CHITI LOUISE MBIZULE

• Conducted monthly Africa country-risk, economic, policy and regulatory environment assessments for a United Kingdom-based consulting firm.
• Led a team of six in the design, implementation and monitoring of a digital technology literacy program targeting 400 smallholder farmers to support microinsurance uptake across four Zambian provinces.
• Managed a team of three conducting a market sizing, landscape analysis and review of potential targets within the Zambian and eSwatini insurance sectors to go on to develop a client’s five-year strategy.
• Correspondent for a technology-focused media outlet, publishing articles tracking emerging concepts in digital innovation, including AgriTech, EdTech, and HealthTech.
• Researched and produced annual and quarterly reports tracking global technology market trends, policy and regulations for an Australian telecommunications research consulting firm.

• Managed and updated Fitch Solutions Middle-East and Sub-Saharan African-focused research portfolio comprising over 40 TMT-focused country reports
• Collated relevant data from various sources and leveraged Excel to model forecasts for Middle-East and African-focused indicators in the Telecommunications, Information Technology and Consumer Electronics sectors by incorporating economic variables, reported operator and regulator data, and using proprietary in-house risk/reward indices
• Conducted research to produce annual and quarterly investor-targeted reports assessing the latest technology innovation, trends, regulatory, policy and market developments, and the financial performances of key market players
• Supported junior analysts and new starters within the Telecoms, Media and Technology (TMT) team to grasp technical and operational processes.
• Cross-functional collaboration, across the industry research and business development teams, on client queries, relationship management, and requests for additional or bespoke analysis to add value to customer acquisition and retention strategies.

Key Projects and Achievements:

- Researched and wrote two special reports on the outlook and investment opportunities for the African Telecommunications and Information Technology sectors, for a pan-African financial institution.

- Published several thought leadership pieces including an outlook for the African datacenter market, 5G’s prospects in Central Asia, and an assessment of the Middle East and African cybersecurity market.

- Led the development of Fitch Solutions special report about the prospects for Africa’s technology-driven, sustainable recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Carried out research analysis to produce daily research notes and presentations, as well as quarterly and annual publications, covering opportunity and risk assessments and short and long-term market forecasts for over 48 African markets
• Managed, analysed,and updated large databases for 48 African markets and create sound forecasts for over 60 key indicators
• Tracked market trends and key industry views to articulate these, verbally and written, into opportunities for clients as well as present to media and other stakeholders.

Key Projects and Achievements:

- Awarded analyst of the quarter 3 months after starting my role.

- 2020 Performance Review Rating: Exceptional

- Carried out large projects including assessing the African region’s TMT and IT sectors’ investment potential for a multilateral trade finance institution as well as a study of the region’s policy and regulatory environment for emerging technologies, commissioned by a global telecoms infrastructure vendor.

- Wrote the TMT section for a special report on long-term opportunities in the Horn of Africa and the Sub-Saharan Africa section for a global 5G special report.

- Freelance Operational Risk analyst updating quarterly reports on the labour, trade and investment, logistics and crime and security risk environments for various emerging markets.

• Evaluated the business, policy and regulatory landscape governing Zambian lending institutions, and commercial banks, for an investment management firm
• Created a tracker detailing relevant trends and developments in the microfinance segment to guide the client’s market entry strategy
• Produced a comprehensive report providing insights into the evolving Zambian business, policy and regulatory landscape impacting microfinance.

• Writer for In On Africa’s monthly Africa Conflict Monitor publication: produced 5 conflict-related regional features and 1 country profile (assessing business, economic and political risk)
• Desk-top research, data gathering, compilation and management of data-sets
• Research, analysis and report writing for a range of client projects across sectors such as financial services, infrastructure, and insurance, leading teams ranging from two to six in size.

• Desktop research, analysis, market sizing for a client report on the renewable energy landscape
• Conducted extensive market assessment of the higher education sector for a client seeking to expand its offerings in South Africa.