The World Bank has partnered with Smart Africa to expand the Smart Africa Digital Academy (SADA) initiative from a national to a regional focus, as part of the Western Africa Regional Digital Integration Program (WARDIP), supported by a $20 million grant over five years.
The initiative aims to advance regional integration of digital markets by empowering policymakers and regulators with the knowledge to harness the potential of green and inclusive digital transformation. Through SADA, a new generation of decision-makers across Africa will be equipped with innovative approaches to policy and regulation, contributing to the establishment of a Single Digital Market in Africa.
The scale-up of SADA aims to reach 30,000 policymakers and decision-makers from all African countries, with a target participation level of females at 40%. This expansion builds upon the success of SADA, which has trained over 7,000 beneficiaries across 35 African countries since its launch in August 2020.
SADA adopts a tiered approach to digital skilling, targeting policy and decision-makers, youth and entrepreneurs, teachers and students, digital experts, and the general public. It leverages the large reach of the Smart Africa Alliance and collaborates with international and private sector organisations, including the World Bank, ITU, BMZ, GIZ, IEEE, GSMA, USTTI, and major tech companies, to implement tailored solutions co-created with participating countries.
Commenting on the partnership, CEO of Smart Africa, Mr. Lacina Koné, stated that “at the heart of the digital transformation lies the need to bridge the digital skills gap of our continent’s future and present workforce.” He also expressed gratitude to the World Bank, saying he was “pleased to announce that SADA, our capacity building vehicle, is geared to reach a new milestone thanks to our key development partner, The World Bank.”
World Bank Director for Regional Integration for Africa and the Middle East, Boutheina Guermazi, noted that the DTfA/ WARDIP initiative was “a crucial step toward an interconnected, innovative, and inclusive future for West Africa.” She added that “beyond shaping a digital landscape, it aims to foster regional integration through collaboration and strategic investments.”
As the implementation progresses, SADA will focus on competency-based skills training to create a pipeline of talent for the job market in Africa and beyond. Additionally, the program will address the need to mainstream ICT and digital skills into Africa’s educational system, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Top of Form
Source: APO Group
By Derrick Kafui Deti – Digital Economy Magazine
