Various representatives of United Nations organizations urge African countries to step up their investments in Information and Communication Technologies. ICTs are transforming Africa and contributing to the inclusion of populations.
The health crisis makes Africa’s advance towards new technologies more essential than ever. This is the main conclusion of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), one of whose sessions was devoted to Africa, on September 1st.
It brought together various representatives of UN and African bodies in charge of these issues. They believe that better access to the Internet will improve the delivery of education, health and entrepreneurship.
The participants in this virtual summit considered that efforts to promote the use of digital technology to strengthen regional integration are likely to improve service delivery.
Moctar Yedaly, head of the information society division at the African Union Commission (AUC), said African leaders believe digital is of utmost importance for the future of the continent.
Of course, African leaders all believe that digital is of utmost importance for the future of the continent. Moctar Yedaly, who heads the Information Society division at the AUC (African Union Commission), sees this as “a great opportunity for the continent to transform.”
The digital economy is an important sector, “so we have to embrace technology and leap forward if we are to survive,” he said. He considers the digital transformation strategy “essential” to unlock Africa’s transformation.
Overall, panelists said investing in new technology was “crucial”. Not only to promote the integration of Africa but also to generate inclusive economic growth, stimulate job creation, bridge the digital divide and eradicate poverty, according to information provided by the ECA (United Nations Economic Commission for Africa), based in Addis Ababa.
The programs exist!
The panelists therefore urge African countries to implement the ECA Global Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa, which has been developed in collaboration with various partners:
Smart Africa, AUDA-Nepad, Regional Economic Communities, African Development Bank and African Telecommunication Union, African Capacity Building Foundation, International Telecommunication Union and World Bank.
The strategy builds on existing initiatives and frameworks such as the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), to support the development of a Digital Single Market for Africa.
Its main objective is to serve as a frame of reference in order to realize the common vision of creating an integrated and inclusive digital society and economy in Africa that improves the quality of life of its citizens, strengthens and enables diversification and the development of an existing economic sector, and ensures continental ownership. In this context, Africa is seen as a producer and not just a consumer in the global economy.
For his part, Andrew Rugege, regional director of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for Africa, considers that the current Covid-19 pandemic “shows the practicality of an information society struggling not only against it, but also against other pandemics and crises”.
In his view, “organizations, governments, the private sector and even individuals are trying to find ways to use ICTs to detect, manage and minimize the effects of the virus,” he said. ITU is working on a variety of projects that could help Africa fight the pandemic, should it accelerate.
He cited the Giga Initiative, launched in 2019 under the aegis of the United Nations, as an example. The project aims to provide connectivity to all schools in the world. Some 3.6 billion people around the world do not have access to the Internet, including 1.3 billion children who have been excluded from school by the current crisis, noted Andrew Rugege.
Sustainable development tools!
Giga “will bring the power of meaningful connectivity aimed at accelerating youth access to educational resources and opportunities, especially in Africa.”
For his part, Jean-Paul Adam, Director of the Technology, Climate Change and Natural Resources Management Division of ECA, considers new technologies to be an important driver for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
“ICT can play a crucial role in our lives and can greatly contribute to the implementation of the SDGs. They bring new solutions and, where the right infrastructure, skills and services are available, they can be incredibly powerful in transforming education, healthcare, or the way we do business.”
He points to Africa’s main challenge: the digital divide. “It is now widespread in Africa with a very low connectivity rate. We will never be able to reach the 2030 target if we do not urgently address the issue of connectivity across the continent.”
Also, in the perspective of the SDGs and the AU’s Agenda 2063, “will it be essential to engage in constructive cooperation, to improve the exchange of information in relation to the initiatives underway? on the continent and jointly identify cross-sectoral issues and interfaces as well as strong partnerships between all stakeholders”.
Including governments, international organizations, the private sector, civil society, and the technical and academic communities.
Reference: https://magazinedelafrique.com/category/african-business/
