Introduction
First, I want to talk about why I chose the AAE internship. I am interested in African entrepreneurship and digital finance, hope to help African entrepreneurs and learn about green business and China-Africa cooperation, and therefore, this internship is an ideal opportunity to pursue those goals.
1.Motivation for Choosing AAE Internship
I chose the AAE internship because I have a real interest in African business development and am convinced that digital finance can transform the way people conduct business in Africa, just as Kenya’s mobile money system has shown. Moreover, I want to learn about green business models, which foster sustainability, and then apply that knowledge to help entrepreneurs such as Leane Noirot.
2.My Task and Its Goal
Task Name:Green Business Model Research
Date:February 2026
The objective of this task is to determine how a business can become more sustainable, as the world is overusing natural resources—harmful to the environment—so businesses should adopt models that are good for the planet. As part of the task, I examined one entrepreneur and considered a green business model that she could adopt, with the explicit aim of helping her become more competitive and sustainable.
3.Entrepreneur Information and Reason for Selection
The entrepreneur I have selected is Leane Noirot, and the reason for my choice is clearly stated in her report 《Digital Financial Services in Kenya How Mobile Money Is Reshaping Business and Opportunity》, which provides an excellent analysis of mobile money services in Kenya, with a particular focus on M-Pesa, the well-known mobile money system in Kenya that allows people to send and receive money by phone. More importantly, it discusses how M-Pesa has actually transformed business practices in Kenya.
The choice was made because digital finance is so directly connected to economic growth, and until recently most small business owners in Kenya did not have bank accounts, but now with mobile money they can save, receive payments, and obtain small loans, hence the system genuinely promotes entrepreneurship and opens up new opportunities.
4.Analysis Result Using Green Business Model
The author uses the Green Business Model to analyze mobile money services in Kenya, beginning with a clear, systematic discussion of how mobile money services already contribute to sustainability: Mobile money such as M – Pesa is immensely popular in Kenya and enables people to conduct business without cash, thereby reduces paper use for transactions, reduces the need for people to visit physical banks, and thereby saving fuel and reducing carbon emissions, all of which are direct environmental benefits.
Digital finance helps small and local businesses grow, and therefore strengthens the local economy, which in turn promotes social sustainability. However, it is also true that digital systems depend on electricity and the internet, both of which are unreliable in many rural areas, so the government and businesses must make greater investments in green energy and digital infrastructure.
Because Leane is writing about digital finance, the green business model I have designed for her naturally focuses on two specific actions that build upon Kenya’s mobile money progress.
She can promote green digital payments by first getting entrepreneurs to adopt mobile money instead of cash, thus reducing paper waste and at the same time making transactions quicker and more secure.
By cooperating with Chinese tech companies which have expertise in green digital finance, she is in a position to help African entrepreneurs use new tools, namely apps that track carbon footprints, to make their businesses more sustainable.
Since the model makes Leane’s articles more helpful for entrepreneurs, it naturally also helps the entrepreneurs attract more investors, for the simple reason that investors favor sustainable businesses.
Conclusion
During the internship I gained a solid understanding of green business, the link between digital finance and entrepreneurship, and sustainability, allowing me to enhance my research skills, design a green business model for Leane, and identify concrete ways to connect her work with Chinese partners. This will make her work more sustainable and increase its chances of success. Naturally, I plan to apply these skills in the future to help other entrepreneurs.