AfCFTA and UNDP intensify efforts to accelerate Africa’s digital economy

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has intensified efforts to advance Africa’s digital economy following high-level discussions with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on the sidelines of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security in Freetown.

AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene met with Keyzom Ngodup Massally of UNDP to explore areas of collaboration aimed at accelerating digital transformation across the continent and supporting intra-African trade.

The discussions focused on scaling Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including the development of cross-border systems for digital payments and data exchange to facilitate seamless trade within Africa. Both parties also examined the role of a continental digital identity framework as a key enabler of economic integration, supported by secure and scalable infrastructure.

Regional interoperability was identified as a priority, with emphasis on expanding cross-border digital systems across regional blocs such as the East African Community (EAC), Southern African Development Community (SADC), and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to improve alignment and operational efficiency.

The meeting also addressed the importance of responsible innovation, with a shared commitment to promoting ethical and technology-neutral digital frameworks while excluding applications related to defence and arms.

Investment mobilisation for the digital sector, particularly in artificial intelligence, featured prominently in the discussions, as stakeholders seek to position Africa as a competitive player in the global digital economy.

The engagement further highlighted the need to empower young people through digital innovation and skills development, reinforcing the role of partnerships in building an inclusive and future-ready digital ecosystem under the AfCFTA framework.