Talent development and market liberalisation are key to unlocking Africa’s aviation potential -Boeing Africa managing director Henok Teferra Shawl

September 5, 2024 in Business, Companies, Science and Technology, The Business Interview by Editor

Henok Teferra Shawl is the Boeing Africa managing director, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Appointed to this position in December 2023, he leads government and stakeholder relations, working to expand Boeing’s presence and partnerships and strengthen its competitive position in Africa. He spoke to 256 Business & Corporate News

 

What inspired Boeing to support entrepreneurship training in Uganda? How does the program connect with efforts to address the high youth unemployment rate in Uganda and in Africa?

Africa has the youngest population in the world, with 78pc of Uganda’s population under the age of 35, according to UNICEF.

Youth means potential. By investing in entrepreneurship, Uganda can harness the energy, creativity, and innovation of its young population.

This year, Boeing and Junior Achievement Africa (JA Africa) have partnered to provide entrepreneurship education to high school students in Uganda through the JA Company Program®. It is the first time the program includes learning opportunities that promote environmental stewardship and resource conservation. On June 27 in Kampala, student teams presented their sustainable business solutions at the JA Uganda Company of the Year national competition supported by Boeing.

The program has an excellent track record in creating self-employment opportunities for young people. It provides participants with essential skills, mentorship, and resources needed to start and sustain businesses, thereby reducing youth unemployment and fostering economic independence. Furthermore, it cultivates a culture of self-reliance and innovation, positioning Uganda as a hub for entrepreneurial activity in Africa. This strategic investment in the young population not only promises immediate economic benefits but also ensures long-term prosperity and stability for the nation.

What has been the impact of the program? Are these youth now trained for self-employment and employment?

The JA Company Program® has been a catalyst for entrepreneurial growth in Uganda since 2008, with 70pc of participants successfully establishing their own ventures.

This year, Boeing and JA Africa have joined forces for the first time to empower 1,500 high school students in Uganda. The participants learned how to set up and run a small business, solve problems, and be creative. They enhanced their communication and presentation skills, while also learning how to tackle climate-related challenges in their communities head-on.

Speaking more broadly, Boeing’s collaboration with JA Africa has inspired over 5,000 young people across the continent over the last four years to harness their entrepreneurship potential and innovate for a sustainable future.

Can you elaborate on integrating environmental stewardship and resource conservation into the program? Does Boeing support any other sustainability-related educational programs for youth in Africa?

We firmly believe in the pivotal role that education and youth empowerment play in promoting sustainable practices and work diligently to align STEM education in Africa with sustainability.

This year, the JA Company Program® sponsored by Boeing in Uganda and other African countries includes learning opportunities that promote environmental stewardship and resource conservation for the first time. The program bridges the gap between young people’s passion for the environment and the practical skills required to create tangible solutions for pressing climate change issues.

Just recently in July this year, Boeing and INJAZ Al-Arab launched a course on aviation sustainability. The course is available on the INJAZ Campus digital education platform for high school and university students in Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco. The course fosters a better understanding of corporate social responsibility, sustainable operations, renewable energy transition including sustainable aviation fuels, and more.

In 2022 and 2023, together with our non-profit partners, we launched dedicated educational sustainability programs for young people in Egypt, Morocco (STEM for Sustainability program with Amideast), and Senegal (Boeing Sustainability Program with JA Africa).

We also work with academia and our customers to elevate our efforts. Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines developed a training course focused on aviation sustainability for the Ethiopian Aviation University in Addis Ababa.

All these initiatives help equip African youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to promote sustainable practices from the school bench to career.

What other training opportunities is Boeing supporting in Uganda and Africa and how do these support the region’s growing aviation industry?

The societal benefits of aviation are immense – we connect people, facilitate commerce, and create jobs. With an economic growth potential, vast natural resources, and a growing and young population, preparing the aviation workforce in Uganda and across Africa is extremely important. Boeing forecasts a need for 69,000 new aviation professionals over the next 20 years in Africa, as connectivity and demand for passenger and cargo air transportation grow.

In addition to selling and servicing airplanes and working with suppliers, Boeing is deeply invested in developing local talent capabilities in Africa. We partner with leading universities, including Addis Ababa Institute of Technology and Cairo University, to foster research and advanced technologies like uncrewed aerial vehicles, strengthen engineering education, and develop a robust talent pipeline for the aerospace industry on the continent.

We support multiple community programs centered around aviation and space career skills development, STEM education, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and women empowerment. They span across Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

One of the key challenges we are addressing through such programs is providing equal opportunities for vulnerable or underrepresented groups. We have several programs for rural communities. We also place a strong emphasis on empowering women through all our community initiatives, achieving an average female participation rate of 50pc in Africa.

How much is Boeing investing in the youth programs in Uganda and in Africa?

Boeing has partnered with over 40 organizations and invested more than $22 million since 2008 to drive systemic improvements in education and economic empowerment in Africa.

What is driving air travel in Africa?

Africa is among the most promising markets in terms of economic and business growth.

Urbanization and the expanding middle-class population in Africa are driving air travel and the need for connectivity across the continent. According to Boeing’s estimates, African carriers will require more than 1,000 new airplane deliveries over the next 20 years, with 90pc intended to expand their existing fleets.

What are the challenges facing the aviation industry in Africa?

The opportunity for growth of the African aviation industry is significant, and African carriers can capture more growth if structural challenges can be overcome.

These challenges include developing and retaining talent. We work with airlines to provide leadership, route planning, network development, and strategy training, and we are deeply invested in creating a talent pipeline through our various STEM education programs for the African youth. Some of these programs are squarely focused on aviation careers, including partnerships with Digital Divide Data in Kenya and the STEM School with ThinkYoung and Ethiopian Airlines in Ethiopia.

Secondly, reducing risk perception and effectively communicating the African growth story to investors is crucial for securing fleet financing. That’s where Boeing’s customer finance solutions come into play.

Thirdly, market liberalization, free trade, and eliminating regulatory hurdles are essential for enhancing the connectivity and competitiveness of African carriers. The African aviation community has long aspired to witness the complete implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a goal that Boeing actively supports through our involvement in the African Aviation Industry Group, closely aligned with the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), to advocate for market liberalization.

Furthermore, implementing, and upholding aviation safety standards in Africa is vital. We are collaborating with airlines to enhance safety performance by providing tools to mitigate major identified risks. Boeing has contributed to regional safety efforts through initiatives like the Regional Aviation Safety Group.

Additionally, reducing operating costs and strengthening profitability are key factors in enhancing operational efficiency for African carriers. Boeing’s digital solutions provide African airlines with real-time access to maintenance, flight, and aircraft performance information to optimize efficiency and lower fleet operating costs.

Finally, decarbonization of aviation is high on the agenda. In addition to providing new-generation fuel-efficient airplanes and analytics solutions to reduce fuel consumption, Boeing has been pioneering efforts to make sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) a reality. We work with partners to research, develop, and commercialize SAF from local sources. In 2023, Boeing and Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) released a study highlighting the potential for producing SAF in Ethiopia and South Africa and exploring the opportunity for SAF to drive a just energy transition while generating jobs on the continent.