Time For a New India-Africa Digital Compact

Syllabus: GS2/International Relations

Context

• India and Africa have been strengthening their collaboration on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), recognizing its potential to drive socio-economic development.

Africa’s Evolving Digital Partnership

• Africa Day, commemorated on May 25, marks the formation of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963, symbolizes its pursuit of unity, independence, and sustainable development. 
• Africa prioritizes digital innovation for socio-economic progress, particularly through the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy (2020-2030).
• Currently, 85% of African countries have national ID systems with digital features.
  • Over 70% collect biometric data for authentication.

India’s Role: From Infrastructure to Innovation

• India’s engagement with Africa has long combined state-led financing and capacity-building, supporting infrastructure, training, and concessional credit lines. 
• Over time, India’s approach has evolved, increasingly incorporating social enterprises and technology-driven solutions that are both adaptable and community-oriented.
• India’s distinctive value lies in promoting DPI as a digital public good, offering a non-surveillance, open-source alternative to proprietary or state-controlled models. Its approach emphasizes state collaboration over mere technology transfer.

Recent Partnerships: India-Africa Digital Cooperation

• Technology-Centric Model: India is transitioning to a technology-centric development model, extending beyond traditional aid to digital co-creation.
  • Pan-African e-Network launched in 2009, which used satellite and fibre-optic infrastructure to deliver telemedicine and tele-education services.
• Governance-Centric Model: India is collaborating with African countries on DPI ecosystem, including Aadhaar, UPI, CoWIN, and DIKSHA (for education), and engaging with African nations to co-develop governance solutions tailored to local needs.
• Development-Centric Model: These examples reflect Africa’s growing interest in India’s open, scalable, and affordable DPI models.
  • Togo (2021): Partnered with International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore to implement a national digital ID system using open-source platforms.
  • Zambia (2023): Collaborated with the Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure to advance its Smart Zambia Initiative.
  • Namibia (2024): Signed an MoU with India’s NPCI to build a UPI-style instant payment system.
  • Ghana: Linking its domestic payment system with UPI to enable seamless transactions.
  • Zanzibar: IIT Madras’ First Overseas Campus in Zanzibar signals a deeper alignment of education with digital development, including AI and Data Science.
• Additionally, India, Brazil, and South Africa—members of the G20 Troika—have jointly emphasized the importance of DPI in bridging global inequality and accelerating progress toward the United Nations SDGs.
  • Their declaration highlights the need for open, modular, interoperable, and scalable digital systems that prioritize inclusivity and adaptability.

Challenges To Transformation

• Infrastructure Deficiency: Many African nations lack widespread broadband access, with only about 22% of the population using mobile internet services despite broader coverage.
• Energy infrastructure is a critical constraint; powering digital ecosystems requires investments in sustainable and reliable energy systems.
• Affordability Issues: The cost of mobile data remains high, making digital access difficult for lower-income populations.
  • The digital divide remains the largest globally, shaped by high data/device costs and rural-urban gaps.
  • A persistent gender gap hinders equitable access to digital tools and literacy.
• Digital Literacy Gaps: A lack of technical skills prevents many from fully utilizing digital tools.
• Regulatory & Policy Barriers: Inconsistent policies across African nations hinder seamless digital integration.

Way Forward: Strategies For India-Africa Mutual Growth

• Prioritizing Capacity-Building and Skill Development: Initiatives such as the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program and the Pan-African e-Network Project have strengthened local capacities in education, healthcare, and digital infrastructure.
• Ensuring Ethical and Inclusive Digital Growth: India’s approach focuses on co-development rather than imposing rigid frameworks.
  • By collaborating with African governments on policy alignment, data protection, and cybersecurity, India can help ensure that digital transformation is transparent, secure, and respects local governance structures.
• Strengthening Infrastructure and Connectivity: India has invested over $12 billion in concessional credit, completing more than 200 infrastructure projects across Africa, including railways, power generation, and rural electrification.
• Encouraging Sustainable and Inclusive Digital Trade:India is Africa’s fourth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $100 billion.
  • By integrating African economies into India’s digital payment systems, India can facilitate financial inclusion and cross-border trade.

Source: TH