Page 13 - NYY Muscat Call 2022 April 24

day short-term commercial gain, often linked to financial arbitrage skyrocketing in capital-
intensive largescale development projects, kicks in. Governments, multilateral organisations,

and development banks mostly put up a bleak defence.

However, local communities linking to entrepreneurial networks, brew across much of the

African continent. They are oiled by flourishing start-up communities in a handful of
locations, as in Kenya, Rwanda and Ghana. The Vertex Ecosystem and Africa Vision 2030

Fund aim to raise visibility and support linking to established venture capital and

entrepreneurial empowerment programmes, specialised in cultivating inclusive innovations.
A particular initiative has been taken to link up to the African-wide Wildlife network,

spanning 8000 reserves in need of value-enhancing innovations linked to conservation. The

result of leverage stands to promise a pan-African movement in pursuit of nature-positive,
effective, livelihoodbuilding, inclusive and sustainable interventions across thousands of

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vulnerable communities and landscapes.

iv) Cherishing the fruits of cultural heritage
The world still features endless wonders. The option to experience what is new, different

from elsewhere, reflecting diversity in life-forms or culture, carries value. The scope for

attracting tourists and other visitors thereby, represents a source of opportunity with the
potential of spurring innovation and investment channelled towards preservation of

environmental and cultural assets whose accessibility is guided by value-enhancing services.

But such scenarios are far from always realized – uncontrolled tourism unleashed in excessive

numbers may slowly dismantle – or hurriedly crash – the very source of value those assets

once possessed. Few governments and policymakers have been honing competencies and
skill-development in managing such choices between sustainable eco-friendly experience

industry, on the one hand, and ravaging mass-tourism on the other. Tourism policymakers
have few places to meet, share experiences, gain inspiration, and build partnerships for new

initiatives. What may represent the world’s largest industry, when including the myriad of

local businesses and entrepreneurs who depend on it, tends to evolve at the whim of markets,

13 Presented at Water and Humanity by Mr. Marc Watum, South Africa and Kenya, representing Vertex and
Africa 2030 Fund.

www.waterandhumanity.com 13