Dr. Gift K. Machengete

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.