ECA, Google Sign Agreement to Foster Digital Transformation in Africa

Addis Ababa February 20/2024 (ENA) The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and Google have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster and accelerate digital transformation in Africa on the margins of the 2024 edition of the Africa Business Forum.

The partnership is founded on the complementary expertise and strengths of both parties who wish to collaborate on activities to support ECA’s mandate such as digital development in Africa in line with the African Union Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-2030) and Google’s Digital Sprinters Framework.

It also aims at leveraging the power of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for the benefit of Africa’s digital economy. 

As a general framework for collaboration, the MoU will seek to further explore specific key areas of interest pertaining to digital skills development for Africa's burgeoning young population, startup development, increasing financial inclusion, strengthening cybersecurity and online safety measures, and advancing AI policy research for policymakers on the continent.

ECA's Executive Secretary Claver Gatete, acknowledged Google’s pivotal role in improving Africa’s connectivity infrastructure, supporting Africa’s innovators and entrepreneurs, and building digital capacity in emerging technologies through skills development for researchers, students and educators.

"This partnership holds the potential to produce significant and influential outcomes in tackling digital challenges and narrowing the digital divide across the African continent," Gatete remarked.

Africa, with the lowest internet penetration rate globally, sees 63 percent of its population without internet access, according to ECA. 

The ECA is committed to closing digital divides by promoting infrastructure development and affordability, sound regulatory environment, and fostering digital skills.

To tap into Africa's digital transformation potential to meet the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063, it is crucial that the continent's youth—projected to account for nearly half of the global youth population by 2030—are prepared for a digital future and the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Google's Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy, Emerging Markets Doron Avni said “With advanced technologies like AI, the most profound transformation is yet to come. Collaboration will be essential if Africa is to realize this opportunity and ensure no-one is left behind. We are excited to collaborate with the ECA to work towards this shared objective.”

As part of the Agreement, Google and ECA will endeavor to begin collaboration on Startup development, Computer Science Education and Cybersecurity. 

Google will endeavor to partner with ECA to reach its target to enable one million startups to generate 100 billion USD in revenue by 2033. 
 
Computer Science Education is also the other part of the agreement, ECA said.

Starting in 2024, ECA, Camden Trust and Google will endeavor to upskill over 5000 young African students and 200 teachers on computer science and robotics to support their participation in the World Robot Olympiad global competition and increase Africa’s representation. 
 
The organizations aim to operate in more than 10 countries, including Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
 
Additionally, the partnership seeks to conduct collaborative research on Cybersecurity and its connection to achieving the SDGs and Agenda 2063.