Africa faces an infrastructure, digital and technological gap. Several African countries have only recently acquired widespread internet connectivity, and only a relatively small population of people across the 54 countries in Africa have had access to a reliable and affordable digital experience. For the majority of those who inhabit the African continent, the adoption of digital connectivity has happened over a comparatively short space of time. The upside is that Africans have leapfrogged legacy challenges like ‘dial up internet’, quickly adopting digitized solutions. Too few can relate to bad memories of Windows 95 and Vista, or looking up information through pre-Google search engines like South Africa’s Ananzi, or accessing foreign online dictionaries like Encarta and Britannica. With 200 million people on the continent yet to be connected to the internet, too few have had the opportunity to create their own digital identities and footprints.  
 
If digitization is a race that many Africans have yet to have a chance to compete in, Africans are now stepping on, with the race already well underway. Across the continent, digital skills remain underdeveloped for the sophisticated digital universe. Skills which other users have had the opportunity to acquire over the decades long history of the internet and digitization. Skills that come with regular, affordable use, and reliable electricity supply, such as the ability to discern factual information from fake news, or knowing what not to share through the experience of pre-social media chat rooms. While Africans are well known for harbouring an entrepreneurial spirit, without the opportunity to play in a digital, technological world, the innovation required to transform Africa into a global powerhouse, in accordance with the African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063, is far behind. 
 
The AU has in turn recognised digital transformation as a key catalyst for innovative, inclusive and sustainable growth. Key to that transformation is robust digital socio-economic development through digital infrastructure, with a view to bridging that digital and technological gap. Accordingly, the Agenda 2063 flagship projects include the “E-Network” program to develop policies and strategies leading to digital applications that will transform the lives of Africans; and a Cyber Security program guided by the AU Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection.
 
In 2019, the adoption of the Sharm E! Sheikh Declaration by Ministers of several African countries, affirmed the importance of digital technologies and innovation in the achievement of the goal of universal connectivity and access. The vision for the African continent includes simple markers - job creation, reducing poverty, reducing inequality, contributing to Agenda 2063, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 
 
It is in this context that the AU’s Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-2030) (DTSA) has been introduced, with the following guiding principles: Solidarity and Cooperation, Comprehensive, Transformative, Inclusive, Homegrown, New Mindset and Safe. The DTSA sets the stage for bold, competitive, Africa of the future. One in which every African has a digital identity, is connected to an affordable internet and uses digital technology manufactured on the African continent. 
 
The DTSA is the latest in a series of  continental agreements directed towards an accelerated improvement of digital infrastructure. It builds on existing initiatives and frameworks such as as the Policy and Regulatory Initiative for Digital Africa (PRIDA), the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the African Union Financial Institutions (AUFIs, the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM); and the Free Movement of Persons (FMP) to support the Smart Africa’s Initiative of the development of a Digital Single Market (DSM) for Africa, as part of the integration priorities of the AU. 
 
With the historic commencement of the AfCFTA, an inclusive and prosperous digital trade of goods and services is the next key opportunity to be unlocked. As the African continent moves towards a single market, it will simultaneously need to integrate into a single digital market to create economies of scale and opportunities. The DTSA envisions an African digital single market, using safe, reliable and affordable digital technologies and digitized data, accessed through a smart device manufactured on the continent. This digital single market will enable everyone on the continent, from traders selling in open air markets, to social media entrepreneurs and large technology companies. 
 
The introduction of the DTSA is in recognition that legislative infrastructure as well prioritizing the development of digital skills and human capacity across all possible value chains in which the 1.2 billion Africans interact, is the only way to achieve the Digital Single Market and onboard the 200 million Africans without access to the internet. The internet is primed to open massive opportunities for all industries. 
 
The DTSA recognises that in many ways, without intervention, the digital divide that continues to exist in Africa, will increase. The digital divide characterises a gap based on gender, a gap based on age and a gap based on income. According to Kampala based organisation Pollicy the digital experience remains unsafe for women, littered with discriminatory, gendered practices. An age-related digital divide means that those born before the digital era have often been left behind, and their digital experiences are heavily reliant on assistance from relationships with younger members of the population. The income related digital divide means that those with greater access to data and the latest technology are seeing technological advancements skewed towards their interests. 
 
In recognition of this gap, the DTSA proposes equitable and harmonized digital infrastructure powered by a digital  sovereignty fund, coherent digital policies and strategies. The Strategy prioritizes setting standards for privacy, digital innovation and entrepreneurship. Emphasis is placed on supporting innovation that has a commercial, social and economic relevance contributing to development and the African economy. Innovation that uplifts industries key to the development of a prosperous Africa with an African identity. 
 
The reality which the DTSA seeks to address is that 300 million Africans live more than 50 km from a broadband connection. By 2030, a Universal Service Fund to improve digital infrastructure in underserved areas will be underway. Essential will be the development of harmonised digital strategies. 
 
Guiding these regional digital strategies, embodied in the DTSA, are the foundational pillars of the DTSA: Enabling Policy and Regulation, Digital Infrastructure, Digital Skills and Human Capacity, Digital innovation and Entrepreneurship. The entrepreneurial spirit which exists will be harnessed to develop a comprehensive digital entrepreneurial ecosystem. Digital innovation will require the improvement of governments policy making and the strengthening of an intellectual property regime that serves the developmental needs of the African continent. 
 
To address the skills gap and accelerate job creation, there will be a renewed focus on Science, Teachnology, Engineering, Art and Maths (STEAM) creating e-business skills. ICT will be rolled out to ensure learning of ICTs at all educational levels. Africa’s integrated skills development programs will include on the job training and rapid skills training with an important dual function in stimulating diaspora reintegration and digital literacy programs at the grassroots level. By improving the digital labour market and coordinating cloud computing infrastructure, affordability of digital goods and services will be achieved. 
 
Several Critical Sectors have been prioritized in the DTSA in the Drive towards digital Transformation. These sectors include Digital Industry, Digital Trade and Financial Services, Digital Governance, Digital Education, Digital Health and Digital Agriculture. 
 
In line with the bold vision, the DTSA foresees an Africa in which all smart devices used on the African continent are manufactured on the continent. As such, African countries will move towards the development of ICT assembling and manufacturing plants and the promotion of computer software and hardware across Africa. Online banking, ecommerce and the adoption of eMoney will be widespread across the continent. The underbanked and unbanked will be accommodated through inclusive digital mechanisms, and there will be a digital regulatory framework for cross border mobile money and financial transactions, eliminating unjustified geo blocking. 
 
The Digital transformation of the African continent must be widespread, across development driven sectors, in order for the potential of a Digital Single Market to be achieved. This means that rural digital infrastructure, targeting farmers particularly women needs to be developed, to ensure Africa’s food system is empowered to serve the needs of the continent and that Africans hungry due to food shortages or insecurity are a thing of the past, by 2030. The agricultural economy is a large employer across the continent and has been reconceptualised in the DTSA. 
 
A prosperous Africa will be one free from its heavy disease burden, disability and premature death. Healthcare will be reimagined to serve the unique needs of each country, enhanced by appropriate data privacy and data quality policies to enable health systems that support universal health coverage. 
 
The ambitions for Digital governance include a single digital gateway for e-Government services  and electronic government registers for population, businesses and land use eliminating governments and government departments which work in silos. 
 
There are a few themes which cut across the DTSA - Digital Content and Applications, Digital ID, Emerging Technologies, Cybersecurity, privacy and personal data protection and Research and development. Africa has fallen behind on it’s research output, producing only 1.1% of recognised scientific knowledge, despite having 13.4% of the world’s population. As such, the goal is for African countries to spend at least 1% of their GDP research and development. The promotion of policies that support open access to knowledge and open educational resources and partnerships with relevant educational institutions embracing emerging technologies, will be key to the DTSA’s objectives. 
 
The DTSA also emphasises online safety. Cyber threats and security breaches require a comprehensive, coordinated and consistent approach. Capacity building and cognisance of global best practice like Europe's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as well as the localization of data with respect to the privacy of those who live on the African continent. In the midst of several internet shutdowns, the DTSA proposes a coordinated response to the regulation of social networks, in line with the needs of all stakeholders in the digital ecosystem is also required. This is with a view of attracting the financial investment required to realise the DTSA.
 
To fully participate in the future, every person on the African continent will need a digital identity, to uniquely identify individuals through digital channels. Africa’s economy must evolve in order to achieve sustainability, and especially empower women, and marginalised populations. Equitable participation in a digital future will require universal internet coverage, security biometric technology, smart devices, and cloud services, accessible, and affordable for everyone. The DTSA envisions a continental interoperable and open digital identity allowing validation and authentication of individuals. Digital systems need to be designed and implemented using open standards. ‘DotAfrica’ will be promoted as a continental TopLevel domain for use with guidance from African internet agencies. Local content regulations and content moderation mechanisms, to ensure online safety are prioritized. Copyright legislation will be reviewed to a digital environment, for content production and distribution to protect African content Access to broadband infrastructure for audio visual content including infrastructure for content production.
 
Digitalization, automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are reshaping human existence, with new prospects and opportunities for prosperity. Africa has seen a huge uptake in emerging technologies such as blockchain, AI, Internet of Things (IoT), Internet of Nano Things (IoNT) and 3D printing. In order to harness. These emerging technologies will be essential to navigating digital futures. The DTSA advocates an agile, iterative and collaborative approach in regulating emerging technologies, so that legislation can keep up with the digital ecosystem. A coordinated, human rights based approach, informed by research, public dialogue and always keeping societal impact at the forefront of decision making. 
 
In the DTSA, the Strategic Enablers which have been identified include Political Commitment, Strengthen implementation framework, Financing and investment, Private sector and civil society engagement, Regional and international cooperation, Capacity Development, Advocacy and Awareness and the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework. African countries will be expected to be able to conduct assessments to track upskilling and connectivity,  continuously provide education and communication towards targeted groups on the digitization initiative. Countries are also expected to make demands of stakeholders, to contribute towards the development of Broadband and ICT infrastructure, as well as subsequent adoption of the infrastructure. 
 
While political commitment will be the starting point, both the private sector as well as civil society have been highlighted for engagement.  While the public sector will retain leadership, accountability and oversight in the regional and international cooperation to implement the strategy, and harmonize legislation, the private sector and civil society will still be relied upon for monitoring systems through involvement in multistakeholder, public private partnerships. 
 
Financing cross border digital infrastructure networks such as broadband networks, submarine cable systems, satellites and mobile networks, will all require committed financial investment. A coordinated approach is particularly necessary, to ensure that countries, or markets, which investors would traditionally consider non viable, are non left behind, underfunded.  There is a wide range of potential investors in Africa’s digital infrastructure including large Tech giants, Telcos and financial institutions and the operations of each kind of potential investor need to be matched with the developmental needs most relevant to that business. 
 
The DTSA is indeed a bold, and robust vision. It was conceived before the disruption of the Covid 19 pandemic. However, the future is coming, irrespective of the barriers that exist, and Africans will hope that the political will required to enter a prosperous digital future, is engaged, before the window to do so closes.