EU signs MOU to digitise Africa

Conert Sibanda

The European Union Commission has signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with Information Techonology Union (ITU) to promote meaningful digital connectivity in Africa.

The MOU worth three million euros was signed on the sidelines of the Transform Africa Summit in Victoria Falls .

Speaking during the signing ceremony , EU Deputy Director General for International Partnerships , Myriam Ferran , said the partnership will improve digital connectivity.

She said , “These projects can really change connectivity . The EU is exremely happy to have signed this project and to re-inforce its cooperation with the ITU. This is fully powered by the EU strategy for sustainable connectivity for which digital connectivity is the backbone and by this strategy we want to support our partners in the world to access digitalisation in a human centric manner not leaving anyone behind.

” The digital divide in Africa is still very high and this project is moving from targeting universal connectivity to the one of universal meaningful connectivity which aims at empowering everyboody in society .”

Director for Telecommunication Development with the ITU , Dr Cosmas Zavazava , said under the partnership Africa will get efficient connectivity.

“We come a long way with the commission , we have been doing a lot of work across the globe particularly on harmonisation of policies , laws and regularisation of these principles in the telecommunications industry. This partnership will improve the status on Africas connectivity as measured by our organisation ” , he said .

Meanwhile four other Memorandum of Understandings were signed during the Transform Africa Summit 2023 in order to develop technological infrastructure and Transform Africa.