Angela Wamola

For the past two decades, the digital market has primarily relied on traditional funding from the private sector. However, certain sectors and areas have not been able to attract enough financing, making it imperative to develop innovative financing models that address the unique needs of the ecosystem. Given that bridging the digital divide by 2030 is estimated to require over $100 billion, implementing these innovative models is crucial to ensure that all stakeholders can participate in the digitalization efforts across the continent. This session will be a Storytelling on Smart Africa projects that have reached maturity.

Inclusive digital transformation can serve as a crucial enabler for rural development and can reduce rural-urban migration and rural poverty. Improving the living conditions in rural areas by addressing the root causes of poverty and hunger, investing in rural development through inclusive digital transformation, establishing social protection systems, building rural-urban linkages, focusing on boosting the incomes of smallholder family farmers, especially women and the young, is vital to inclusive and equitable growth. Establishing strong public-private partnerships is key for a holistic and inclusive approach for rural digital transformation towards achieving the SDGs in remote and underserved communities. This approach has been strongly endorsed by the Government of Niger, which launched a dynamic smart village project for rural growth and digital inclusion in 2019.

Universal, meaningful connectivity lies at the core of the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy and is the foundation for building a Single Digital Market in Africa. However, today almost two third of Africans remain offline. The digital divide, particularly between the rural and the urban population, persists. This session brings together key stakeholders to discuss the opportunities and challenges of ensuring meaningful and affordable access for all Africans. The session will also provide recommendations to connect the unconnected in Africa and promote the nexuses between energy and digitalization to bridge the urban and rural digital divide.