INNOVATIONOLOGY: A GOUNDBREAKING TRANSDISCIPLINARY FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

Abstract

The development landscape in Africa has been shaped by persistent challenges and unmet aspirations, with traditional, top-down approaches frequently failing to address the complex, context-specific needs and potentials of African societies. In response to this, the innovationology paradigm, a pioneering transdisciplinary framework, has emerged as a promising new approach to driving sustainable and equitable development across the continent. This article presents a comprehensive exploration of the innovationology framework, drawing on rigorous qualitative analyses to demonstrate its transformative potential. Through in-depth case studies, the study unpacks the key components, theoretical underpinnings, and practical applications of innovationology, highlighting its capacity to empower marginalized communities, foster collaborative innovation, and catalyze systemic change. The findings reveal the multifaceted ways in which innovationology-informed initiatives have addressed pressing development challenges, such as access to clean water, sustainable agriculture, inclusive entrepreneurship, maternal and child health, and renewable energy, across diverse African contexts. Importantly, the article underscores the versatility of the innovationology approach in leveraging virtual and online platforms to overcome logistical and infrastructural barriers, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. By synthesizing the theoretical foundations, empirical insights, and critical success factors, the article presents an integrated conceptual model that offers a comprehensive, transdisciplinary framework for understanding the transformative potential of innovationology. The implications of this framework are farreaching, as it challenges traditional development models, champions frugal and inclusive innovation, encourages transdisciplinary collaboration, and embraces decolonial and postcolonial praxis. The study's findings have significant implications for the development discourse and practice in Africa, with the potential to reshape trajectories towards more sustainable, equitable, and self-determined pathways. By pursuing future research and implementation directions, the innovationology paradigm can continue to evolve, adapt, and contribute to the realization of a more inclusive and prosperous future for the African continent.