Policy makers from Africa have settled on five priority areas in the development of ICTs and telecommunications for the next four years.
The five thematic areas were a resolution of the Regional Preparatory Meeting (RPM) for Africa convened by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to concretize the continent’s priorities in ICTs and telecommunications development for the next four years, as the world gears towards the 2025 World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25).
5 Priority Initiatives in ICT
The five broad regional initiatives agreed upon by the delegates at the RPM covering 2026-2029 are:
1. Meaningful connectivity and resilient infrastructure for sustainable development, including emergency telecommunications and multi-hazard early warning systems in the Africa region
2. Developing an inclusive trustworthy AI ecosystem in Africa for socio-economic development
3. Building trust, safety and security in the use of telecommunications/ information and communication technology and Data protection and privacy.
4. Digital infrastructure applications, SMEs Development and Emerging Technologies and Innovation Ecosystems Sustainable
5. Funding Mechanisms for Africa’s Digital Transformation.
When was ITU’s Regional Preparatory Meeting held?
The meeting held from 8th to 9th April in Nairobi was an opportunity for participants to gain insight and detailed reporting on the ongoing implementation of Africa’s initiatives as outlined in the 2022 World Telecommunication Development Conference, also known as the Kigali Action Plan, as well as propose the next regional initiatives for the Africa region.
“Going to the WTDC-25, Africa is not sitting on the periphery any more,” said Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo.
“We are intentional with what we seek to achieve, and we must sustain this unity of purpose to a prosperous future, where ICTs/telecommunications remain the cornerstone of our progress.”
ITU Director for Telecommunications Development Bureau Dr. Cosmas Zavazaza said that as home to many of the world’s Landlocked Developing Countries and Least Developed Countries, political will was necessary for Africa to leverage the transformative potential of digital technologies.
“The Africa region, with its creativity, innovation, exceptional talent, rich resources and young population, is ready to excel in digital transformation,” noted Dr. Zavazava.
CA Director General David Mugonyi, who also chaired the RPM, said the continent’s quest to be a leader in the digital revolution was clearer now, and as such, threw a need for concerted efforts to consolidate efforts ahead of the WTDC-25.
“Our readiness to leapfrog ICTs and telecommunications for our growth as a region has never been this urgent. I call on regulators in the region to seize the WTDC-25 as a turning point in our quest to remain at the cutting edge of the digital revolution,” said Mugonyi.
“The Regional Initiatives identified at the Regional Preparatory Meeting define the key focus areas for the Africa region for the period 2026-2029,” said Emmanuel Manasseh, Regional Director of the ITU Regional Office for Africa. “Once adopted at WTDC-25, they will chart the path to universal meaningful connectivity and sustainable digital transformation in the region.”
The RPM was preceded by a Regional Development Forum (RDF) on 7th April, where participants engaged in results-oriented debates around the state of digital development and the implementation of the current Regional Initiatives.
The report on the “State of digital development and trends in the Africa region” launched at the meeting examines connectivity expansion, innovation, affordability, and digital inclusion, outlining strategies to achieve universal and meaningful connectivity across the diverse region.
