Young graduate Enock Walusimbi is worried about his future. A fresh, 2019 graduate of Accounting and Finance from Makerere University, Walusimbi left the institution with shoulders high and his head even higher in his dream of a brilliant future ahead.

A few months after graduation, COVID-19, a disease that seemed so far to worry the Ugandan youngster started spreading across the world from China.

By March, most countries were under lockdown. With barely any experience, his volunteering opportunity was terminated by the firm he was working with as he was regarded not essential. Walusimbi is now at home hoping for the best. His is the tale of what many employees, startup and SME owners have experienced with COVID-19.

We are in an unprecedented season of our lifetime where the future is uncertain, appears complex, ambiguous and career paths many expected to be excellent have taken an unexpected turn for the worse. While some employees were furloughed, many others have had their pay slashed. What’s more, entire careers have been rendered totally useless in some cases because of the technological disruptions.

Even in the “normal” times career growth curves have hardly been perfect. It has been survival of the fittest especially in Africa where unemployment remains high even before COVID.

Experience teaches us that every person must at least double cushion themselves with multi skills, an alternative source of income or a meaningful relationship that can come in handy in times of need.

The current situation of seasonal quarantines, lockdowns, and social distancing measures limit so many of the possibilities born out of social networking. But with technology providing an alternative to physical meetings and social interactions, many people are already taking advantage to maintain connections while keeping safe at the same time.

Africa is in that time where one job loss spells doom for many dependents and yet with COVID-19, so many jobs have been lost. The continent’s engine of growth and hope, startups, and SMEs, have severely been affected by the COVID-19 measures.

For instance, the African Development Bank warns that the COVID-19 pandemic will affect both the demand and supply of labour for African SMEs.

“While the COVID-19 pandemic has affected all segments, it is arguable that the impact on SMEs is far more pronounced, particularly with regards to their larger counterparts for a number of reasons,” reads part of the report.

Startups, SMEs, and entrepreneurship in general, will define the next catalytic growth of the continent.

According to this World Bank report, Africa has the youngest population in the world, and it will continue to be so for some time to come. The Walusimbis of this continent, the WB report says, can offer “demographic dividend provided economic opportunities can be created through education, skills and enabling entrepreneurship”.

Human Capital International is aware that many Walusimbis and entrepreneurs across the continent are confined in solitary thinking after their careers and businesses have been grounded.

That is why on the 25^th of August, we begin the career and startups intelligence series, a continental online program specifically designed to provide start-ups and young professionals with the opportunity to grasp the changes taking place globally in the marketplace because of digital transformations. It is also intended to showcase the skills and paradigms required to stay relevant as a business and as a professional in the new economy. It is an opportunityfor you to think aloud with experts and peers who will nourish your spirit to help you pursue your dream career, commiserate with you in your losses and share their experiences as well.

Register now to book your virtual seat in this continental series.

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