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Africa needs to develop digital skills to boost economic growth and development. It also needs to create an environment that is conducive for these skills to flourish. This involves implementing a comprehensive strategy that includes infrastructure, policy support, and ecosystem development. This is one of the key highlights of a recent report released by the Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI).www.GABI.unglobalcompact.org/). GABI is a solutions-driven global platform connecting leaders around the world to drive and invest in the unstoppable opportunity of economic growth in Africa.
The report, Global Compact Dialogues, captures the essence of the UN Global Compact roundtable discussions held during the 2024 Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda. Themed “Digital Transformation”, the exclusive conference in May 2024 brought together prominent African CEOs, representatives of global and African businesses, government officials and key stakeholders in the digital sector for a focused, solutions-oriented dialogue aimed at driving investment and growth on the continent.
“Digital transformation is not only a pathway to economic growth, but also an essential component of sustainable development in Africa. By investing in infrastructure, promoting supportive policies and empowering our entrepreneurs and workforce, we can create an environment in which digital skills can flourish. The GABI Dialogue highlighted the huge potential of digital technologies and AI for Africa, and we must continue to collaborate to advance these efforts. Together, we can ensure that Africa not only participates in the digital economy, but leads it,” said Sanda Ojiambo (photo), Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the UN Global Compact.
Africa’s digital economy is expected to reachhttp://apo-opa.co/3WzSY7j) will reach $180 billion by 2025 and $712 billion by 2050. This growth is driven by a vibrant innovation ecosystem in sectors such as mobile financial services, telemedicine, and e-commerce.
The demand for digital skills training in Africa is also expected to surge over the next decade as jobs that previously did not require digital skills will begin to require them.
It is estimated that by 2030, approximately 230 million jobs in Africa will require some level of digital skills (http://apo-opa.co/4dvOwxn). This means there are 650 million potential training opportunities.
The event featured a series of panel discussions and fireside chats that delved into the solutions needed to drive economic growth in Africa. The main focus of the discussion was on bridging the digital divide by providing skills, infrastructure, funding and other opportunities. The main topics discussed included AI governance, technology and supply chain, digital economy, upskilling of the future workforce, data centers and digital infrastructure, among others.
Speakers at the event included His Excellency Professor Yemi Osinbajo, former Vice President of Nigeria and Head of the Timbuktu African Innovation Foundation, Her Excellency Paula Ingabire, Minister of Information and Communications Technology and Innovation of the Republic of Rwanda, and Mr. Alex Okosi, CEO of Google Africa, representing GABI Circle. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Acha Leke, Chairman of McKinsey Africa, and moderated by Mr. Ozonnia Ojielo, UN Resident Coordinator in Rwanda.
Key Conversation Insights
Participants stressed the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, stressing that cooperation between governments, private sector entities and other stakeholders is essential to accelerate digital transformation. Such a collaborative strategy is essential to overcome barriers and scale up the effectiveness of digital initiatives. Participants stressed the need to develop a highly skilled workforce, the so-called “army of digital professionals”, to advance the digital agenda.
The conference stressed that AI holds great potential for Africa’s future. However, the continent must develop the necessary infrastructure to support AI technology.
Furthermore, participants stressed that for Africa to benefit from digital transformation, data centers must be established on the continent. Data centers exist only in a few African countries, which hinders Africa’s digital transformation. Participants also pointed out that data centers must be economically viable and sustainable to promote digital transformation.
To ensure that individuals can effectively participate in and benefit from the digital economy, the discussion highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive capacity-building initiatives. A key highlight was a call for successful entrepreneurs to set up funds specifically to support emerging entrepreneurs, thereby expanding and strengthening the digital economy.
Key recommendations
The GABI dialogue highlighted the huge potential of digital technologies and artificial intelligence to transform Africa. To unlock this potential, it is necessary to bridge infrastructure gaps, foster collaboration among different stakeholders, and empower individuals and entrepreneurs. Creating an enabling environment and making strategic investments in digital infrastructure are important steps for Africa to achieve a prosperous digital future.
Key recommendations from the dialogue included that GABI position itself as the leading advocate for AI in Africa from 2025 onwards, with a focus on promoting the infrastructure needed for AI technologies. It was also suggested that the GABI platform be used to adapt the findings of the report to the specific needs of Africa, building on the initiative of the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence.
Finally, the recommendations highlight the importance of using the GABI platform to engage with African governments and policymakers to advocate for the development of legal and regulatory frameworks and policies that support the development of AI.
Following the success of the GABI Dialogues, the UN Global Compact further engaged with business leaders at the African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Accra, Ghana. These events are a precursor to the Unstoppable Africa event taking place in New York on 25-26 September 2024 during UN General Assembly week. Insights and recommendations from these dialogues will feed into the wider agenda of Unstoppable Africa and inform GABI’s strategic planning and partnerships through 2025.
Led by UN Under-Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, GABI aims to reposition Africa as a business destination and investment opportunity on the global stage, while contributing to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Interested participants can register now (http://apo-opa.co/3A5Dq3G) to apply for Unstoppable Africa 2024, September 25-26 in New York. For more information on the Global African Business Initiative, visit the website (www.GABI.unglobalcompact.org/).
Click here to download the GABI Dialogue Report (https://apo-opa.co/4dyfAfB) and watch the event highlights video here (https://apo-opa.co/4dbAxwS) to explore these insights and gain actionable strategies to drive digital transformation in Africa.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the Global African Business Initiative.
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