By Abdelmonem Fawzi
Internet access is pivotal to Africa’s economic and social transformation, making it vital for governments to invest in digital technologies.
It is possible for least developed countries (LDCs) to keep abreast of the latest advances in innovative technology and enablers on the path towards achieving sustainable and inclusive development for everyone.
We can do this through learning by doing. This is a hands-on approach to the idea that one can learn something better and faster if one practices it. Simply put, this means that we must interact with our environment to adapt and learn.
I believe this is a positive step towards developing the continent and solving the persistent problem of unemployment.
Global leaders attending the 17th Internet Governance Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, underscored the importance of digital technologies for enhancing development across Africa.
United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, told participants that while digital technologies were transforming lives and livelihoods, they were outpacing regulations and exacerbating inequalities around the world.
He called for a human-centred digital future based on a resilient internet that is open, inclusive, and secure for all, in line with his proposed Global Digital Compact.
The proposed Global Digital Compact aims to deliver universal connectivity, close the digital divide and reach the millions of people who are not connected to the internet.
“The safe, secure human-centred digital space begins with the protection of free speech and the right to online autonomy and privacy,” Guterres said, emphasising that governments, private companies and social media platforms have a responsibility to prevent online bullying and misinformation that undermines democracy, human rights and science.
“We need to work for a safe, equitable and open digital future that does not infringe on privacy or dignity,” Guterres said.
Acting Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, Antonio Pedro, said reducing the digital divide is essential to building new pathways for rapid economic growth, innovation, job creation and access to services in Africa.
“Harmonising regulations to remove barriers to connectivity, both within African nations and across the continent, is crucial,” Pedro said, explaining that harmonized regulations would facilitate the operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The AfCFTA is key to Africa’s food and energy security, fostering competitiveness through economies of scale and improved market access.
Statistics show that an estimated 871 million people are not connected to the internet in Africa and access was even limited in rural areas.
“Though 70% of Africa’s population technically has access to mobile internet, less than 25% are making use of the internet due to the high cost of mobile internet across the region,” Pedro said.
“The lack of digital and literacy skills is another key barrier to achieving digital inclusion,” he added, noting that these skills gaps had been further exacerbated by Covid-19, where the expansion of online education, e-healthcare, e-commerce and remote work, had left a large portion of the population without internet access even further behind.
He said the need for meaningful digital connectivity to boost sustainable development, particularly for LDCs, had never been more urgent.
Despite this, Africa has made some progress in promoting digital access.
For instance, in Ghana, a business-to-business e-commerce platform, Agrocenta, connects 10,000 farmers with buyers, allowing farmers to secure a higher price for their produce.
While in Guinea, Clinic-O startup, provides digital healthcare to rural Guinea. Kenya has introduced coding classes for school going children.
“Now is the time to double down on our effort to close the digital infrastructure gap and leverage digital technologies to power key initiatives in support of achieving a greener and more inclusive digital world, and a just and sustainable development for all,” Pedro said.
He added that a multi-sectoral approach in realising a resilient and un-fragmented internet in Africa was essential.
“The implementation of digital technologies should progressively and continually mirror the key principles of inclusion, representation and accessibility,” Pedro said. “Private sector involvement to spur digital development, specifically infrastructure development, will leapfrog socio-economic development.”
Addressing the participants, Li Junhua, UN under-secretary-general for economic and social affairs, described the internet as a springboard to rescue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through digital empowerment.
“Digital technologies and the internet serve as engines of growth and providers of essential services, including support to e-government and growing economies,” Junhua said.
He added that the digital frontier is where the truly transformational power would be realised along with the important space for accelerating projects towards the SDGs.
“If Africa sustains and accelerates structural reforms, the continent has the potential to emulate China’s rapid economic rise over the past 50 years,” he said.
It remains to be said that this is our time to plan for Africa’s success story.
Africa must be a key component of any global expansion roadmap.
There is a clear link between digital and economic growth. Are we ready to take advantage of this?
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