What are the biggest challenges in Africa’s digital transformation? What can be done to ensure an inclusive digital economy for all?
Challenges in implementing digital transformation include the need to strengthen coordination frameworks, align policies and sector regulations, and significantly scale up investments and resource inputs. To meet this challenge, the African Union Commission, in partnership with other continental institutions and regional economic communities, is working with Member States to identify and address barriers to harmonizing laws and regulations and drive leadership for the reforms needed to secure investments in future digital transformation.
A further challenge is that approximately 300 million Africans live more than 50 kilometers from a fiber or cable broadband connection. As such, the lack of widespread access to high-speed internet remains a major impediment for Africa to harness the full potential of digital transformation.
Abundant, low-cost connectivity is essential to reaping the benefits of digital transformation, as broadband drives productivity, innovation and growth. One of the specific objectives of Africa’s Digital Transformation Strategy is to create the harmonious environment needed to guarantee investment and financing to close the digital infrastructure gap and make broadband accessible, affordable and secure across demographics, genders and regions. The strategy also has a goal of bringing an additional 300 million people online in Africa by 2025.
How has COVID-19 impacted Africa’s digital transformation roadmap?
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic crisis has undoubtedly had a negative impact on all socio-economic sectors. Africa, like the rest of the world, is experiencing the most unprecedented economic impact since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The pandemic has reversed the continent’s development progress in recent years. During these unprecedented times, the African Union and African governments have taken steps to limit the spread of COVID-19 and reduce its impact. Relevant measures include disease control, information, education, payments, provision of government services, and retail transactions that essentially rely on digital platforms and tools. Digitalization has become a top priority. However, the heavy use of the Internet has led to a five-fold increase in cyber-attacks and cyber-threats due to the lack of a cyber-security framework in most countries. In this regard, the African Union and its member states are accelerating the implementation of digital transformation roadmaps and strategies at national, regional and continental levels.
Going forward, what role do you expect the private sector to play in achieving Africa’s digital transformation vision, and how will the AU work with private sector partners?
We recognize that realizing the goals of your digital transformation strategy requires direct collaboration. While the public sector must maintain leadership, accountability and oversight, the private sector’s role in implementing the strategy is critical. Previously, connectivity challenges could only be tackled by governments investing significant resources in national networks. The mobile phone revolution has opened the door for private sector investment in telecommunications, and new business models and services are now significantly expanding sustainable communications services. Now, the digital infrastructure landscape is changing again. The digital infrastructure network value chain is decoupled, with new private sector players, such as independent broadband operators and tower companies, developing network infrastructure.
Dr. Amani Abu-Zayed is Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission (AUC), with responsibility for areas including energy, transport, tourism and ICT. Prior to joining AUC, Dr. Abuzeid spent more than 30 years in leadership roles at the African Development Bank (AfDB), UNDP, and USAID, focusing on infrastructure and energy programs. Dr. Abu Zeid is an Egyptian national and speaks French, English, Arabic and Spanish. She is a telecommunications engineer by training and holds an MBA in project management from the French University of African Development (Senghor University), a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University, and a PhD from Harvard University. in Social and Economic Development from the University of Manchester.
