The digital transformation strategy Africa needs
Feb 28,2021 - Last updated at Feb 28,2021
By Victor Harison and Mario Pezzini
ADDIS ABABA/PARIS — Many African countries reacted quickly and effectively to mitigate the health and economic risks posed by COVID-19. Less well documented is the agility with which the region’s private and public actors have adapted their digital practices in light of pandemic-related constraints. But the success stories are spectacular.
For example, person-to-person mobile money transfers in Rwanda increased fourfold during the first month of lockdown from mid-March to mid-April 2020, as contactless payments became the “new normal”. To slow transmission of the coronavirus, innovative start-ups developed digital solutions, like remote mobile app DiagnoseMe in Burkina Faso and COVID-19 triage tools in Nigeria. Education ministries in at least 27 African countries set up e-learning platforms for students affected by school closures.