dignity, and what development looks like when we focus not just on feeding people, but nourishing them.
Transcribe →Venture Labs, Failure, and Startup Success in Africa
Apr 500:44:32Tap to summarizeWhat does it really take for entrepreneurs in Africa to succeed — and are venture labs part of the answer?In this episode of Afri-CAN, we explore how venture labs can help build stronger startups by giving aspiring founders the space to test ideas, fail fast, learn quickly, and grow with the right support. We also look at what these innovation models still lack, how they compare to accelerators and similar programmes, and what may be holding back deeper, more meaningful innovation across the continent.Joining us are Lyndsay Holley Handler, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Delta40 Venture Studio; Jannek Hagen, Rwanda Country Director at Pharo Foundation and the mind behind Pharo Foundation’s new venture lab set to launch by the end of 2026; and Stephen Khan, a Master’s student at the University of Edinburgh studying entrepreneurship and innovation. Together, they unpack the role of venture labs in Africa’s startup ecosystem and discuss the “3 C’s” they believe are limiting true innovation on the continent.
Transcribe →Can Solar Power Help Feed Africa?
Mar 2700:31:11Tap to summarizeWhat does climate action look like when it starts on the farm?In this episode of Afri-CAN, we speak with Jon Saunders, COO of SunCulture, about how the company is helping smallholder farmers across Africa through affordable solar-powered technology. SunCulture’s model centres on off-grid solar systems designed to improve access to irrigation and farm productivity, while also making that technology more accessible through financing and support. We explore the story behind SunCulture, the problem they are trying to solve, and why this work matters far beyond agriculture. At the heart of the conversation is a bigger question: how can climate innovation strengthen food security in Africa, and why does that matter not just for the continent, but for global stability too? This is a thoughtful conversation about technology, resilience, and what it takes to build practical solutions that meet people where they are.
Transcribe →Africa, Innovation, and the Rise of Civilisations
Mar 2000:25:38Tap to summarizeWhat helps civilisations flourish — and what causes them to fall behind?In this episode of Afri-CAN, we are joined by Johan Norberg, author of Peak Human, to explore the role of innovation in the rise of the world’s most secure and prosperous societies. Drawing on the ideas behind his work, Johan reflects on how progress happens when people are free to experiment, borrow, combine and improve ideas in ways that no planner could ever fully predict.We also examine what happens when fear begins to overpower curiosity, and how civilisational decline can follow when societies become less open to exchange, experimentation and outside influence. The conversation looks at why imitation often comes before innovation, how cultures of optimism are built, and why openness to new ideas matters so deeply for long-term progress.Finally, we bring the discussion to Africa today: what can the continent learn from the history of flourishing civilisations, and what kind of role models are needed to show that the impossible can, in fact, be done?
Transcribe →Are Soft Skills Africa’s Missing Link?
Mar 1400:46:51Tap to summarizeWhat really helps young people make the transition from school to work in Africa: technical skills or soft skills?In this episode of Afri-CAN, Wendy Cunningham from the World Bank makes the case for soft skills — or, as she puts it, socio-emotional behavioural skills — as a crucial part of employability and success. She explores how these skills affect earning potential, job opportunities, and business performance, and explains which ones matter most for both employees and entrepreneurs across Africa.The conversation also looks at the bigger picture: how investing in these skills among young people could create lasting change across the continent. From education to enterprise, this episode asks whether Africa may need to think differently about what truly prepares people for work.
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