Thanks for sharing this great piece.

Well...while the intentions are there - with existing hard infrastructure - the biggest obstacles are the soft infrastructure, the institutions. Institutions are non-permitting when it comes to innovations to improve effectiveness and efficiency. Theoretically, we can discuss on their inability to reward innovators (in the form of patents etc)- while in addition in reality, gate-keeping is one of the obstacles of innovation. For example, individuals who own transport facilities (trucks etc) would be against the idea of adopting rail transportation to protect their purses.

Secondly, the sunk-cost fallacy of the individuals deter them from accepting innovative initiatives. The mentality of being comfortable with what they have learnt over time and the fear of being a novice in new initiatives deters individuals to push for the latter.

There is a lot of talk on how (possibly) Africa could benefit from the reduced (or eliminated) tariffs on African Imports.

However, do you think Africa is ready to benefit from this? and to what extent? Considering quality requirements conditions.

Is this another missed opportunity or an information shock that could induce structural transformation( labour shifting from low value-added to higher value added sectors)?

Dear colleagues and fellows,

As many of you closely follow the evolving digital policy landscape, I wanted to share key reflections from the recently adopted Cotonou Declaration on Accelerating Africa’s Digital Transformation, which emerged from the African WSIS+20 Review Summit (May 2025, Benin).

This declaration stands out as one of Africa's most structured, comprehensive, and forward-looking commitments to digital transformation in recent years. Some core elements I believe deserve special attention:

Bridging Infrastructure Gaps: Ambitious targets to achieve 95% broadband coverage in leading countries by 2030, while tackling the persistent issue of high mobile data costs across the continent.

Moving Beyond Digital Access: A shift towards advanced capacity-building, integrating AI, IoT, Big Data, and Quantum Computing into national curricula, addressing both foundational and frontier digital skills.

Strengthening Governance & Regulation: Clear calls for developing adaptive AI governance frameworks, cross-border data harmonisation, and robust cybersecurity standards.

Commitment to Measurable Progress: The introduction of an Africa Digital Performance Index and Ministerial Peer Reviews to ensure transparency, benchmarking, and shared learning across Member States.

Linkage to Global Processes: The Declaration explicitly reinforces Africa’s engagement with WSIS, the IGF, and the GDC, ensuring Africa’s voice remains influential in shaping global digital norms.

In my view, this is not just a declaration, it is a blueprint for operationalising Africa’s digital ambitions, with a heavy emphasis on differentiated targets recognising our continent’s diversity in digital maturity.

I would love to hear your perspectives:

How do you see this Declaration influencing the national and regional policy work you are involved in?

How do you envision Member States and the African Union translating these ambitious targets into concrete action and accountability frameworks?

Are you actively following or contributing to any UN processes related to digital governance (WSIS+20, IGF, Global Digital Compact)?

I believe cross-sharing between these tracks is becoming increasingly essential, and as fellows within the UN ECA community, we are well-positioned to contribute to that dialogue.

Let’s keep this conversation active; Africa's digital future depends on how effectively we move from commitments to coordinated action.

I have worked and participated on climate change related work and research. There are several issues hindering the need for climate change sustainability. For Uganda, there remains minimal comprehensive knowledge about climate change related mechanisms at community level. The usual projects like planting trees, making briquettes, are undertaken on a very small scale. Policy majorly ends in conference rooms and workshops with less to no involvement or operationalization of climate change attributes across affected communities.

Lived realities: For example, Mt. Rwenzori glaciers continue to deplete. The only mountain with snow yet the Equator passes through. It inhabits unique species that continue to go extinct. Yet, due to climate change, and extreme heat, the glaciers are vanishing. During rainy seasons, extreme floods affect Uganda and DRC........

At a small scale, we see restoration of lost species, leveraging bee keeping, and managing population growth. This is a long path to change. But, amidst the different strategies, if we leverage on cross-border climate change interventions, we could push further.

I would suggest that digitization and automation would play a vital role in this - this would surely enhance efficiency. Of-course while that is so, it would also derail on harnessing the demographic dividend due to jobs that would be deemed redundant (laid off) due to automation. At the end of the day, it is an issue of cost-benefit assessments, on what we are willing to let go to achieve the set goals.

Great. Congratulations

True indeed IITUMBA Ndinelao,Namibia,PCKMD, striking a balance in methodical rigor erases gaps in a real-life context. It brings to life lived experiences, and blending facts.

BANENGAI KOYAMA Torcia Chanelle,Central African Republic,MFGD Would you clarify on the taxes that these governments are imposing on diaspora contributions? I see it difficult given the capacity of tax administration systems in African countries. See my thinking below:

I agree with you on the significant roles of remittances - but due to the informality of the channels that the diaspora use in remitting funds to left-behind households, i believe it would be difficult for governments to succeed at this. In addition, i believe the more they attempt to tax these formal channels, the more the informal channels will present themselves - which would lead to reduced formal tracking of remittances by government albeit people still increasing the volumes. At the macro-level, this problem in the external sector will present spill-over problems to the real, financial, and public sectors. In Malawi for example, this presents data accuracy issues by central banks (research loses validation), presents an informal black market for forex (people create forex markets on social media), and limits forex availability (forex does not go through banks) (this ofcourse will have many other consequences for import dependent countries).

There is a whole lot of debate on whether Africa is ready for the all the innovations and digital technologies needed to transform agrifood systems in the continent. The FAO and AU will be discussing the African Union's new Digital Agriculture Strategy. ALI Ibrahim Houssen,Djibouti,ACS you might be particularly interested in joining the conversations with your interests in AI and agriculture. Webinar is on the 12th of June. Register on the link: https://lnkd.in/ehDY_Sh3

I agree with your observation and everyone else's. While we focus on the macro level analyses, my input would be to suggest at also looking at the micro level analyses - to improve mitigation. By doing this, this shoulders the problem of corruption in Africa- where regardless of climate finance that could be made available, the vulnerable rarely benefit from this (ofcourse while bearing the burden of debt repayment arising from climate finance). In my research, i focus on the micro-level, local factors - factors within the reach of the person living under $1.90 a day- that could mitigate the impact of climate shocks toward household level welfare. for example, interested in looking at how incidence and intensity of social networks (relationships within a community) in a rural economy would cushion the impacts of climate shocks on Migration (whether Migration is or is not a problem, is a different issue, for now :) )

GULE Thandile Tanzile,Eswatini,CFND It's an existential question that you raise here. Especially since it's a paradox when you consider that African countries are very rich in natural resources.

Many thanks for your contributions — you're absolutely right. The challenge lies in the fact that domestic revenue mobilization is a long-term process requiring deep structural reforms, such as modernizing tax administrations, broadening the tax base, and reducing informality. In contrast, fiscal consolidation measures are often implemented in the short term, primarily to reassure donors or markets, or to strengthen the credibility of economic authorities.

Do you think this temporal mismatch between the long-term nature of tax reforms and the short-term pressures of consolidation could lead to budget cuts in essential social sectors — sectors that are nonetheless critical for achieving the SDGs?

ALI Ibrahim Houssen,Djibouti,ACS Well articulated! The need for sustainable agricultural practices that address climate change and promote water efficiency cannot be overstated. As we strive to meet the SDGs, it is crucial to recognize that innovative approaches, such as smart irrigation farming systems and water-saving technologies, play a pivotal role in ensuring food security, conserving natural resources, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

In this digital age, leveraging AI and cutting-edge technology is key to unlocking the full potential of these solutions. AI offers a huge opportunity to optimize irrigation schedules based on real-time weather data, soil moisture levels, plant needs, and improved crop yields. It offers a chance for evidence based decisions and that will help African communities adapt to changing environmental conditions. The interconnectedness of water management, agriculture, climate action, and technology highlights the importance of a holistic and systems-thinking approach in achieving the SDGs.

Empowerment to me is the ability for individuals, groups, or communities to gain control over their lives, make informed decisions, and access the resources and opportunities needed to achieve their full potential. In other words, the freedom to own their lives, choices and decisions.

SOUMTANG BIME Valentine, Cameroon, DES-P Thank you for raising this, your skepticism is not only valid, it’s necessary. Real reform must go beyond ambition to address implementation gaps, financial dependence, and deliver meaningful, lasting change especially for regions like ours or Moreso, the entire continent.

Being at ECA during this pivotal moment, I keep reflecting on what change readiness truly means. Do we, as institutions, have the systems, leadership, and collective will to act differently this time? I look forward to seeing how this journey unfolds and what role we can play in shaping it.

IITUMBA Ndinelao,Namibia,PCKMD This week’s dialogue highlighted the complexity of Africa’s tax systems, particularly the close relationship between citizens' distrust of their governments and the perceived efficiency of the public sector.

In our paper (https://academic.oup.com/oep/article-pdf/76/3/741/58212432/gpad036.pdf) on the determinants of public sector efficiency covering 158 countries of all income levels, we demonstrate that an effective public sector is essential for strengthening institutional legitimacy and encouraging tax compliance. The analysis includes four sectors: education, health, infrastructure, and public administration. Our study emphasizes that key determinants of this efficiency include governance quality, transparency, administrative accountability, and the capacity to deliver quality public services. When citizens perceive their taxes are used efficiently, it reinforces trust in the tax system and motivates voluntary compliance, creating a virtuous cycle of improved public service delivery and civic engagement.

A fundamental takeaway from this discussion is the need for governments to tangibly demonstrate how tax revenues are utilized. Distrust and tax apathy often stem from a lack of transparency regarding resource allocation. Building on our research in Apeti et al. (2024), we argue that enhancing public sector efficiency requires citizens to have access to clear, accessible information about how their taxes are spent. Transparent management, supported by effective digital platforms, would bolster trust by showing how taxation directly funds essential services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

Moreover, public sector efficiency also hinges on administrative capacity to optimally manage resources. In our study (Apeti et al., 2024), we stress the importance of a robust institutional framework centered on accountability. As noted in the dialogue, implementing digital strategies must therefore be paired with strengthening institutional capabilities to ensure technological investments translate into better management and transparency. This would enable citizens to see tangible improvements, reinforcing their trust and engagement in the tax system.

In essence, for Africa’s tax systems to become true levers of development, they must be grounded in accountable governance, transparent communication, and effective technology use. As supported by our research (Apeti et al., 2024), this combination shows that public sector efficiency is not merely an internal management issue but a vital dimension of the social contract between states and citizens. Providing citizens with precise information...

What if, we also looked at this from the funding angle, how about approaching prospective donors in a completely different way. Instead of going to a donor with our agenda, what if, we designed a fundraising strategy with an attribute of aligning our comparative advantage with the potential donor/funder. This may help us understand the donor's priorities, enable us brainstorm ideas that fit into the donor funding portfolio, and align our business case/concepts/proposals. Kindly, what are your thoughts?

Africa should focus on quality education in order to equip the young people with skills for modern jobs or skills to create their own business. Governments should put effort in creating good institutional, political, economic and social environment to empower our youth. I think all depends on political will.

ABNER Martha,Namibia,DES-PS Web Scraping Involves extracting data for analysis or research, often done with permission and proper attribution