Africa's Digital Revolution Gains Momentum with 555+ Data Points
Africa is undergoing a digital revolution, with the majority of countries adopting national ICT strategies to drive socioeconomic development and inclusivity. The African Union (AU) has developed ten digital frameworks, and AfTech, the first continent-wide tracker, has aggregated over 555 data points, highlighting the continent's digital transformation.
African governments have prioritized digital infrastructure, followed by digital platforms, skills, and innovation. Rwanda leads with 63 data points, while countries range from 63 to 1. The AU's Digital Transformation Strategy (DTS) 2020-2030 serves as the foundational document for these frameworks. AfTech's analytical framework comprises four pillars: Digital Infrastructure, Digital Platforms, Digital Skills, and Digital Innovation.
Recent trends show a focus on cybersecurity, cloud, and data protection policies, with artificial intelligence emerging as a priority. Since 1988, there has been a consistent rise in digital economy documents across all four pillars, with a significant increase starting in 2017. Several countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, have enacted national laws and regulations, while the AU pursues a continental vision for regional integration and harmonization of policies.
The African digital revolution is gaining momentum, with governments and the AU working together to capture its benefits. Harmonization of policies is crucial to foster continental digital economic integration and innovation. AfTech's data highlights the progress made and the areas that still need attention, with a focus on cybersecurity, cloud, data protection, and artificial intelligence.
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