Africa-Europe Science and Innovation Summit
Opening Plenary
Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director
ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau
15 June 2021
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening everyone.
I am delighted to join you today at this important summit aimed at advancing vital cooperation between Africa and Europe around science and innovation.
They say that scientific discovery is often motivated by an urgent societal need or problem at hand.
So today, I want to talk about three things that I see as urgent developmental priorities:
(i) The global connectivity challenge – undoubtedly one of the most pressing social issues of our time
(ii) The role of science and innovation in addressing the connectivity challenge and closing the digital divide, and
(iii) The multistakeholder cooperation that must serve as the means of reaching our goal.
First, the challenge at hand.
3.7 billion people – that's half the world's population – remain unconnected to the internet; a resource that, over the past year and a half, has proved absolutely critical to the continuity of our everyday lives.
In Europe, ITU estimates that some 89 million people remain unconnected. Africa's figure is almost 10 times higher, with a staggering 800 million people still totally offline.
With its vast land mass, Africa faces daunting geographical challenges in connecting its people. But even where infrastructure has been put in place, internet access in many parts of the continent remains unaffordable for far too many. Add to that the high cost of internet-enabled devices, and we have another formidable major barrier.
The alarmingly low level of digital skills and persistent gender digital divide are other areas of special concern, with just over 20% of Africa's women online, compared with 37% of its men.
However, while both Europe and Africa have diverse and unique connectivity issues of their own, there are immense and exciting opportunities for trans-continental collaboration to advance technological progress and close the digital divide.
This brings me to my second point: the role of science and innovation in addressing the connectivity challenge putting broadband within reach of all.
ITU research confirms that ICTs can be powerful engines of sustainable growth.
In Europe, an increase of 10% in mobile broadband penetration has yielded an overall per-capita GDP increase of 2.1%.
That 'broadband boost' is even higher in Africa, with a 10% increase in mobile broadband translating into an estimated 2.5% rise in per-capita GDP.
The importance of digital technologies in enabling the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Africa's Agenda 2063 to transform the continent into a powerhouse of the future has never been clearer.
But, right now, scientific research related to digital connectivity in Africa is simply not sufficient. We urgently need more information on a whole range of burning questions:
- Which technologies are best-suited to different African environments and conditions?
- How can we improve the affordability of broadband services and internet-enabled devices?
- What steps can we take to identify innovative domestic funding mechanisms?
- Which pieces are still missing in our efforts to drive fit-for-purpose capacity development and digital skills?
- What measures can we take to redress the widening digital gender gap?
- And what new policies and regulations are needed to stimulate an enabling environment that fosters universal meaningful connectivity across the continent?
These are the questions we need to resolve – and I believe we can!
Ladies and gentlemen, I am optimistic.
With its young demographic, entrepreneurial spirit and unrivalled potential for growth, there is no doubt that Africa is the next great digital frontier.
But in today's complex and challenging environment, creating the toolbox or the 'laboratory' to solve chronic connectivity challenges cannot be done alone.
And so, I come to my third point, which is that pioneering innovative solutions to promote universal connectivity will depend on broad, multi-stakeholder cooperation.
PRIDA, the Policy and Regulation Initiative for Digital Africa, is one example of important and successful work carried out jointly by the African Union, the European Commission, and ITU.
PRIDA is promoting more efficient and harmonized use of radiofrequency spectrum across the African continent, as well as the harmonization of measurable digital policy, legal and regulatory frameworks. It has also been enhancing African stakeholders' active participation in the global internet governance debate.
Another great example of multistakeholder cooperation is ITU's Smart Villages 2.0 project in Niger, where we are working with local authorities and a range of other stakeholders to bring meaningful digital connectivity to rural villages, using technology developed by, and adapted to, the needs and skills of local people.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Building stronger digital connections between Africa and Europe, with scientific discovery and innovation at its heart, is a win-win strategy for both continents.
Last month, UN Secretary General António Guterres told the Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation, that ''it is essential that we work together across borders, sectors, and disciplines, to make science and technology work for everyone.''
Facilitating inclusive digital access for all will be critical to achieving the SDGs, so that populations that stand to benefit from their transformational power in LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS are not left behind.
I am most encouraged today to see so many renowned researchers and policymakers from both Europe and Africa taking part in this important summit.
I am confident that our discussions will help further pave the way to important knowledge-exchange between both continents so that, together, we can leverage to tremendous power of science and innovation to connect the unconnected, and ensure that no-one is left behind, by making certain that no-one, anywhere, is left offline.
Thank you.
