Today, the EU and Smart Africa Alliance have further enhanced their collaboration to bridge the digital divide in Africa by signing an Administrative Arrangement and a grant agreement under the Global Gateway strategy. The partnership was formalised during a high-level roundtable discussion with European and African government representatives, private sector leaders and civil society. Key objectives of the agreement are deploying secure, affordable digital networks, advancing e-governance services, and exploring the potential of artificial intelligence. The event was co-organised by the Digital for Development (D4D) Hub.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission: “This new agreement marks a joint ambition to create concrete results. Strengthening our digital cooperation with Africa is crucial in supporting the continent’s digital transformation. I look forward to continuing expanding our partnership with Smart Africa and the African Union and reinforce the economic links between Europe and Africa.”
Jozef Síkela, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, emphasised: Better access to digital tools is essential for economic growth and bridging the digital divide between continents. Today’s agreements strengthen our successful partnership with Smart Africa, enabling us to accelerate digital transformation while boosting competitiveness and innovation.”
Lacina Koné, CEO of Smart Africa: “This landmark collaboration with the European Commission represents a powerful alliance bringing together the strengths of both organizations. This agreement will unlock significant opportunities to enhance digital infrastructure, skills development, and digital innovation across Africa. Our shared commitment and combined resources will create tangible pathways to digital inclusion, ensuring every African community can participate in and benefit from the digital economy.”
During the event, a flagship project on data governance, co-funded by the EU and Germany, was also unveiled. The flagship seeks to establish an African-owned data governance framework to protect citizens’ rights and promote economic benefits by attracting investment. The flagship builds on efforts by the EU and African Union (AU) to leverage the potential of the data economy while avoiding the misuse of data and potential fragmentation of data markets. In the next years, the flagships will ensure personal data regulation are strengthened, data use and cross-border data flows are made easier and investments in secure data infrastructure are made more attractive.
Smart Africa and the European Commission also signed a grant agreement on e-governance, which aims to harmonise regulations at regional and continental levels, ensuring accessible and efficient public services. Activities under the agreement include study visits, peer-to-peer learning and capacity building workshops as well as the development of an e-governance toolkit for African policymakers and relevant stakeholders. These measures reflect the EU and Africa’s shared priorities as outlined in the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa 2020–2030 and the EU’s Digital Compass for 2030, reaffirmed at the 2022 EU-AU Summit.
Background
This is the first agreement under the leadership of Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and Commissioner Jozef Síkela, signifying the EU’s commitment to fostering digital inclusion in Africa through Global Gateway.
The collaboration showcases Team Europe’s approach; leveraging financial instruments, private sector expertise, and innovative tools to drive digital transformation. The D4D Hub continues to play a critical role, ensuring the alignment of efforts and impactful outcomes.
The strengthened partnership is set to create a sustainable, inclusive digital landscape in Africa, empowering societies and transforming economies.
Director-General 9DG) Koen Doens (DG INTPA), DG Roberto Viola (DG CNECT) ad Smart Africa’s CEO Lacina Koné signed the administrative agreement building on already extensive cooperation.
Global Gateway
Global Gateway is a new European strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport sectors and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world. Global Gateway aims to mobilise up to €300 billion in investments through a Team Europe approach, bringing together the EU, its Member States and their financial and development institutions. It seeks a transformational impact in the digital, climate and energy, transport, health, and education and research sectors. The focus is on smart investments in quality infrastructure, respecting the highest social and environmental standards, in line with the EU’s interests and values: rule of law, human rights and international norms and standards.
About Smart Africa:
Smart Africa is an alliance of African countries, international organizations, and global private sector players tasked with advancing Africa’s digital agenda. Empowered by a bold and innovative commitment from African Heads of State, the alliance aims to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development on the continent and usher Africa into the knowledge economy through affordable access to broadband and the use of ICTs. With a vision to create a single digital market in Africa by 2030, Smart Africa brings together member states to accelerate the digitalization of the continent and create a common market. Launched in 2013 by seven African Heads of State, the alliance now has 40 member countries, representing over 1 billion people and over 50 private sector members committed to the vision and advancement of Africa.
