Companies in Africa, including banks and other financial institutions, host their data outside the country due to limited local infrastructure. This reliance on foreign data hosting exposes sensitive information to security risks and limits the government’s ability to protect and control its digital data. A local data center is important to manage data internally, enhancing data sovereignty and security.

South Sudan’s Telecommunications Undersecretary Lado Wani Kenyi announced the country’s plans to construct its first Resilient Data Center. This was during the Pan African E-Government Summit in Lusaka, held from October 2 – 4, the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology, and Postal Services announced on October 3.

Kenyi revealed that the project is aimed at improving the country’s data management capabilities while highlighting that funding from the World Bank has been secured, paving the way for the project’s implementation. The data center will provide South Sudan with full control over its digital information, including data from companies operating within the country. It will also support the government’s digital strategy and enhance data resilience.

The Data Center Market in Africa - Industry Outlook and Forecast 2020-2025 report anticipates that African data center revenue will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 12% from 2019 to 2025. South Sudan’s investment in a new data center positions the country to benefit from this robust market growth, leveraging enhanced data infrastructure to support its digital and economic development goals.

Hikmatu Bilali

Posted On mercredi, 09 octobre 2024 09:10 Written by

As part of its digital transformation ambitions, Ghana is ramping up initiatives to digitize services and make them more accessible to the public. In September, the country launched a digital platform specifically designed for rent control.

On Monday, October 7, Ghana’s Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia launched a new unified mobile digital services platform. Baptized CitizenApp, the application allows Ghanaian citizens to access various government services, report issues, and receive real-time updates on public matters.

“What Ghana has done many advanced countries have not yet done it. So we are moving in a direction that has major opportunities…Once the system comes in doing business in Ghana will be very easy and smooth, paying taxes will be very easy, getting your passport, will be very easy, registering a business is very easy,” Bawumia stated.

The initiative is part of the Ghanaian government's broader strategy to accelerate the digitization of public services and improve their accessibility. In September, a digital platform dedicated to rent control was introduced. In July, the Ministry of Roads and Highways launched a mobile app enabling citizens to report road issues, enhancing safety and infrastructure development. Earlier, in February, another app was launched to formalize and harmonize the informal transport sector. Additionally, the digitization of the national population census process is currently in preparation.

These efforts have positioned Ghana as a leader in e-government implementation. According to the “E-Government Survey 2024: Accelerating Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development,” published in September 2024 by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Ghana ranks first in West Africa and seventh on the African continent.

However, the adoption of the new platform and the use of digital services will largely depend on Ghanaians' access to smartphones and the internet. While specific data for Ghana is not provided, the GSM Association (GSMA) reports that smartphone penetration in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is at 51%. In Ghana, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 69.8% of the population owns a mobile phone, and 68.6% uses the internet.

Isaac K. Kassouwi

Posted On mercredi, 09 octobre 2024 09:01 Written by

With a score of 24.4 on the ICT adoption index of the International Telecommunication Union, Burundi seeks solutions to keep pace with the ongoing digital transformation across the continent. It has turned to Zambia for assistance regarding Internet access.

Burundi and Zambia are set to connect via a fiber optic submarine cable. A memorandum of understanding was signed on the sidelines of the Digital Government Africa summit, held in early October in Lusaka, Zambia. The infrastructure will link the Mpulungu district in Zambia’s Northern Province to Makamba Province in southern Burundi, crossing Lake Tanganyika.

This initiative aligns with both countries’ aim to improve Internet quality. Since 2021, Zambia has invested $58 million in digital infrastructure, which has led to a modest increase in Internet penetration—from 29.4% in January 2021 to 31.2% in January 2024, according to DataReportal. Zambian authorities plan to continue investing to meet the goals outlined in the "National Digital Transformation Strategy 2023–2027."

DataReportal figures show that Internet penetration in Burundi was 10.2% in early 2023. Last September, Burundian authorities launched a project to bridge the digital divide by 2028. Called the Digital Economy Foundations Support Project (PAFEN), it is financed by a $92 million grant from the World Bank.

Moreover, Burundi's connection to Zambia will enable it to join a network of countries already interconnected via fiber optic cables, including Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.

Adoni Conrad Quenum

Posted On mardi, 08 octobre 2024 16:10 Written by

This investment included, Equator’s inaugural fund has now reached  $54 million. The company has already invested in six climate technology startups across the continent.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced on Thursday, October 3, an investment of $5 million in Equator Fund Africa I, a venture capital fund supporting climate technology startups operating in sub-Saharan Africa. The goal is to help the African continent benefit from the sustainable solutions these startups are developing to combat climate change.

Climate tech is an exciting area of innovation and impact in Africa, where businesses are helping economies grow while reducing emissions and resource use. IFC’s investment in Equator Africa reflects our commitment to supporting those businesses to deliver solutions, from renewable energy to electric vehicles,” said Farid Fezoua, IFC’s Global Director for Disruptive Technologies and Funds.

This investment comes at a time when the continent urgently needs funding to address the impacts of climate change. African start-ups in the climate tech sector are increasingly attracting financing. According to Africa: The Big Deal, these companies raised $340 million in 2019, $344 million in 2020, $613 million in 2021, $959 million in 2022, and $1.1 billion in 2023. In 2024, between January and May alone, climate tech start-ups attracted $325 million, representing 45% of the total funds raised by African start-ups during this period.

Climate change remains a significant challenge for the continent. According to Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), “Africa will need $277 billion annually to address climate change, yet it currently only receives $30 billion per year.

Adoni Conrad Quenum

Posted On mardi, 08 octobre 2024 15:10 Written by

Smartphone adoption remains relatively low in Uganda. According to the latest official statistics, the country has 16.7 million smartphones for 38.5 million active mobile subscribers.

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has launched an initiative in partnership with the Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises (FSME) to equip owners of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with smartphones. The initiative aims to reach 2,720 beneficiaries by the end of the year, with a target of distributing 60,000 devices over three years.

The government covers 50% of the cost of each phone, while the FSME covers the remaining balance. The sh50,000 contribution by recipients is to ensure a sense of ownership.  We don’t want them to sell off the phones,” explained John Walugembe, Executive Director of FSME.

This initiative comes at a time when Ugandan MSMEs are struggling to access smartphones and lack digital skills, despite the fact that, according to Mr. Walugembe, “digital technology has the potential to transform businesses.” Smartphone adoption remains low across the general population. According to the latest UCC data, Uganda has 16.7 million smartphones for 38.5 million active mobile subscribers.

The program is expected to boost the productivity of MSMEs in Uganda. For example, Aisha Nalule, a hairdresser benefiting from the initiative, believes her smartphone will help her promote her services on platforms like Facebook, X, and TikTok.

t Uganda has 1.1 million MSMEs, according to data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). These businesses account for 80% of the country’s GDP and 90% of its private sector, according to the same source.

Isaac K. Kassouwi

Posted On mardi, 08 octobre 2024 12:40 Written by

E-commerce is flourishing in Africa, driven by its youthful, tech-savvy population and ongoing efforts to integrate economies across the continent.

In 2017, only 13% of Africans shopped online. However, according to a July 2024 report by cross-border payments company Nikulipe, this figure could soar to 40% by the end of 2025. This growth positions e-commerce as a key driver for strengthening intra-African trade.

Nikulipe's report, "Payments and E-commerce in Africa 2024," forecasts the African online commerce market to increase by $15 billion by 2028, representing a nearly 49% growth over four years. Data from Statista supports this trend, predicting an average annual growth rate of 11.7% between 2024 and 2028. This implies that the market size could double compared to 2023, when revenues stood at $16.1 billion.

Driving this expansion is a young, digitally connected population. With a median age of 19.7 years and over 1.4 billion people, Africa has significant demographic potential. Furthermore, internet usage has increased dramatically over the past decade, rising from 16% in 2013 to 37% in 2023, according to the International Telecommunication Union.

Despite this potential, intra-African e-commerce faces several challenges. According to a Trade Organization (WTO) report, inadequate infrastructure complicates cross-border trade. Additionally, the lack of harmonized e-commerce regulations between African countries adds to the complexity of cross-border transactions.

Toward Continental Trade Integration

Several initiatives are underway to facilitate intra-African trade. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has introduced a digital trade protocol aimed at harmonizing regulations and simplifying online exchanges between African countries. Regional projects, such as the COMESA Digital Free Trade Area, also encourage e-commerce and digital integration among member states.

More African e-commerce players are expanding their reach across the continent. Jumia, a pan-African online retail company, operates in 11 countries and attracts 5.7 million active consumers worldwide. Anka Africa, based in Côte d'Ivoire, hosts over 20,000 online stores across 46 African countries, drawing more than one million visitors per month.

These platforms facilitate trade between African countries by providing a digital showcase for local producers and simplifying cross-border logistics.

Melchior Koba

Posted On mardi, 08 octobre 2024 12:31 Written by

As digital technology becomes essential in public service, many civil servants lack the necessary skills. This limits the government's ability to deliver efficient, tech-driven services. Addressing this skills gap will enhance productivity and service quality in sectors.

Kenya is set to launch a Centre of Excellence to train public servants in digital skills. Announced by the Ministry of Information, Communications & The Digital Economy on October 3, the center is hosted at the Kenya School of Government (KSG). It is part of a joint initiative with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Centre will offer training in technology adoption and digital infrastructure to improve service delivery and promote job creation, officials said. Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary, Margaret Ndung’u, met with UNDP and KSG officials to discuss the Centre’s governance and operational framework.

The project will incorporate a multi-sectoral approach for curriculum development and is expected to provide training to both local and international public sector professionals.

In an increasingly digital world, developing skills -particularly digital skills- is vital for economic growth and reducing unemployment, especially in emerging economies. In Kenya, this effort aligns with Vision 2030, which seeks to make the country industrialized and middle-income by 2030. The digitization of the civil service is an essential component of this vision. It aims to enhance the speed and efficiency of government services for users.

Hikmatu Bilali

Posted On mardi, 08 octobre 2024 10:55 Written by

The ongoing digital transformation in Africa is impacting all sectors, including public administration, which plays a central role in the daily lives of citizens. By integrating modern technologies, the goal is to enhance efficiency and reduce bureaucracy, making government services more accessible and streamlined.

Liberian Minister of Commerce and Industry, Amin Modad (photo), recently announced the imminent launch of new online services as part of a broader strategy to modernize administrative services.

During a statement on Thursday, October 3, at the Ministry of Information, Modad outlined several services set to be digitized, including the Liberian Business Registry, the issuance of online import and export permits, and the introduction of a new business registration certificate with anti-fraud security features. He highlighted that the business registration process, which previously took one to two weeks, has already been shortened to three to five days, with the aim of further reducing this timeframe through a digital platform designed to eliminate corruption and simplify procedures.

This initiative is part of a modernization strategy to tackle bureaucratic bottlenecks and corruption, long-standing issues that have hindered the business environment in Liberia. Minister Modad has also secured funding to fully digitize the ministry's services, marking a critical step in the country's digital transformation.

The launch of these new services is expected to bolster the government's efforts to digitize public administration, though Liberia continues to lag in this area. The country currently ranks 182nd in the UN's 2024 e-government report, down from 177th in 2022, reflecting a decline in modernization efforts.

The digitization strategy led by the Ministry of Commerce is set to improve administrative efficiency, increase revenue from business registrations and permits, reduce processing times, enhance transparency, and improve Liberia’s international competitiveness.

Samira Njoya

Posted On lundi, 07 octobre 2024 12:47 Written by

The digital transformation is progressing across the continent. Morocco is ramping up partnerships and investments in the digital sector, aiming to establish itself as a key player in the industry within Africa.

On Friday, October 4, in Rabat, Moroccan authorities launched a digital procedures and services platform. This project, developed in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, aims to streamline various administrative processes.

Younes Sekkouri, Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment, and Skills, highlighted that the objective is to digitize 55 administrative procedures and services. The platform will leverage data management and extraction technologies to optimize public policies, particularly in employment and skills development.

This initiative follows the launch of the "Digital Morocco 2030" strategy, which places e-government at its core. Morocco aims to become Africa’s leading digital hub by 2030. According to the "E-Government Survey 2024: Accelerating Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development," published in September, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) ranks Morocco 11th on the continent and 100th globally in the Online Service Index (OSI), with a score of 0.5618, above the African average of 0.3862.

The implementation of this platform is expected to improve interactions between the government and citizens, strengthen the relationship between businesses and employees by simplifying administrative procedures, reducing processing times, and enhancing productivity. It will also improve how businesses manage human resources and interact with public authorities.

Adoni Conrad Quenum

Posted On lundi, 07 octobre 2024 10:33 Written by

By adopting blockchain technology in May 2024 to modernize and optimize several of its state operations, Guinea-Bissau made a bold decision. This ambitious move aimed to enhance transparency, security, and efficiency in administrative and financial processes.

Guinea-Bissau is set to expand its blockchain-based salary management platform to cover all public sector employees. By November 2024, the solution could track the data of the country’s 26,600 civil servants and 8,100 retirees, according to Concha Verdugo Yepes, lead economist for Africa at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and head of the institution’s Blockchain Solution program. She shared this information in an interview published on Wednesday, October 2, by IMF Country Focus, the IMF's news platform.

The platform offers a secure, transparent digital ledger for managing the public service’s wage bill data, enabling almost real-time monitoring of salary and pensions eligibility, budgeting, payment approvals, and salary and pensions disbursements. It significantly improves data integrity and supports the production of timely and accurate fiscal reports for use by policymakers and the public. It’s one of the first platforms in sub-Saharan Africa to use blockchain technology to improve government operations, particularly in managing salaries and pensions,” Verdugo Yepes explained.

When the project was first conceived in 2020, 84% of the state’s tax revenues were used to pay the salaries of Bissau-Guinean public servants—the highest ratio in the region, according to José Gijon, the IMF’s mission chief for Guinea-Bissau. He noted, “For every hundred dollars collected in taxes, eighty-four dollars were spent on salaries. This ratio has now declined to 50 percent—a huge improvement, but still high compared to the West Africa Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) regional fiscal convergence criteria of wages not exceeding 35 percent of tax revenues.”

The government of Guinea-Bissau adopted blockchain technology to combat various issues, including poor governance in state finances, embezzlement, and corruption. The system aims to eliminate ghost workers, payroll fraud, and other schemes that persisted due to poor traceability of public funds. The platform securely records, stores, and shares information in a way that prevents tampering. Every transaction is inviolable, and the system detects any discrepancies in salary data, flagging them for the relevant authorities.

For the IMF, the solution offers additional benefits by simplifying audit reporting and reconciliation processes. It also provides reliable, up-to-date, and high-quality data for artificial intelligence models.

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), governments must have credible public finance management frameworks to build trust with international donors and local and foreign investors. A crisis of confidence in government threatens the financial resources it needs for the country’s economic and social development.

Adoni Conrad Quenum

Posted On lundi, 07 octobre 2024 10:06 Written by
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