African digital transformation strategies: between ambitions and limits

Before I began to take a very close interest in matters relating to digital transformation in Africa, I was like many African professionals who, sometimes on the occasion of conferences and other seminars deemed too costly and unproductive, complained that most of our governments were more in a logic of speeches and posturing, but lacked any real medium/long-term strategy on the subject. Moreover, until the official launch in 2017 of the ".africa" domain extension, the widespread idea was also that there was no concerted vision or strategy among African countries to jointly kick-start digital transformation on the continent.

On analysis, it should be noted that not only have several countries already developed their "national digital plan", but also that these plans are part of a more global vision at the continental scale. Most of these plans have unfortunately not progressed much in implementation since their official announcement, and remain debatable in substance because they are sometimes drawn up hastily, to satisfy political communication needs (as in the case of the DRC's digital plan in 2020)!

We can, however, objectively note that, as everywhere else in the world, several African leaders have realised that information and communication technologies play and will continue to play a fundamental role in Africa's socio-economic evolution. They are now aware that Africa cannot afford to remain on the sidelines of the opportunities that the knowledge economy brings. This pushes them to want to capitalise on the progress already made in connectivity projects (development of broadband infrastructure through intra- and inter-continental fibre-optic networks). Thus, the common ambition emerging from these plans is to use technology to reduce poverty, strengthen citizens' participation in public life, improve service delivery and create prosperity for their populations.

This is why these heads of state and government have committed to supporting the implementation and optimal use of information and communication technologies, in the service of the socio-economic transformation of their countries and the continent. This affirmed will of leaders is materialised by the membership of several African countries in a pan-African project that pools their resources in order to more effectively achieve the goal of shared transformation at the continental scale. The ambition is therefore global, concrete and tangible.

The first pan-African digital transformation initiative

"Smart Africa"—for that is what it is—is a bold and innovative commitment that aims to bring Africa's share into the knowledge economy, accelerate its sustainable socio-economic development and catalyse technological innovation, through the smart use of ICTs. Now bringing together some thirty member states across the continent, it is an initiative of the Rwandan state under the impetus of its President Paul Kagame, who himself defines its vision in these terms:

"The next decade, 2016–2025, promises to be the decade of Africa's development through ICTs. Smart Africa is a fruit of the Transform Africa Summit held in Kigali in October 2013. The Smart Africa Manifesto, the foundation of this initiative, rests on five principles: putting ICTs at the centre of the national socio-economic development agenda; improving access to ICTs, especially broadband; improving accountability, efficiency and openness through ICTs; prioritising the private sector; leveraging ICTs to promote sustainable development. The establishment of the Smart Africa initiative reflects our determination to put in place an appropriate policy and regulatory environment that will encourage partnerships, entrepreneurship, job creation and knowledge sharing. Our transformation towards an ICT- and knowledge-driven economy aims to increase Africa's competitiveness in the global economy. ICTs have the capacity to level the global playing field, to unlock human capital and harness its full potential. The Smart Africa Board is committed to leading this transformation agenda in our respective countries. Our objectives are ambitious but realistic, and with our leadership, our commitment, our strategic work and the support of our partners, I am fully confident that we will soon realise our vision of modern economies and prosperous citizens who will lead Africa to a prosperous future."

Paul Kagame is still today the chairman of the "Smart Africa Board", the governing body of the organisation in charge of steering this pan-African initiative. Some of the member countries have constituted themselves as centres of competence to carry the major axes (broken down into flagship projects) of the vision thus stated. The African Union has indeed taken it up to update its own vision on ICTs and propose a new digital transformation strategy for the continent, consistent and in harmony with the ultimate ambition of the "Smart Africa" initiative, which is to transform Africa into a single digital market…