Rethinking NGOS and Silicon Valley VC in Africa with Joy Njeri
Host Jeni Miles speaks with Joy Njeri, a systems change facilitator in Kenya, about breaking dependency cycles in African business development. They explore how indigenous wisdom and community-centred approaches create sustainable models that avoid perpetuating colonial patterns. Njeri highlights the problems with foreign funding dependencies, explains how to leverage traditional community assets, and advocates for redefining success beyond Western metrics. Discover how business can reconnect with living systems and community wellbeing.
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Show Notes
Description
Joy Njeri joins Jeni Miles to explore breaking dependency cycles in African business development. Drawing from experience across humanitarian, corporate, and community sectors, Joy reveals how indigenous wisdom and community-centered approaches can create sustainable business models that serve local needs rather than perpetuating colonial patterns.
Key Takeaways
- Recognize how foreign funding models often create dependency rather than sustainable solutions
- Leverage indigenous wisdom and community assets historically devalued but rich in solutions
- Question Silicon Valley-style templates that prioritize scaling over local needs
- Redefine success beyond Western metrics to include community wellbeing
- Embrace business as part of living systems that evolve and regenerate
- Rebuild collaborative models based on traditional commitment-pooling systems
- Transform unconscious colonial patterns in cross-cultural business
Timestamps
- 00:00 — Introduction and Joy's background
- 03:48 — Problems with NGO dependency cycles
- 07:57 — Indigenous wisdom and community assets
- 14:06 — The Tempo Arts success story
- 19:43 — Business rooted in community needs
- 26:26 — Foreign investment and extractive patterns
- 31:21 — Businesses as living systems
- 38:42 — Leaning on self and community for growth
- 43:37 — Reconnecting business with community
- 48:26 — Western responsibility and true solidarity
- 54:17 — Hope for the future and transformation
About Joy Njeri
Joy Njeri is a systems change facilitator bridging community development, policy advocacy, and business transformation in Kenya. With expertise in sociology and political science, she helps organizations reconnect with indigenous wisdom while challenging dependency-creating structures.
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Links & Resources
- Doughnut Economics — Framework for evaluating community impact
- Tempo Arts Centre — Community arts and permaculture innovation hub
- Grassroots Economics — Supporting reciprocal community development
- Indigenous Knowledge Systems — Traditional African solutions for modern challenges
- Commitment Pooling — Community resource-sharing practices
- Systems Change Resources — Tools for holistic transformation
Who is Jeni Miles?
I’m a London School of Economics trained behavioural scientist, digital product expert and mum of two passionate about cultivating collective and planetary wellbeing.
Business as usual is no longer fit for purpose in an age of polycrisis. I’m taking the data-driven decision-making skills I’ve gained while at leading tech companies Google and Amazon to empower brands and social movements to drive positive behaviour change.
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