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Recent technological advancements have presented greater opportunities for more people worldwide to participate in the digital economy. As digital capabilities continue to evolve, they are expected to enhance connectivity further, with a profound impact across industries and the broader economy. Across sectors, digital platforms are reshaping the dynamics between customers, employees, and employers. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated technological transformation by several years, as technology became the essential foundation for continuity in numerous sectors.
Amid these developments, Africa's digital transformation is becoming a key focus of international analysis as experts examine how the continent is navigating the rapidly advancing digital revolution. Although Africa's digital technology growth is not directly comparable to any advanced country or region, the continent is making significant progress. As a developing region, Africa still faces challenges in constructing the necessary infrastructure to become globally competitive in the digital age. However, the gap is closing, and Africa is no longer far behind.
Multiple drivers are fuelling this transformation, shaping opportunities across sectors. The number of people with internet access in Africa is steadily increasing. Meanwhile, mobile phones have become ubiquitous, acting as gateways to the digital world. This widespread mobile connectivity is empowering individuals to access vital services, perform financial transactions, and engage in the digital economy. Further, concrete efforts are being made across the continent to provide high-quality digital services and address misinformation and disinformation about the region. This includes offering open-source, data-driven analysis to highlight the positive strides being made. Efforts to mitigate the risks associated with digital revolution abuses are also a priority—concerns that have historically driven many developing nations’ hesitation to fully embrace Africa as a partner in advancing the digital era.
However, the digital transformation is not uniform across the continent. Countries like South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Egypt have shown higher adoption rates due to the improved presence of mobile devices and the internet, and various supportive government policies.
For Africa, digital transformation can be disruptive and transformative, offering a unique opportunity to accelerate industrialisation, drive economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve the quality of life for millions. Digital technologies and services are poised to contribute significantly to the African Union's ‘Agenda 2063,’ helping to strengthen regional integration and enhance connectivity between African markets and the global economy. This shift could stimulate innovation, create jobs, and open up new economic opportunities across key sectors.
In particular, digital technology can improve market and financial access for underserved populations, including those in remote areas often overlooked by traditional financial institutions. Bridging the digital divide and addressing inequality will rely heavily on ensuring widespread access to secure and reliable internet services. This connectivity can potentially enhance human capital development, providing young people with new opportunities and skills. However, the digital gap may disproportionately affect women and girls, especially those in rural or economically disadvantaged areas, deepening existing gender inequalities.
While digital technologies hold an immense potential to transform Africa, realising this promise will require creating a supportive business environment and an effective regulatory framework. Many least-developed countries across the continent have not fully capitalised on the rapid growth of the digital economy due to various challenges, including insufficient infrastructure and limited skills development.
To fully harness the benefits of digital transformation, a robust legislative framework is needed to strengthen digital infrastructure and ensure affordable, reliable access for all. This framework should support the registration of digital identities and intellectual property, promote the development of new financial and technological innovations, and establish a well-resourced, permanent regulatory body to oversee and guide the future of the digital economy in Africa.
Africa must leverage technology to empower its citizens, particularly those who are underserved and marginalised. While some progress has been made, with many African countries taking significant steps—such as expanding digital access to remote communities, promoting digital literacy, and advancing e-governance—there is still much work to be done.
To further accelerate digital transformation across the continent, it is essential to assess the progress made, identify challenges, and address key issues. Africa’s digital revolution holds great potential to drive sustainable development and economic growth, but it will require effective policies and strategic investments to unlock its benefits entirely.
This compendium, Powering Africa's Digital Transformation: The Policy Landscape, explores various facets of policymaking that can accelerate Africa’s digital evolution. Notably, it presents the African perspective, as all contributing authors are based in Africa and actively involved in shaping the continent's digital policies as researchers, academics, or practitioners.
In the first essay, Israel Nyadera explores the potential and challenges of utilising big data to transform governance in Africa. He examines current efforts in digital governance, identifies opportunities for improving public service delivery, and underscores the importance of local capacity building and data security to maximise the impact of big data on governance.
Next, Mikatekiso Kubayi delves into the role of the digital economy in Africa’s industrial transformation under ‘Agenda 2063’. His essay examines how digital tools and technologies are shaping major development projects, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area and the high-speed train network, and stresses the need for substantial investment to harness the continent’s youthful, tech-savvy population to drive economic growth.
Ken Ndalamba and Nelma Manuel analyse the impact of digital transformation on the business environment in Angola over the past 11 years. Their study highlights how Angola has capitalised on digital opportunities to position itself as a leading business destination in Africa.
In his essay, Raymond Onuoha examines digital upskilling in Nigeria, focusing on the gender disparities in access to digital education. He reviews current initiatives, delivery models, and their impacts, and offers recommendations for improving public-private partnerships, scaling training programmes, and establishing robust monitoring frameworks to ensure inclusive digital skills development for women and girls.
Similarly, Caroline Kathure Gatobu investigates the gender digital divide in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her essay highlights the barriers women face in accessing digital technologies and explores opportunities for bridging this gap. It emphasises the critical need for digital inclusion and women’s empowerment to drive economic growth and development across the region.
Next, Zedekia Opondo Sidha analyses the impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs), particularly the DHIS 2 system, on stakeholder collaboration in Kenya’s health sector. He explores how the system has facilitated data sharing, improved decision-making, and enhanced policy implementation while addressing challenges such as infrastructure limitations and sustainability concerns. The essay stresses the need for strong infrastructure, capacity-building, and sustainable financing.
In his essay, Siyaduma Biniza evaluates the effectiveness of the user-pay principle and electronic toll collection systems in financing road infrastructure across Africa. Drawing on case studies from Kenya, Morocco, Uganda, and South Africa, he offers insights into the challenges, successes, and opportunities associated with these financing models.
Adekola Thompson explores the potential of blockchain technology in Africa, analysing its applications across various sectors. He examines the role of private equity investments, the challenges faced, and the opportunities for policy adoption while stressing the importance of strategic planning for successfully integrating blockchain technology.
Next, Charles Kabaya examines digital activism in Kenya, focusing on youth-led protests against the 2024 Finance Bill. Through the use of social media and innovative digital tools, young Kenyans mobilised a powerful movement to demand fairer fiscal policies. His study highlights the transformative role of digital platforms in contemporary civic engagement and political activism.
Finally, Avit A. Chami discusses the role of digital transformation in Tanzania’s rural economy. He emphasises the need for Swahili-language applications on digital devices to ensure wider access. The essay acknowledges challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, low smartphone penetration, and language barriers, proposing solutions like expanding digital infrastructure, developing user-friendly Swahili apps, and implementing rural-tech empowerment programmes to support ICT-driven initiatives in rural Tanzania.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Sameer Patil, director of ORF’s Centre for Security, Strategy and Technology, for his valuable review of these contributions. I also thank Preeti Lourdes John, ORF’s editorial consultant, for her meticulous work in readying the series for publication. The assistance provided by ORF interns Ahmed Fawaz Latif and Yuvvraj Singh is also appreciated. Finally, a special thanks to Harsh V Pant, Vice President – Studies and Foreign Policy at ORF, for his continual support and motivation.
The views expressed above belong to the author(s). ORF research and analyses now available on Telegram! Click here to access our curated content — blogs, longforms and interviews.
Samir Bhattacharya is an Associate Fellow at ORF where he works on geopolitics with particular reference to Africa in the changing global order. He has a ...
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