The objective of the project is to identify tangible opportunities to support the work of six G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) countries — Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Tunisia, Ethiopia and Morocco — in leveraging Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for trade and investment, particularly for the development of cross-border and regional infrastructure.
The initiative is part of a Collaboration Agreement between UNU-EGOV and The African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET).
G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) context: The CwA was initiated under the German G20 Presidency to promote private investment in Africa, including in infrastructure. Launched in 2017, its primary objective is to increase the attractiveness of private investment through substantial improvements of the macro, business and financing frameworks. It brings together reform-minded African countries, international organisations and bilateral partners from G20 and beyond to coordinate country-specific reform agendas, support respective policy measures and advertise investment opportunities to private investors. The initiative is demand-driven and open to all African countries; so far, 12 countries have joined. With the Africa Advisory Group (AAG) as a regular G20 working group, the CwA is firmly anchored in the G20 finance track. It is currently co-chaired by Germany and South Africa.
CwA partners and funders: The CwA brings together G20 countries, African governments, and international financial institutions including the World Bank Group (WBG), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). ACET is a named African policy institute partner of the CwA and facilitates the CwA peer learning sessions in partnership with the AfDB, the Government of Germany, the IMF, and the World Bank Group (IFC and World Bank).
Countries covered: Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Tunisia, Ethiopia and Morocco. These six countries were selected purposively from among CwA members. They represent North, West and East/Southern African regions and vary in income level, institutional capacity and digital development. The sample is not statistically representative, and the project does not claim a regional hierarchy. It is an exploratory comparison intended to inform policymakers in these six countries and to offer a diagnostic approach that may be adapted to other CwA members.
Activities
A1.1. Development of a policy brief that:
- Identifies existing DPI uses on the African continent for trade and investment (including the financing and development of regional infrastructure projects)
- Identifies gaps and opportunities for DPI and the potential impact this can have on continental trade
- Map countries, public sector, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders' knowledge to co-create tangible opportunities to leverage DPI in this space
A2.1. Present the findings of the research at a peer-learning event to be agreed upon at a later date (online and for no more than 120 minutes).
Deliverables
D1. Draft 1 outlining existing DPI uses
D2. Final Paper
D3. Presentation
