African countries have been urged to invest in building resilient internet infrastructure to tap digital opportunities and accelerate social and economic transformation on the continent.
Global leaders attending the 17th Internet Governance Forum being held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, underscored the importance of digital technologies as tools for enhancing development across Africa.
Mr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, said that the internet’s contribution to social development is immense. He cited the democratization of knowledge and communication, access to entrepreneurship skills and new employment opportunities health care access and education as few noteworthy benefits.
Mr. Abiy Ahmed said this in an opening remarks at the IGF 2022 being held under the theme, Resilient Internet for a Shared Sustainable and Common Future.
However, Prime Minister Ahmed said there is need for cautioned optimism around ownership of critical digital infrastructure, data governance and cyber security as data governance was about harmonizing roles of the digital ecosystem to spur economic development while protecting individual rights.
United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, told participants that while digital technologies were transforming lives and livelihoods, they were outpacing regulations and exacerbating inequalities around the world.
Antonio Guterres called for a human-centered digital future based on a resilient internet that is open, inclusive, and secure for all in line with his proposed Global Digital Compact. The proposed Global Digital Compact aims to deliver universal connectivity, close the digital divide and reach the millions of people who are not connected to the internet.
“The safe, secure human-centred digital space begins with the protection of free speech, freedom of expression and the right to online autonomy and privacy. We need to work for a safe, equitable and open digital future that does not infringe on the privacy or dignity.”
Antonio Guterres
Role of private companies and social media platforms
Mr. Guterres emphasized that governments, private companies and social media platforms have a responsibility to prevent online bullying and misinformation that undermines democracy, human rights and science.
Acting Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Antonio Pedro, said reducing the digital divide is essential to building new pathways for rapid economic growth, innovation, job creation and access to services in Africa.
“Harmonizing regulations to remove barriers to connectivity both within African nations and across the continent is crucial.”
Antonio Pedro
Mr. Pedro explained that harmonized regulations will facilitate the operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The AfCFTA is key to Africa’s food and energy security and foster competitiveness through economies of scale and improved market access.
Statistics show that an estimated 871 million people are not connected to the internet in Africa and access was even limited in rural areas. Though 70% of Africa’s population technically has access to mobile internet, less than 25% are making use of the internet due to the high cost of mobile internet across the region, Mr Pedro noted.
“The lack of digital and literacy skills is another key barrier to achieving digital inclusion. These skills gaps have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, where the expansion of online education, e-healthcare, e-commerce and remote work, have left a large portion of the population without internet access even further behind.”
Antonio Pedro
Mr Pedro said the need for meaningful digital connectivity to boost sustainable development, particularly for the Least Developing Countries (LDCs), has never been more urgent. Despite this, Africa has made some progress in promoting digital access.
For instance, in Ghana, a business-to-business e-commerce platform, Agrocenta, connects 10,000 farmers with buyers, allowing farmers to secure a higher price for their production. While in Guinea, Clinic-O, a startup, is providing digital healthcare to rural Guinea and Kenya has introduced coding classes for school going children.
Mr Pedro added that the implementation of digital technologies should progressively and continually mirror key principles of inclusion, representation and accessibility.
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