To this end, it relies on the leadership and pragmatic innovation capacity of leading institutions such as the Smart Africa Alliance, made up of 32 African countries and renowned international organizations such as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

The adoption of smart devices – smartphones, PCs and tablets – by all Africans is seen as a critical element in achieving this objective of the African Union. For this purpose, the Smart Africa Alliance awarded LBC the production of the action plan to promote the adoption of smart devices in Africa – “Blueprint for Inclusive Adoption of Smart Devices in Africa (2022)” – which will be published by the Smart Africa Alliance very soon.

A blueprint summary can be accessed here.

The diagnosis made by LBC shows that empowering individuals and companies via a massive program to promote the inclusive adoption of smart devices, complemented by adoption in the public sector, without an additional layer of exclusion to the less prepared and already disadvantaged in society, will accelerate the digital transformation in Africa. Not taking action will not have a neutral but development-limiting effect. This will mean making smartphones available to 765 million people and an additional 25 million PCs, doubling the PC penetration rate from 11% to 22%, at affordable purchase and internet usage prices.

For this purpose, LBC defined a program with 12 pillars of action, 40 recommendations and 60 initiatives, within the scope of a comprehensive approach and the mobilization and alignment of all relevant stakeholders.

First, the challenge of the limited financial capacity of most citizens in Africa needs to be addressed. For this purpose, several flagship policies and projects were defined.

Additionally, the inclusive adoption of smart devices also requires a digital foundation composed of four pillars: i) digital infrastructure available for broadband access, ii) enabling regulation that promotes competitive market structures moving towards a single digital market, attracts investors, promotes entrepreneurship and protect users in terms of privacy and security, iii) digital skills that raise awareness and empower citizens and businesses, as consumers as well as producers, and iv) creative entrepreneurship that fuels innovation and makes things happen, creating new jobs, increasing income and tax revenue, and transforming the way we produce, consume and live.

For Carlos Valleré Oliveira, managing partner of LBC, “the pace of inclusive adoption of smart devices in Africa will calibrate the speed of digital transformation on the continent because it is the centerpiece for all meaningful digital interaction”.