#123 BPO in Africa – vol. 5

Welcome to the 123rd episode of "Good Morning BSS World" podcast! Today we’re heading straight to the heart of Africa’s rapidly evolving BPO and GBS landscape. My special guest is Rod Jones, Owner of Rod Jones Contact Centre Consulting and a leading voice in Africa’s outsourcing sector. Connecting with us from Johannesburg, Rod brings exclusive updates from the Africa Federation of GBS Associations and shares firsthand insights following his recent participation at the CxOutsourcers event in Munich.

In this episode, Rod provides a comprehensive regional update on Africa’s BPO and ITO sectors. We discuss the Federation’s impressive growth-now boasting nine full member countries and seven candidates, with a vision to reach 20 members by the end of 2025. Rod highlights the collaborative spirit and knowledge sharing that are driving professionalization and best practices across the continent.

We delve into the latest developments in Southern Africa, including South Africa’s refreshed value proposition and ongoing government incentives, as well as emerging associations in Namibia and Zimbabwe. Rod also shares news from East Africa, where Kenya and Ethiopia are launching new initiatives and associations, and Central Africa, with Rwanda and Uganda making significant policy strides. West Africa’s dynamic progress in Nigeria and North Africa’s exciting developments in Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt round out a truly pan-African perspective.

A major theme is the rise of ethical impact sourcing, empowering underprivileged communities and women, with strong support from the CxOutsourcers community. Rod also touches on the critical need for digital skills development to keep Africa competitive in the global outsourcing arena.

Tune in for a unique, in-depth look at Africa’s BPO future-its challenges, achievements, and the collaborative energy shaping the next chapter of global business services!  

Key points of the podcast:

• Africa's BPO sector is rapidly expanding, with significant growth in digital skills development and international investment across various regions.
• The Africa Federation now includes nine full member countries and seven candidate countries, aiming to have 20 member countries by the end of 2025.
• Ethical impact sourcing is becoming a fundamental pillar in the BPO industry, focusing on integrating underprivileged communities, women, and refugees into the workforce.  

Links:
Rod Jones - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodjonessouthafrica/
Africa Federation of GBS Associations - https://africagbsfederation.org/
Africa Federation of GBS Associations on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/africa-gbs-federation/posts/?feedView=all
Talk to AI about this episode - https://gmbw.onpodcastai.com/episodes/Dq05MYOX3bM/chat
Webinar (May 29th, 2025): https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hedlE0itSsq-j9gOetomTQ#/registration  

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My name is Wiktor Doktór and on daily basis I run Pro Progressio Club https://klub.proprogressio.pl - it's a community of many private companies and public sector organizations that care about the development of business relations in the B2B model. In the Good Morning BSS World podcast, apart from solo episodes, I share interviews with experts and specialists from global BPO/GBS industry.

If you want to learn more about me, please visit my social media channels:
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/wiktordoktor
Here is also link to the English podcasts Playlist - https://bit.ly/GoodMorningBSSWorldPodcastYT
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wiktordoktor
You can also write to me. My email address is - kontakt(@) wiktordoktor.pl  

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This Podcast is supported by
Patrons: Marzena Sawicka https://www.