Ministers eye 5pc annual growth in digital economy
Ministers overseeing information, communication, and technology sectors across Africa have pledged to drive inclusive economic growth of at least 5 per cent annually leveraging the digital economy over the next decade.
This commitment was announced at the inaugural Connected Africa Summit 2024 in a historic event that led to the creation of the Nairobi Declaration.
The declaration serves as a guiding framework, delineating how Africa will attain digital empowerment through collaboration and innovation.
Particularly, the Nairobi Declaration advocates for the establishment of new collaborative mechanisms with measurable objectives, focusing on expanding internet access and equipping the next generation with essential digital skills for thriving in the digital world.
Ministers have set ambitious targets, including increasing internet access across Africa by 20 per cent within the next five years and training 1 million young people in digital skills by 2027.
“The Nairobi Declaration marks a significant step towards a digitally empowered Africa. It provides a clear roadmap for collaboration and innovation, holding the promise of a brighter, digital future for the continent,’ the ministers stated in the joint communique.
To achieve these objectives, a task force will be established to identify and secure funding mechanisms for infrastructure development, explore public-private partnerships, and foster innovations in financing models.
Further, the declaration emphasizes the harmonization of legislation and regulations of ICT across Africa, aiming to foster innovation, enable cross-border data transfer, facilitate information sharing across regional blocks, and promote knowledge sharing of Artificial Intelligence (AI) among other initiatives.
The establishment of the African Cybersecurity and AI initiative was also announced to enhance the continent’s capacity and capability to address emerging risks and accelerate digital transformation.
“The Nairobi Declaration represents a significant milestone towards a digitally empowered Africa. It provides a clear roadmap for collaboration and innovation, promising a brighter digital future for the continent,” stated the ministers in a joint communique.
Earlier, the World Bank had revealed that an investment of $86 billion would be needed to connect the entire African continent to the internet. Isabel Neto, the Digital Development Practice Manager for Eastern and Southern Africa at the World Bank, emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships for the success of this project, highlighting that 80 per cent of the funding would come from the private sector.
This approach is expected to accelerate the pace of digital connectivity across the continent, mobilizing resources and expertise from various sectors.
