Seychelles

Caption: Interactive map presenting country specific data, including universities and incubators contacted for the study and the digital innovations identified at the time of the study

Full country profile (PDF)

Seychelles Ranked 3 out of 16 Countries in the Benchmark

The benchmark assessment reflects the extent to which Seychelles is unlocking positive pathways towards a digital economy and supporting a vibrant ecosystem of different actors. 

Caption: Results from Benchmark Assessment for Seychelles

Seychelles ranked 3 out of 16 SADC member states in the benchmark assessment which suggests that it has some key foundational pillars necessary for a robust digital economy and could provide guidance on some best practices. 

Seychelles consistently ranked in the top three for all pillars exceeding the African and Global medians except for the G5 digital economy benchmark pillar (which identifies the presence of policies and regulations that are dynamic and flexible and promote the digital economy) where it ranked last (16) and the innovation driven entrepreneurship pillar where data was not available.

Caption: Overall Benchmark Assessment Results and Rank for all SADC member states

For further information on the benchmark results and regional trends please read the Situational Analysis Report.

Agriculture is Not Prioritized in Seychelles as it Makes Up Less Than 3% of GDP 

There is little evidence of digitalization targeted towards the agriculture sector in policies or strategies. Agriculture contributes less than 3% of GDP which has resulted in a significant de-prioritization of the agriculture sector in Government policy and plans. 

There is plenty of opportunity for the Seychelles to embrace digitalization within the agriculture value chain for improved productivity and more climate smart technology. 

Policies need to be implemented within the sector that build on national strategies to support an environment that would be conducive to greater digital innovations, such as improved connectivity and farmer uptake of technologies so that strategies complement each other and support the overall digital ecosystem and all stakeholders. 

These priorities work in parallel with improving digital agricultural training and skills, basic foundational elements of the digital economy and fostering innovation for all sectors. 

Only 8 Innovations were Identified with Most Developed Outside the Seychelles

The level of digitalization in agriculture in the Seychelles is unclear from this study. It is likely that the innovation ecosystem in the Seychelles is either undeveloped or specifically in relation to the agriculture sector. 

Agriculture needs to be reprioritized and greater efforts need to be made to attract younger people to the sector to become part of the work force or to develop solutions that can improve Seychelles’ food security and dependence on food imports.

All use cases were present in the Seychelles with digital procurement the most common, followed by agri e-commerce.  

Caption: Diagram illustrating number of identified innovations and their sub use case solutions.

Innovations in the Seychelles are not present in all stages of the value chain, with no identified innovations addressing storage or transport. 

Caption: Diagram illustrating number of innovations identified in each phase of the value chain.

Innovations that operate within the Seychelles are looking to address financial exclusion and poor access to markets, the knowledge gap, low productivity, and climate change. 

Innovations seek to address inefficiencies in the selling and receiving of payments, access to accounts, improved food safety and traceability, and increased efficiencies in the value chain to lower food price. 

Low digital literacy is overwhelmingly the key challenge that innovators face when implementing technologies. Farmer uptake is the next most common barrier. 

Digital Agriculture Courses Seem to be Absent in the Formal Education System of the Seychelles

It is recommended to include digital agriculture in the curriculum of higher education in the country. 

To encourage greater youth engagement with the agriculture sector and the entrepreneurship climate, Seychelles needs to improve and increase the availability of training for digital skills and entrepreneurship but also the integration of digital technologies in agriculture such as e-extension.

Icons - credit to NounProject https://thenounproject.com/