Report ‘The State of HCD in Africa’ – 2023

YUX in partnership with Proportion Global, the Institute of Design and Innovation, HCD exchange and the Aga Khan Foundation initiated The State of HCD in Africa Study. This study aims to address the existing gaps and challenges of applying HCD in Africa, by breaking down the barriers that have traditionally confined HCD knowledge and insights within distinct silos. The goal is to develop a comprehensive understanding of HCD approaches and methodologies and pinpoint challenges and limitations inherent in the application of HCD within the African context while delving into potential areas for advancement and growth in the field.
The result of this study is based on consultations with 10 industry professionals from various countries across the continent and 114 survey responses from across 29 countries.

Some key findings from the report include:
⦾ There is a greater recognition of HCD’s ability to help one understand the user and context (92%) compared to improving the sustainability and scalability of solutions (46%).
⦾ Barriers to a locally-driven process could be overcome by enhancing awareness of HCD processes at the local level in addition to addressing organizational power dynamics. ⦾ Most respondents (54%) identified translation of findings into programmatic and policy action as a primary gap in capacity building amongst HCD practitioners.
⦾ 65% of the HCD practitioners who answered the survey work in the health sector.
⦾ There is a mismatch in the terminologies associated with HCD activities between practitioners in agencies and those in development organizations.
⦾ Anecdotal evidence (e.g. follow-up interviews) is utilized more (56%) than rigorous methods (e.g. RCTs) (12%) when measuring the effectiveness of HCD.
⦾ NGOs tend to hire external consultants and design agencies to train their staff on HCD.
⦾ In addition to increased funding, tailored research tools and a culture of shared learning are key to elevating the state of HCD in Africa.

The report includes some inspiring HCD initiatives and highlights HCD’s role as a force for positive change, driving innovation and collaboration across diverse communities and sectors. While the future looks promising, addressing HCD’s shortcomings is crucial. This includes tackling issues related to capacity building, improving accountability in interventions, and restructuring organizational frameworks to optimize HCD practices.
Addressing these challenges requires collective effort; individual solutions fall short of the transformative aim. It’s time for meaningful conversations, where HCD communities come together with a shared vision for positive change. The journey begins together, initiating conversations fueled by the insightful “How might we” questions outlined throughout the report. Also, engaging events are in the works, designed to cultivate a sense of community and facilitate conversations about the dynamic landscape of HCD within the African continent. We genuinely hope to see YOU there, as your perspective is crucial to shaping the future we collectively envision.
Download the full report ‘State of HCD in Africa 2023’ here