In 2021, companies will face a globally fragmented restoration from COVID-19; now’s the time embrace threat and deal with the rebound.

The COVID-19 pandemic, rising digital threats, local weather change and the US China relationship are among the many prime 5 dangers for companies in 2021, printed Monday by Management Dangers, a specialist world threat consultancy.

Underpinning these dangers, the hazard of lacking the rebound in a yr of multi-speed restoration is a prime threat for enterprise within the coming yr.

“There isn’t any doubt that companies will proceed to face appreciable disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, however we consider that the alternatives are actual and thrilling for a lot of corporations in 2021,” feedback Management Dangers CEO, Nick Allan.

All prime 5 world dangers are current in Africa however play out in distinctive methods. In some areas the continent presents a constructive break from the extra destructive world developments, corresponding to within the regional cooperation proven by the continent in its response COVID-19 and the deliberate launch of the African Continental Free Commerce Space (ACFTA).

Total, nevertheless, 2021 might be a tricky yr for a continent that can battle to get better from COVID-19 as quick as a lot of the remainder of the world. Regardless of many vital alternatives for buyers, the markets they’re investing in might be ones characterised by vital operational and political uncertainty.

The buyers that can obtain success in 2021 are those who perceive that Africa’s post-pandemic panorama might be tangibly modified from what got here earlier than, presenting completely different challenges and new alternatives.

The worldwide Prime 5 Dangers for Enterprise in 2020

The Prime 5 dangers are launched as a part of Management Dangers’ annual RiskMap report, a world threat forecast for enterprise leaders and coverage makers internationally, printed right this moment.

1. A world with lengthy COVID

2021 might be a yr of uneven restoration as vaccine rollouts create a world of haves and have-nots, with pockets of eternally COVID on the backside of the pecking order. A lot of Africa, sadly, might be within the have-not class and corporations will face extended operational uncertainty as localised restrictions are sporadically imposed in response to virus spikes. Africa’s financial restoration will even be extra gradual, as governments with restricted fiscal headroom can’t interact in sustained stimulus spending and should as an alternative depend on under-developed personal sectors to drive their recoveries.

2. US-China: stabilisation with out normalisation

Whereas 2021 ought to see superficial stabilisation within the US-China relationship, the straining of the worldwide rules-based system seen over the previous few years is not going to go into full reverse. Competitors reasonably than cooperation will stay the norm in worldwide relations. On this regard at the least Africa represents a welcome break from world developments, as 1 January noticed the launch of ACFTA, and though full implementation of a continental free commerce space might be gradual, the truth that Africa is shifting in that course when a lot of the world just isn’t must be engaging to potential buyers.

3. Go inexperienced or go bust

An inflection level is coming for the connection between companies and local weather change in 2021. No organisation can now afford to not take a stance. The atmosphere is a essential side in a broader space of the ESG agenda. Though no African nation bar South Africa has made a web zero pledge up to now – with out particular funding, governments don’t view it as a precedence – the continent nonetheless has big renewable power potential. Renewable power tasks linked to microgrids make sense in a continent of small inhabitants centres unfold over big areas, and the latest liberalisation of power markets in lots of international locations has opened up a number of alternatives for private-sector buyers. With out authorities backing, nevertheless, investor could ignore these alternatives for the subsidies and help on provide elsewhere.

4. Digital acceleration hits rising threats

The outstanding enhance in connectivity throughout Africa – in cell phone penetration, web penetration, social media use and knowledge visitors flows – has opened up an unlimited array of recent alternatives. That is evidenced by the fast progress within the African tech sector over the previous few years. However this connectivity additionally brings dangers. Cyber crime has boomed throughout Africa, from easy scams to classy assaults on essential infrastructure. Legal and state actors have additionally engaged in affect operations, spreading misinformation and inflammatory content material that poses reputational dangers to corporations in addition to political gamers. Corporations in Africa, identical to the remainder of the world, must steadiness the drive for technological innovation with safety, integrity and resilience challenges.

5. Lacking the Rebound

The approaching yr will see sturdy GDP progress in a number of markets, the roll-out of vaccines and a world hungry to start out residing once more. Whereas progress might be faltering, an uplift is coming – don’t miss the rebound. If 2020 was about survival for a lot of corporations, 2021 is the time to deal with alternative. Beneath the duress of COVID-19 many corporations have flexed, not damaged. By innovation, fast know-how adoption and streamlining, they’ve emerged stronger, whereas weaker opponents have fallen. These corporations that flip the effectivity positive factors of 2020 into productiveness positive factors, proceed to precisely assess developments and present flexibility in adapting their operations will profit from the approaching surge in demand.

“Governance, coverage consistency and rule of legislation are essential for buyers in Africa and deep-rooted challenges stay throughout the continent on this realm, nevertheless we do see constructive change throughout the area. Restoration might be a possibility for governments to deal with structural constraints and promote new approaches & applied sciences – the area stays entrance and centre for a lot of of our purchasers. For Management Dangers, Africa sits on the coronary heart of our previous, current, and future – we proceed to take a position and see progress throughout the area” explains Tom Griffin, Companion – Africa and Center East, Management Dangers.