Tech (969)
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HAVAÍC’s African Innovation Fund reached \$50M after a second close with $25M from Sanlam and others.
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The fund backs high-impact African startups; recent investments include SAPay and Sportable.
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Amid weak VC recovery, HAVAÍC targets scalable tech growth across fintech, healthtech, and more.
South African venture capital firm HAVAÍC announced on Tuesday, July 29, the second close of its African Innovation Fund, which now totals $50 million. This latest phase secured an additional $25 million from Sanlam Multi-Manager and existing investors, including Fireball Capital and the SA SME Fund.
These supports are “testament to our track record for not only delivering leading returns by supporting African-born businesses, but also creating meaningful social and economic change through our investments. Together, we can continue supporting our continent’s dynamic tech entrepreneurs and grow African VC to new heights," said Ian Lessem, managing partner at HAVAÍC.
Launched in August 2024, this third fund targets post-revenue African startups that show high growth potential and measurable impact. The fund recently invested $1 million in SAPay, a South African financial technology firm that digitizes payments in the minibus taxi sector. HAVAÍC also increased its stake in Sportable, a startup developing real-time sports tracking technologies.
A Rebound in African Venture Capital That Remains Fragile
The year 2023 saw a sharp halt in funding for African startups, with a 36% decline and less than $3.2 billion raised overall, down from over $6 billion in 2022, according to Africa: The Big Deal. In 2024, amounts raised remained modest at $2.2 billion, the same sources reported.
HAVAÍC's portfolio includes 22 startups active in 183 countries, with six notable exits. These exits include the sale of RapidDeploy to Motorola Solutions in February 2025 and the merger between hearX and U.S.-based Eargo. HAVAÍC continues to pursue a strategy focused on building globally scalable African tech champions.
Beyond just funding access, the capital raised by HAVAÍC is expected to bolster the African tech ecosystem. It aims to support the scalability of innovative companies in key sectors such as financial technology, agricultural technology, health technology, and education technology. For institutional investors like Sanlam, this move seeks to capture the long-term potential of a developing market by relying on experienced local partners.
The challenge remains substantial. According to the African Private Capital Association, the continent still attracts less than 1% of global venture capital. Initiatives like HAVAÍC's Fund II therefore, act as catalysts to draw both local and international capital towards Africa's most promising companies.
Samira Njoya
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Senegal and Alibaba Cloud signed a $5M deal to host Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on sovereign cloud infrastructure.
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Agreement includes local data hosting, training 200 engineers, and post-Games use as national public cloud.
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Supports Senegal’s digital sovereignty strategy and follows PM Sonko’s June 2025 China visit.
The Senegalese government announced on Monday, July 28, it signed a memorandum of understanding with China’s Alibaba Cloud in Hangzhou. The initiative aims to provide secure, high-performance, and sovereign cloud infrastructure for the Youth Olympic Games, scheduled for Dakar in 2026. It will also establish a lasting digital ecosystem in Senegal.
According to Selina Yuan (photo, center), Vice President of Alibaba Group and President of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence International, this is the first time a world-class cloud technology will support an Olympic event in Africa. She added that Alibaba aims to deliver an efficient, secure, and innovative digital experience for athletes, organizers, and spectators through its proven cloud infrastructure and AI capabilities.
The agreement includes an initial investment of $5 million to deploy Alibaba Cloud’s hybrid Apsara Stack solution. This will allow for local data hosting that complies with international standards. The partnership also covers training 200 cloud engineers, creating a technology center of excellence, and implementing digital services for the Youth Olympic Games, including ticketing, e-transport, and live streaming. After the event, the infrastructure is expected to become a national public cloud to support public and private sector services.
This partnership follows Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s official visit to China in June 2025. It aligns with the "New Deal Technologique," Senegal's national strategy to boost digital sovereignty through innovation, local infrastructure, and training. The agreement also marks a new step in strengthening technological ties between Dakar and Beijing.
With this initiative, Senegalese authorities aim to make the Youth Olympic Games a technological springboard and reinforce their digital sovereignty strategy. Developing local expertise through training 1,000 young people via the Alibaba Cloud Academy and establishing robust infrastructure should help Senegal accelerate its digital transformation while promoting innovation and skilled employment.
Samira Njoya
Nigeria and Google are expanding their partnership to accelerate the country’s digital transformation, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and digital education.
On July 25, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Google reaffirmed their commitment to making Nigeria a regional leader in AI and cybersecurity. NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa met with Google Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy (Cloud), Marcus Jadotte, during a series of strategic meetings in Abuja.
The discussions zeroed in on four key areas: integrating AI into public services, digitising the education system, strengthening cybersecurity frameworks, and driving local innovation. Google pledged to support Nigeria’s push to modernise public institutions by expanding cloud infrastructure and cutting tech costs.
These talks followed Google’s recent announcement of a $37 million investment to boost AI development in Africa. The funding will support research, training, infrastructure, and the design of AI solutions tailored to African contexts. As part of this expansion, Google recently opened an AI community centre in Accra, Ghana, underlining its commitment to long-term presence in sub-Saharan Africa.
The timing of this renewed partnership aligns with Nigeria’s broader digital ambitions. The government is intensifying efforts to build a resilient digital ecosystem, anchored by its “3MTT” (Three Million Technical Talent) programme. The initiative aims to train millions of young Nigerians in future-proof digital skills, with AI as a central pillar.
Google’s collaboration could play a critical role in scaling local talent, boosting innovation, and generating homegrown solutions for Nigeria’s economic and social challenges.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
Many South African SMEs face serious hurdles like lack of financing, limited market access, and skills shortages. These challenges slow their growth in the ICT sector. Samsung is stepping up its support to tackle these problems head-on.
On July 21, Samsung, the South Korean electronics giant, announced a new phase of its Enterprise Equity Investment Program (EEIP). The program runs in partnership with South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC). This phase targets Black-owned SMEs in information and communications technology, focusing especially on emerging startups and women entrepreneurs.
Nicky Beukes, EEIP project director at Samsung South Africa, said, “This is our way of ensuring that we empower South Africa’s digital future by helping ICT entrepreneurs thrive as we deepen our commitment and collaboration with DTIC[...] As Samsung, we also understand how much entrepreneurship contributes to job creation, community development and how it fosters innovation and drives economic growth.”
Launched in 2019, the program aligns with South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) for 2030 and the Black Economic Empowerment policy (B-BBEE). It funds with 280 million rand (about $15.9 million) to address key barriers faced by small businesses: limited capital, a shortage of technical skills, difficult market integration, and digital risks.
For this third phase, Samsung broadens eligibility to include more early-stage startups. It also boosts female participation in technology sectors. This move aims to build a more representative digital ecosystem and unlock innovation potential in traditionally underrepresented groups.
The program offers intensive training, mentoring, management support, and focused grants to help SMEs grow. Recently, several supported SMEs have established themselves in repair services and technology hubs. Through the EEIP, Samsung hopes to drive a resilient and inclusive digital economy in South Africa.
This article was initially published in English by Samira Njoya
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
This partnership brings together two influential players to strengthen Africa’s innovation and startup ecosystems — critical drivers of job creation, digital transformation, and economic growth.
AfriLabs, the pan-African network of innovation hubs, has signed a collaboration agreement with Kenya’s Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) to catalyze inclusive technology development, foster entrepreneurship, and expand Africa’s innovation economy. The agreement was announced July 18 and comes ahead of the highly anticipated 10th edition of the AfriLabs Annual Gathering (AAG2025), scheduled to take place in Nairobi from October 7–9.
AfriLabs Executive Director Anna Ekeledo said, “This partnership represents our shared commitment to scaling African innovation through collaborative infrastructure, talent exchange, and knowledge networks. We’re proud to work alongside Konza Technopolis as we expand our mission to empower Africa’s next generation of innovators.”
The collaboration brings together two influential institutions working at the crossroads of innovation policy and sustainable development. Together, AfriLabs and Konza will co-design and implement programs that support startups, enhance ecosystem capacity, facilitate cross-border collaboration, and unlock investment opportunities across the continent.
Konza Technopolis will serve as the Strategic Government Partner for AAG2025 — a flagship event under the new partnership. In this role, KoTDA will mobilize national stakeholders, host thematic exhibitions, and facilitate high-level participation to shape the event’s central theme: “Africa’s Innovation Future: Policy, Partnerships, and Progress.”
The collaboration focuses on developing soft-landing programs, joint ventures, and innovation showcases; supporting IP registration and tech transfer; and conducting joint research in AI, clean tech, health tech, and smart infrastructure. It also includes training bootcamps and knowledge-sharing for innovators and policymakers, linking Konza-based startups to AfriLabs’ Catalytic Africa fund and investor network, facilitating cross-border startup exchanges, and using Konza’s infrastructure as a testbed for smart city and IoT solutions.
With a network spanning 53 African countries, AfriLabs is poised to leverage its extensive reach to deepen impact through this long-term partnership. The collaboration also aligns with Konza’s mission to drive Kenya’s digital transformation through innovation-driven development.
Konza Technopolis, often referred to as Africa’s Silicon Savannah, is a flagship Smart City initiative under Kenya’s Vision 2030—the national blueprint to position Kenya as a newly industrializing, middle-income economy. The city is envisioned to contribute at least 2% to Kenya’s GDP, reinforcing the country’s role as a premier tech and innovation hub on the continent—making it a fitting strategic partner for the 2025 AfriLabs Annual Gathering and broader pan-African innovation efforts.
The partnership benefits a wide range of stakeholders: startups and innovators gain access to funding, mentorship, and real-world test environments; youth and digital professionals benefit from upskilling opportunities and enhanced job readiness; governments and policymakers are supported with research-backed strategies to advance smart cities and digital public infrastructure; and investors and ecosystem enablers gain exposure to a pipeline of more investable and scalable ventures.
Hikmatu Bilali
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Algeria plans a digital portal and centralized system to monitor public infrastructure projects nationwide.
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The system will track real-time progress, detect delays and cost overruns, and enhance transparency.
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Authorities aim to improve public investment performance and tighten control over budgets through digital tools.
Algeria moves to modernize its public works sector by adopting digital technology to boost project management. The Ministry of Public Works and Basic Infrastructure announced plans on July 19 in Algiers to launch a digital portal and centralized system for overseeing infrastructure projects across the country.
Minister Lakhdar Rekhroukh said the system will serve as a real-time dashboard to aid quick decision-making and raise implementation efficiency. He explained that the platform will monitor every project phase at both central and local levels, providing an instant snapshot of work progress.
The two digital tools will help stakeholders spot delays and cost overruns promptly while delivering actionable data to administrators, project engineers, financial controllers, and local officials. This access aims to make project management more efficient and transparent.
This digital move fits a broader government effort to digitize public procurement in Algeria. The infrastructure sector faces issues like chronic delays, unexpected cost hikes, and opaque monitoring—factors that hinder public investment and strain state finances.
Developed by the French Treasury’s National Equipment Fund for Development(CNED), the platform combines performance indicators and automated reports. It links spending directly to actual progress on project sites.
By centralizing and updating information instantly, the system will improve cost control, help meet deadlines, and boost transparency in public fund usage. Officials expect it to lay foundations for stronger investment governance and higher quality infrastructure delivery.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has launched a blockchain-powered platform to combat fake diplomas and speed up slow administrative procedures. The new digital solution, called “e-Diplôme,” aims to secure and digitise the issuance and verification of state diplomas.
The government unveiled the initiative on July 18 during a Council of Ministers meeting in Kinshasa.
“The e-Diplôme platform represents a decisive turning point in the modernisation of the Congolese education system,” said Minister of Communication and Media Patrick Muyaya Katembwe. “This major step towards transparency, modernisation, and digital sovereignty positions the DRC’s education system as a model of governance in Central Africa.”
Accessible at www.schoolap.cd, the platform allows centralised, digital management of academic records. Each diploma will be stored and authenticated using blockchain technology, enabling instant online verification by graduates, employers, universities, and embassies.
The system ensures permanent digital archiving, protecting records from data loss, forgery, and physical damage.
The move comes as the DRC—like many African nations—struggles with rampant diploma fraud. The e-Diplôme platform is part of a wider government push to modernise public administration, strengthen digital sovereignty, and digitise essential public services.
By removing paper documents and manual processing, the system aims to streamline interactions between schools, ministries, and recruiters. It will reduce verification delays, limit human errors, and simplify procedures for graduates.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
In launching the ACTS AI Institute, Africa is making a clear statement: the future of AI on the continent will not be outsourced. It will be developed by Africans, for Africans—rooted in local values, driven by local needs, and shaped through global collaboration.
The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) has launched the ACTS AI Institute (ACAII), an initiative aimed at advancing responsible, African-centered AI research, innovation, and governance. Positioned as a continental hub for ethical and inclusive AI, the Institute seeks to empower local communities, drive sustainable development, and ensure that AI technologies reflect Africa’s unique values and priorities.
For the Executive Director of ACTS, Prof. Tom Peter Migun Ogada, “The Institute builds on the experience and network consolidated over a period of five years, since ACTS started implementing projects related to development and deployment of responsible AI solutions and related policies. This launch is therefore meant to enable us to do what we have been doing better, with a wider mandate across the continent.”
Backed by the AI for Development (AI4D) program—with support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)—ACAII builds on a foundation laid by the AI4D Scholarship Program. This initiative has already enabled researchers from historically underrepresented communities to design and scale AI solutions tailored to African contexts.
At the heart of the Institute’s mission are five strategic pillars: responsible AI solutions, AI policy and governance, AI and jobs, capacity building, and data science. Through these, ACAII aims to address critical challenges across agriculture, healthcare, education, and climate resilience. For example, the Institute is developing AI-driven weather prediction models and crop yield tools that can assist Africa’s 60% smallholder farmers, as well as telemedicine platforms that expand access to healthcare in remote communities.
The Institute also sees AI as a vehicle for economic inclusion and transformation. By exploring labor market trends and encouraging AI-driven entrepreneurship, ACAII aims to equip young Africans with the tools to create new industries and jobs, rather than be displaced by automation.
This people-first approach is echoed in ACAII’s dedication to education and training. The Institute is actively working with African policymakers, researchers, and educators to develop curricula and training programs that will build long-term human capacity in AI governance, ethics, and development.
To ensure its impact is felt across the continent, ACAII is building a wide coalition of partners—from government and academia to civil society, the private sector, and the media. This ecosystem approach is key to scaling innovations responsibly and ensuring the benefits of AI reach those often left behind by previous waves of technological change.
Despite growing interest in AI, Africa still lags in global AI development. The Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index (2022 edition) reported that Sub-Saharan Africa’s average score was approximately 29.4, which is significantly below the global average of 44.6.
ACAII is actively working to close these gaps by developing Africanized AI policy frameworks, ethical standards, and localized toolkits to support responsible scaling.
Hikmatu Bilali
- Morocco and Cameroon agreed to boost cooperation on digital public administration reforms
- Talks included plans for an African forum on AI-driven governance
- The move supports Cameroon's digital reform efforts and low e-governance ranking
Morocco and Cameroon have pledged to strengthen their cooperation in the digital transformation of public administrations, a move that could significantly advance Cameroon's e-governance initiatives. The agreement emerged from a meeting in Rabat between Joseph Lé, Cameroon's Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reform, and Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Morocco's Minister Delegate in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform. The discussion, held on the sidelines of the 60th session of the African Training and Research Centre in Administration for Development (CAFRAD) Board of Directors on Tuesday, July 15, included plans for a future African forum on administrative modernization. This forum would emphasize artificial intelligence (AI) as a key driver for performance, transparency, and efficiency in public governance.
During the meeting, the two officials agreed to boost cooperation between Cameroon and Morocco in digitally transforming public administrations. Discussions included potentially organizing an African forum on administrative modernization. This forum would focus on artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool for improving performance, transparency, and efficiency in public governance.
This meeting aligns with Cameroon's ongoing administrative reforms. Earlier in 2025, Cameroon launched AIGLES (Logical Management Application for Workforce and Payroll) software. This integrated digital tool centralizes the management of public servants' careers and payroll. The system has been lauded for streamlining human resources management within the administration, reflecting the government's push to digitize internal processes.
Morocco, one of Africa's most advanced nations in artificial intelligence and e-government, could significantly support Cameroon. This assistance could involve technical aid, sharing expertise in digitizing public services, developing smart systems, and training civil servants.
Cameroon still faces substantial hurdles in digital governance. The United Nations' 2024 E-Government Development Index report ranks the country 155th out of 193 with a score of 0.4294. This figure is significantly below the global average of 0.6382. Therefore, this partnership with Morocco could be a strategic chance for Cameroon to bridge this gap and firmly establish its administration in the age of smart digital governance.
Samira Njoya
- Gabon’s government launched Missamou, its first virtual assistant chatbot, to modernise state-citizen communication.
- Missamou uses natural language processing to provide round-the-clock official information and public services via Facebook Messenger.
- This move reflects Gabon’s push for digital inclusion and follows similar AI initiatives in African countries like Benin.
Governments worldwide are increasingly turning to chatbots to modernize public communication and improve citizens’ access to information. This growing trend reflects a broader push for more direct, interactive, and continuous engagement between the state and the public.
On July 15, the Gabonese government unveiled Missamou, a virtual assistant available through Facebook Messenger. Described as the country's first government chatbot, Missamou allows users to ask questions, check official news, access public services, and obtain information about administrative procedures—anytime, anywhere.
Built using natural language processing (NLP), Missamou can understand everyday speech and deliver real-time responses from verified government sources. The system is designed to ease the burden on traditional services like call centres and in-person offices.
This initiative is part of Gabon’s broader digital transformation agenda, which promotes transparency, open data, and digital inclusion. By launching Missamou on Facebook Messenger, a widely used platform among the youth, the government hopes to ensure high user engagement and widespread adoption.
With the launch of Missamou, Gabon seeks to enhance the distribution of official information, streamline access to public services, and encourage greater citizen engagement. This effort aligns with a broader regional movement toward digital innovation in governance.
In 2023, Benin introduced GPT-BJ, a sophisticated conversational assistant designed to respond to complex inquiries regarding key legal frameworks such as the General Tax Code, Labour Code, Digital Code, and Penal Code. Created by the Agence des Systèmes d'Information et du Numérique (ASIN), GPT-BJ has been recognized as a pioneering tool for improving legal accessibility and promoting transparent governance.
By adopting similar AI-driven solutions, Gabon is positioning itself alongside regional leaders in leveraging technology for more connected, responsive, and citizen-focused government services.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
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- The CNASS has partnered with the State Digital Agency to digitize the national health insurance system
- The agreement targets improved infrastructure, service quality, and digital inclusion for underserved populations
- It supports CNASS’s 2025–2030 strategy to expand coverage, enhance transparency, and better serve vulnerable groups
Mauritania's Caisse Nationale de Solidarité en Santé (CNASS), a voluntary health insurance scheme with a social mission, announced on Tuesday, July 15, the signing of a cooperation agreement with the State Digital Agency (AN-ETAT). This initiative marks the beginning of a partnership aimed at digitally transforming Mauritania's social protection system.
According to a CNASS press release, the agreement sets several concrete objectives. These include strengthening and securing CNASS's digital infrastructure, adopting modern solutions to improve service access and quality, and facilitating the sharing of technological expertise between the two institutions. The shared goal is to enhance digital inclusion, particularly for populations with limited exposure to digital tools.
This collaboration occurs amidst a broader national push to accelerate public service transformation. For CNASS, the agreement fully aligns with its upcoming 2025–2030 digitization strategy, which is currently under development. This strategy aims to improve service quality, enhance coordination with healthcare providers, ensure better tracking of benefits, and more effectively address the needs of vulnerable populations.
In Mauritania, CNASS plays a key role in the country’s social protection policy, particularly in expanding health coverage to informal sector workers. By partnering with AN-ETAT, the operational body responsible for implementing the national digital strategy, CNASS is taking a significant step toward more efficient, transparent, and interconnected management.
Ultimately, the partnership is expected to streamline services, improve data reliability, and strengthen transparency in health insurance administration. It also aims to enhance the user experience by facilitating remote access to benefits, while laying the foundation for a more inclusive, modern, and sustainable social protection system for all Mauritanians.
Samira Njoya
• Ivory Coast and French group Ynov Campus signed an agreement to open the first Ynov Campus in sub-Saharan Africa.
• A second deal with the Magic System Foundation will launch a Digital Academy to train youth in digital skills.
• These projects aim to create 40,000 jobs and attract $1.6 billion in investment by 2028.
Ivory Coast has taken two bold steps to tackle the digital skills gap and fuel its economic growth.
Authorities signed two major agreements to train local youth in tech and prepare the country for a digital future. The Village of Information Technologies and Biotechnology (VITIB), based in Grand-Bassam, signed a deal with French training powerhouse Ynov Campus.
This agreement will establish the first Ynov campus in sub-Saharan Africa. Ynov will offer hands-on training in digital fields like web development, data science, digital design, audiovisual production, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.
Officials sealed the deal during the inaugural Ivoire Tech Forum held in Abidjan from July 9 to July 11.
A second agreement between VITIB and the Magic System Foundation will launch the VITIB Digital Academy. This academy will boost local digital skills, help youth integrate into the job market, and improve employability in high-demand tech sectors.
Both projects form part of VITIB’s larger expansion strategy. The site already hosts 96 companies, five data centers, and a one-stop-shop for business setup. VITIB's 2023–2028 plan, budgeted at CFA180 billion ($320 million), seeks to transform Grand-Bassam into a fully integrated smart city.
VITIB wants to create 40,000 jobs and attract $1.6 billion in investment over the next three years.
As digital transformation accelerates, Ivory Coast is under pressure to build a tech-savvy workforce that meets international standards. The Ministry of Digital Transition plans to train thousands in cybersecurity, cloud computing, data management, advanced programming, and AI.
Authorities have made digital upskilling a national priority. They want to support startup growth, ensure digital sovereignty, and fully integrate into West Africa’s digital economy.
Samira Njoya
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Côte d’Ivoire signed two MoUs with UAE’s G42 Presight to support digital governance and strategy renewal
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The deal comes as the current digital plan nears its 2025 end, after major infrastructure gains
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Partnership aims to enhance AI use and public service efficiency, leveraging G42’s regional expertise
The Ivorian government has signed two non-binding memoranda of understanding with G42 Presight, an Emirati tech firm specializing in big data analytics and artificial intelligence. The agreements were signed on the sidelines of the inaugural Ivoire Tech Forum, held in Abidjan from July 9 to July 11.
One agreement establishes a collaborative framework for public administration reform and digitalization, signed with the Ministry of State in charge of Civil Service and Administrative Modernization. The second involves developing a national digital strategy, in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transition and Digitalization.
This initiative comes as Côte d’Ivoire’s National Digital Development Strategy (SNDN) is set to expire this year. Launched five years ago, the SNDN aimed to strengthen digital inclusion, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure development. Its achievements include deploying over 5,207 kilometers of fiber-optic cable, creating several online public service portals, and operationalizing the National Cybersecurity Agency.
In artificial intelligence, the country also adopted a dedicated data management strategy. This strategy aims to build a more efficient, accessible, and resilient administration capable of addressing the challenges of 21st-century digital governance.
While non-binding, these agreements lay the groundwork for stronger technological cooperation between Abidjan and Abu Dhabi. Through this partnership, Côte d’Ivoire seeks to leverage the expertise of G42 Presight, which has previously supported projects in Egypt and Rwanda in big data, AI, and smart governance. The goal is to improve the quality of public services, increase transparency in public action, and enhance state decision-making.
Samira Njoya
African governments push digital transformation to modernize healthcare. Computerized patient records (CPRs) emerge as a key tool in this effort. Although adoption remains uneven, countries make steady progress amid growing digital public services.
Consulting firm McKinsey & Company reported in 2023 that digital health tools including teleconsultations, CPRs, and chronic disease apps could reduce African health expenditures by up to 15%. This cost-saving potential, combined with the need to upgrade healthcare, drives government interest in CPRs. These systems now form the backbone of many national e-health strategies.
CPRs centralize and secure medical data. They improve patient follow-up, coordinate care, and reduce medical errors. By replacing paper records, which often cause information loss and delays, CPRs address urgent modernization needs.
Beyond care quality, CPRs supply health authorities with real-time data. This data helps anticipate, monitor, and manage epidemics. It also supports public health policy decisions.
Pilot Projects Underway in Several Countries
Several countries run pilot CPR projects. Côte d’Ivoire’s health facilities with CPRs generated over CFA1.25 billion ($2.2 million) in tracked medical revenue in 2024, according to the Directorate of IT and Digital Health. More than 268 facilities connect to the Hospital Information System (HIS) and CPR.
Senegal, Rwanda, Ghana, and Kenya have launched similar systems. Nigeria currently tests interoperability between CPRs and its national health insurance database.
A Rapidly Growing Global Market
The global electronic medical records market grows rapidly. Market intelligence firm Mordor Intelligence projects it will reach $42.1 billion by 2029, up from $32.8 billion in 2024, with a 5.11% annual growth rate. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated this trend by highlighting the need for fast, reliable, and secure clinical data access.
Technological advances, political will, and wider accessibility drive this growth—even in low- and middle-income countries.
Persistent Challenges to Overcome
Despite potential, Africa faces major hurdles. Limited internet access, especially in rural areas, remains a top barrier. The International Telecommunication Union reported only 38% of Africans had internet access in 2024. Training healthcare workers in digital skills also lags. Without it, CPR reliability and adoption suffer. Data protection poses another challenge. Only 40 African countries have personal data protection laws, and cybersecurity remains weak. Patient and professional trust depends on securing medical information.
Towards Pan-African Governance of Digital Health
Experts call for pan-African coordination to overcome these challenges. Harmonizing standards, ensuring system interoperability, and setting common data security rules would create a strong foundation for sustainable e-health.
Widespread CPR adoption could transform African healthcare—if governments invest in digital infrastructure, train professionals, and protect data. CPRs must become more than technology tools; they should form the backbone of modern, resilient, and inclusive public health policies.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum