Africa

Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi

HBS continues its efforts to build a deep understanding of and expertise in global business practice and innovation around the world, including throughout Africa, a region that is assuming an increasingly vital role in the world economy. The school opened the Africa Research Center in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2017 followed by an office in Lagos, Nigeria in 2019, and an office in Nairobi, Kenya in 2022. This center plays an important role in helping HBS develop and strengthen relationships with business and academic leaders across sub-Saharan Africa, while our Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Research Center based in Istanbul, plays this same role for North African countries. Support for HBS engagement and activities across the school are enabled by these locations. The School strives to deepen faculty's understanding of and exposure to African management issues, trends, and practices, as well as develop locally relevant case studies and course materials for use in business education programs around the world. The Africa Research Center also supports alumni engagement, webinars and faculty case discussions, executive education, and admissions and outreach activities on the continent.

Locations

Africa Research Center: Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa

Africa Research Center: Lagos
Lagos, Nigeria

Africa Research Center: Nairobi
Nairobi, Kenya

News & Highlights

MAY 2025
FIELD Global Capstone

CEM/FIELD Global Capstone in Accra, Kigali, and Nairobi

In May 2025, the ARC concluded the Creating Emerging Markets and FIELD Global Capstone project by engaging with four visionary African business leaders across Accra, Kigali, and Nairobi. These conversations offered a chance to hear firsthand from industry-transforming leaders whose insights are helping shape the future of business in Africa. Three of the interviews were conducted in person by HBS Professors Archie Jones, Martin Sinozich, and Hakeem Belo-Osagie, while the fourth - led by Professor Ramon Casadesus-Masanell - was held in a hybrid format, yet every bit as compelling, insightful, and energizing.

February 2025
ALUMNI EVENT

Discussion on Climate Adaptation with Prof. John Macomber in Kampala

On 25 February 2025, Pippa Armerding, Executive Director of the Africa Research Center, joined Professor John Macomber in Kampala, Uganda at an event for alumni and other stakeholders where Prof. Macomber discussed his work on climate adaptation. Prof. Macomber’s research focuses on how companies and governments can integrate climate resilience into real estate and infrastructure projects to manage risks from flooding, wildfires, extreme heat, drought, and sea level rise. The event attracted over 65 attendees.

October 2024
ADMISSIONS EVENT

MBA Admissions Events in Africa

In October 2024, the Africa Research Center supported the MBA Admissions outreach trips and information sessions with Rupal Gadhia and Jay Katatumba in Abidjan, Cape Town, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg, Kampala, Kigali Lagos and Nairobi. Over 160 participants attended.

AUGUST 2024
ALUMNI EVENT

Alumni Event with Prof. John Macomber in Dakar

In August 2024, the ARC Executive Director joined Professor John Macomber on an Africa immersion to Dakar, Senegal. During the visit, Prof. Macomber engaged with business leaders, corporates, Harvard alumni and other stakeholders to gain insights into the local business environment. The HBS Africa Research Center in collaboration with the HBS Business and Environment Initiative hosted an in-person Alumni event on Climate Adaptation and Urban Economic Development led by Prof. Macomber. The event saw over 20 attendees engage in a lively discussion.

New Research on the Region

July 2025
Article
Accounting Review

Digital Lending and Financial Well-Being: Through the Lens of Mobile Phone Data

By: AJ Chen, Omri Even-Tov, Jung Koo Kang and Regina Wittenberg-Moerman

To mitigate information asymmetry about borrowers in developing economies, digital lenders use machine-learning algorithms and nontraditional data from borrowers’ mobile devices. Consequently, digital lenders have managed to expand access to credit for millions of individuals lacking a prior credit history. However, short-term, high-interest digital loans have raised concerns about predatory lending practices. To examine how digital credit influences borrowers’ financial well-being, we use proprietary data from a digital lender in Kenya that randomly approves loan applications that would have otherwise been rejected based on the borrower’s credit profile. We find that access to digital credit improves borrowers’ financial well-being across various mobile-phone-based well-being measures, including monetary transactions and balances, mobility, and social networks as well as borrowers’ self-reported income and employment. We further show that this positive impact is more pronounced when borrowers have limited access to credit, take loans for business purposes, and obtain more credit.

May 2025
Case

Boutiqaat: Influencing Retail in MENA

By: Juan Alcacer and Noor Al Qadhi

Boutiqaat, a Kuwait-based e-commerce platform, scaled an influencer-driven beauty retail model across MENA and now faces critical strategic choices about offline expansion and globalization. Founded in 2015, Boutiqaat combined social commerce, localized logistics, and private label products to build a differentiated digital platform. Students must evaluate whether Boutiqaat should establish flagship stores to deepen its omnichannel retail footprint or focus on expanding internationally beyond the Gulf and Jordan. The case explores platform strategy, influencer ecosystems, customer experience differentiation, and internationalization challenges in emerging markets. It is ideal for teaching courses in digital strategy, global entrepreneurship, scaling tech ventures, , and platform-based business models.