Africa Reports

List of all articles filed under “africa-reports” category.

Jayanth Murthy on Implementing Kaizen Principles Across Africa’s Emerging Markets

June 26, 2025

In this comprehensive interview, Jayanth Murthy, CEO of Kaizen Institute for India and Africa, outlines how the organization specializes in operational excellence consulting and strategy execution support—bridging the critical gap between planning and implementation. Rather than offering traditional advisory services, the Institute takes a hands-on approach, focusing on continuous improvement methodology and delivering results at the frontline level.

Murthy emphasizes that Kaizen implementation is about “improvement without addition,” meaning companies can boost efficiency and performance using existing resources, without needing new investments. This focus on no-cost productivity improvement and waste elimination in business is central to their Lean transformation services.

The Kaizen philosophy is deeply rooted in Japanese principles like Muda (waste), Mura (inconsistency), and Muri (overburden), with a strong emphasis on Gemba-based process improvement—observing real work in real places. Through management consulting in India and Africa, Kaizen Institute has worked across diverse sectors including agriculture, healthcare, garments, manufacturing, and government.

With over 90 consultants from 11 countries, the firm operates as a “small multinational,” using structured methods like value stream mapping and real-time data to drive results. The company conducts weekly internal training reflections to sharpen skills, foster innovation, and promote business process standardization.

Murthy highlights that true transformation comes from involving frontline teams, encouraging a mindset of “learning to see,” and focusing on resource optimization in operations. In his words, empowering frontline teams and standardizing improvements are vital for resilience and sustainable growth.

Finally, as Kaizen expands in emerging markets like India, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Nigeria, the company is seeking strategic partnerships to scale. Murthy underscores their core belief: efficiency must come before investment, and in a world overloaded with data, leaders must find the “vital few” insights that drive real change.

Stephen Yeboah on Green Mining, Mercury-Free Gold, and Ghana’s Commodity Future

June 16, 2025

In this interview, Stephen Yeboah, CEO and co-founder of Commodity Monitor Ghana, shares the company’s journey, vision, and impact in transforming Africa’s commodity value chain through engineering solutions, sustainable mining technology, and strategic trade networks.

Founded in 2017, Commodity Monitor operates at the intersection of commodity trading, logistics, and research, bridging producers and consumers across global markets. The company deals in both soft commodities like maize, wheat, cocoa, and soya, and hard commodities such as gold, oil and gas, and renewable energy technologies.

A core focus of the company is its commitment to green mining practices. In Ghana’s small-scale mining sector—which employs over two million people—Commodity Monitor introduced a mercury-free gold processing technology to replace outdated Chinese machinery. This innovation aligns with Ghana’s commitment to the Minamata Convention and addresses the environmental and health hazards of mercury use in gold mining. Their eco-friendly gold recovery system has delivered up to 87% gold recovery, a major improvement over traditional methods.

Stephen Yeboah emphasizes that formalizing small-scale mining through equipment financing, mining cooperatives, and government partnerships is critical for curbing illegal mining (galamsey) and boosting rural economic development in Ghana. The company’s model has even been replicated in Zambia, proving its scalability and impact.

Commodity Monitor is also positioning itself as a mine support services provider, registered with Ghana’s Minerals Commission, and extending its services to large-scale mining operations. With support from partners in South Africa, Canada, and China, the company continues to fine-tune its technology, adapting machines to local geological conditions—from Obuasi to Tarkwa, Wa, and the Upper East.

Beyond mining, Yeboah highlights the importance of value addition in agriculture, advocating for local processing in cocoa and cereals. He stresses that Africa’s arable land and smart agriculture technologies, such as AI in farming, should be harnessed to shift from import dependency to export leadership.

Looking ahead, Commodity Monitor’s vision is to become a pan-African engineering company that delivers customized solutions across agriculture, mining, energy, and oil and gas—all while promoting environmental sustainability, local beneficiation, and inclusive growth.

James Odongo of KEPRO: Pioneering Kenya’s Circular Economy Through EPR and Recycling Innovation

June 14, 2025

In this interview with James Odongo, CEO of KEPRO (Kenya Extended Producer Responsibility Organisation), he outlines how the organisation is spearheading Kenya’s transition to a circular economy through regulatory alignment, recycling innovation, and strategic public engagement.

Founded in response to the 2017 plastic bag ban in Kenya, KEPRO was established as a special purpose vehicle to help producers take full environmental responsibility for the post-consumption lifecycle of their products. With over 1,000 member companies and close collaboration with the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, KEPRO plays a central role in the implementation of the Sustainable Waste Management Act and EPR regulations introduced in 2024.

Odongo explains that KEPRO’s primary mission is to future-proof business models by encouraging adoption of circular business practices and ensuring compliance with evolving environmental laws. The organization addresses major hurdles such as the cost of compliance, helping members manage financial contributions through a technology-enabled EPR platform that ensures real-time data access and transparency.

With a clear focus on digital transformation, KEPRO has moved beyond manual filing to an interactive compliance system that supports self-declaration, helping reduce administrative burden and increase data confidentiality, especially among competitor-member companies.

Looking ahead to 2025, KEPRO expects growth in collection subsidies, technology investment, and waste compliance support. These budgets are directly tied to partnerships with waste management operators and recyclers, as KEPRO strengthens recycling ecosystems and champions recyclable packaging design. Odongo highlighted the shift by brands like Sprite from green to clear plastic bottles as a positive example of end-of-life product management aligned with recycling goals.

To drive consumer behavior change, KEPRO deploys a mixed communication strategy using digital campaigns, grassroots engagement, social dialogues, and community influencers to reinforce its message: “My waste is my responsibility.” This call to action urges all Kenyans to embrace waste segregation, proper bin use, and active citizenship in building a clean and healthy environment.

KEPRO’s three-year vision is to cement its leadership as Kenya’s premier producer responsibility organization, outpacing competition while scaling its partnerships and environmental impact. At the heart of its strategy lies a commitment to ESG, public-private collaboration, and ensuring that Kenyan businesses remain sustainable, competitive, and compliant in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.

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