The Digital4Development (D4D) Hub, which brings together stakeholders from EU Member States, the private sector, civil society and financial institutions, was launched on Tuesday 8 December by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to accelerate a digital transformation in the world, particularly in Africa.
The Hub already includes Germany, France, Belgium, Estonia and Luxembourg, EU industrial players and key African partners such as the African Union and Smart Africa. Six other EU Member States (Finland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden) have already signed the letter of intent to join the D4D Centre.
“Europe has a role to play as a leader in technologies such as 5G and robotics”, said von der Leyen. Stressing that the digital transformation can “be a game changer for Europe and Africa”, she said: “Together we can be a global player”. Digital can also make a difference for development in Africa, she said.
And to talk about “affordable digital access to online products or banking”, “digital solutions for small businesses”, ensuring that they are accompanied by “data security”.
The African Union-European Union D4D Hub, the first operational regional element, was launched at a High-Level Panel on the EU-AU partnership on Digital Transformation, organised in virtual format. It will function as a strategic tool for advancing multi-stakeholder dialogue, partnerships and joint investments in Africa's digital economy.
The EU's economic recovery plan earmarks 20% of the funds for the digital transition. As part of the global response to the coronavirus, ‘Team Europe’ - i.e. the EU, its Member States and financial institutions - has redirected more than €60 million of funds towards immediate digital measures. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)