Posted by 
Green Opportunities in Africa
Young entrepreneurs in Africa possess unique and often untapped potential to create sustainable economic growth. By investing in their talents, green entrepreneurs can help accelerate climate progress and build a more equitable and prosperous continent. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the green economy has the potential to create 24 million new jobs globally by 2030 if the right policies are put in place.
Together with a local producer and videographer, I had the opportunity to conduct a face-to-face interview with a dynamic young entrepreneur from Senegal, who is part of a pilot innovation programme. The purpose of this interview was to capture content to showcase the inspiring story and results of participants to garner future support for the programme to empower even more individuals.
Informed Consent and Ethical Considerations
For this interview, extensive informed consent was obtained from the participant. The process involved discussing the intention of the documentation project with the participant, ensuring they understood how the materials would be used and their potential global reach. Consent was obtained verbally and in writing, with assistance from the local producer for additional translations. The participant acknowledged that they would not be able to approve the finished photos or videos, would not receive payment, and could withdraw their consent at any time. This comprehensive approach ensured that the participant felt safe, empowered, and fully informed about how their contributions would be used.
Face-to-Face Interview
The interview was set in Dakar with temperatures swelling over 30 degrees. The initial meeting took place in a learning and start-up facility. To help develop rapport (plus a boost of energy), there was a symbolic exchange of having local touba coffee. The participant was confident and asked which language was necessary to reply. Although this content has the potential for a global audience, and the interviewee had a proficient level of English, it was important that the participant felt comfortable and that the responses were genuine, as I said “coming from the heart.” In this instance the remainder of the interview was conducted in French.
The language barrier presented a challenge for me, requiring full reliance on the local team as I was not able to implement all the benefits of face-to-face interaction, which compels more small talk, politeness routines, joking, nonverbal communication, and asides in which people can more fully express their humanity, including active listening techniques like allowing more space of silence to let the interviewee respond, as Shuy (2003: 179) contends.
The total duration of the interview, including capturing B-roll and high-quality images, exceeded three hours. Although it has been argued that telephone interviewing is more demanding and fatiguing than face-to-face communication (Gillham, 2005; Shuy, 2003; Tausig and Freeman, 1988), and so interviews are likely to be shorter, it is important to note the physical toll this type of setting can take with factors such as temperature and interactions with locals.
Currently, the full interview has been transcribed and is being translated.
Practice Online Interview
Conducting an online interview certainly brings a set of different challenges. My professional development and uptake in online interactions over the last four years with remote working, has helped shape a set of my own techniques and skills in which some of those elements could be likened to that of a face-to-face interview. However as Chapple (1999: 90) suggests, there are still many limitations, for example, rapport may be harder to establish in telephone interviews because there is reduced potential for ‘symbolic exchanges’ such as sharing food or drink, as was experienced in the face-to-face interview conducted in Senegal.
Although the online interview with video still had visual cues, it was not as complete and affected the interaction in practice, as only most of the face was captured within the recording. Novick (2008: 395) provides a useful categorization of the types of ‘data loss or distortion’ that potentially result from the absence of visual cues: first, the loss of nonverbal data, namely body language and facial expressions; second, the loss of contextual data, including the interviewee’s physical characteristics and the interview setting; third, the loss or distortion of verbal (spoken) data.
Although the absence of visual information was certainly not detrimental to the interaction or resulting data, while the absence of visual information is typically construed in textbooks as a disadvantage (e.g., Berg, 2007; Cresswell, 2007; Fielding and Thomas, 2008; Gillham, 2005; Robson, 2002), I found that this style allowed me to look at my notes on screen whilst still maintaining full eye contact. This allowed for a more conversational style, enriched by question types that encouraged the interviewee to talk about their personal story and share it further. Although the interview was indeed much shorter in comparison to the face-to-face (in part due to the B-roll and images not being captured), it did run longer than expected.
Reflection
These interviews underscore the critical importance of adaptability and cultural sensitivity in diverse environments. Whether navigating language, local customs, or the absence of visual cues, each setting presents unique challenges and opportunities for growth. The face-to-face interview in Senegal highlighted the richness of direct human interaction, while the online interview demonstrated the potential for meaningful connections despite geographical and physical distance.
Both experiences reinforced the value of empathy and active listening. As always it is crucial to remain mindful of ethical considerations and the importance of informed consent.
Ultimately, these experiences, particularly in Senegal, serve as a reminder that while talent is universal, opportunity is not. They also highlight the potential impact of storytelling to contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future.