Thanks for sharing this piece with us. Making social protection inclusive and resilient using data driven systems is interesting. I am delighted to see what comes out of this initiative.

Thank you for sharing this! I love this game.

I managed to result the global warming to 1.87C, of course, did not get to the desired 1.5C but in line with Paris agreement; I managed to keep the world from melting away. am a firm believer that policies that are not people-friendly are not policy-worthy. This helped me in the game and was likewise my woe in this game. So, you have to know when to call the shot, how long it should be, how wide and when not to call it at all. Policymaking and enacting are not piece of cake and indeed as Thomas Sankara said: Governance is not a rocket science.

To combat climate change, we have to take action NOW; not gradual!

Yes, the panic is obvious for the SDGs actualisation! I totally agree with you on rethinking leadership style and likewise the quality of leadership.

This is an interesting topic. Thank you for sharing SHWEHDY Amged B, Libya, SRO-NA

Please share your thoughts on whether you think the Continent is ready for the next level of integration.... Excited to hear them

CHIGARU Farai, Malawi, SRO-WA Please clarify on "reduced (or eliminated) tariffs on African Imports" maybe give a bit of context for me to make a contribution. Thank you

SHWEHDY Amged B, Libya, SRO-NA Congratulations on your publication and hope you get to publish many more. Interestingly, I came across a paper whose findings indicate that, when government become more digitized, it positively impacts the growth of the digital service trade. Personally, I have not had an experience publishing, I hope to do that in the future though. However, I have from a colleague who has published several papers that the process is tedious with the long peer review process and can be costly, especially if you want to publish in renown journal.

GULE Thandile Tanzile,Eswatini,CFND please according to your experience,what can be the better way to take into account the climate change?

Traffic Management Solutions: Côte d’Ivoire has actively embraced digitalization to modernize its transport system. With the support of the African Development Bank (AfDB), the country has upgraded its traffic management infrastructure by installing smart traffic lights equipped with sensors. These sensors monitor real-time vehicle flow and automatically adjust signal timings, helping to reduce congestion and minimize the risk of accidents at busy intersections. In addition, the government has deployed over 200 surveillance and traffic cameras across major intersections and expressways. These cameras not only enhance road safety by monitoring traffic violations but also detect vehicle speeds—enabling more effective enforcement of speed limits and contributing to a safer and more efficient urban transport network. Mobility Services (e.g., Uber): over ther we has Yango which is the most used. Besides, we also have Uber, Heetch, Bolt, inDrive Moya Ride. Even though for the rest I don't really know, I think efforts have been made in these areas as well. Côte d’Ivoire is not my origin country but my resident country.

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 :) )

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.