Since the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) kicked off trading in January 2021—following its launch in 2019—the continent has pursued its bold vision of a unified market. Aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the goal is a seamless…
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is rapidly emerging as one of the most powerful tools for strengthening healthcare systems across Africa. At its core, DPI refers to foundational digital systems—such as digital identity, interoperable data platforms, and digital payment rails—that are…
In the rolling highlands of Lesotho’s Mafeteng District, life in villages like that of the Matokele family still follows a familiar rhythm. Children herd sheep along dusty paths, families draw water from communal wells, and evenings end around crackling fires…
By Lissa Ngenda Mwenda, Vimbainashe Tsododo (IHM) & Garikai Nhongo (Co-Develop) Isaac Makonko has witnessed 90 years of evolving challenges in rural Zambia. A lifetime spent in Kafulafuta, a small village of just over 5,000 people, has given Isaac a front-row seat…
Authors: Ben Bertelsen, Manager, Digital, AI & Innovation Hub, UNDP. Dwayne Carruthers, Digital Transformation Knowledge & Strategy Manager, UNDP Andisa Ndlovu, DPI Safeguards, UNDP. This year’s second consecutive Global Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Summit in Cape Town, South Africa centred…
A new study is calling on East Africa’s media to step up its coverage of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), warning that current reporting remains shallow, event-driven, and dominated by government voices—leaving out essential perspectives on governance, inclusion, and citizens’ digital…
In 2023, Cameroon quietly signed a memorandum with Huawei to build its national digital identity platform — a seamless package that included biometric enrolment, a smart-city backbone, and a secure data centre. The details of the deal remain classified, but…
Africa’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) story is entering a new chapter. For years, conversations focused on identity rails and payment systems — the foundations that 40+ countries have been quietly building. That phase is nearly done. What comes next is…
For years, Africa’s $450 billion financing gap for households and small businesses felt immovable. The African Development Bank’s 2024 estimate captured a stubborn reality: limited collateral, invisible credit histories, and costly verification locked millions out of opportunity. Yet across the…
Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough, is a Global Director in the Digital Vice Presidency, covering digital use [Digital Public Infrastructure, Digital Economy, and Digital Society], and also serves as the Director of Strategy and Operations. Since joining the Bank in 1995 as a…