Smart Africa is a bold and innovative commitment by African Heads of State and Government to accelerate sustainable socioeconomic development on the continent, support Africa’s transition to a knowledge-based economy through affordable access to broadband internet access and the use of information and communications technologies. Le Sommet Transform Africa, qui s’est tenu à Kigali, au Rwanda, du 28 au 31 octobre 2013, a débouché sur l’adoption du Manifeste de Smart Africa par sept (7) chefs d’État africains (Rwanda, Kenya, Ouganda, Soudan du Sud, Mali, Gabon, Burkina Faso), qui se sont engagés à jouer un rôle moteur dans l’accélération du développement socio-économique grâce aux TIC.
On January 30 and 31, 2014, the SMART Africa Manifesto was approved by all African Union Heads of State and Government at the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa. This development places the Manifesto at the heart of Africa’s ICT agenda, beyond the Summit’s original 7 signatories, in all 53 African countries.
Since then, the Smart Africa Alliance has grown to include 32 African countries representing over 815 million people.
The Alliance is a framework for the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the ede Smart Africa Manifesto, designed to make it a reality. Currently, the Alliance is a partnership bringing together all African countries adhering to the Manifesto, represented by the AU, ITU, World Bank, AfDB, ECA, GSMA, ICANN and the private sector.
In addition to its initial members, other organizations and countries sharing the same vision, interests and objectives will be admitted to the Alliance.
The Smart Africa Alliance is based on five pillars that reflect the five principles of the Smart Africa Manifesto. These pillars are (1) Policy, (2) Access, (3) e-government, (4) Private Sector/Entrepreneurship and (5) Sustainable Development.
The above-mentioned pillars are based on four cross-cutting catalysts that will support the implementation of Smart Africa. These catalysts are (1) Innovation (2) Communication and Advocacy (3) Capacity Building and (4) Resource Mobilization.
The five pillars and four catalysts, when developed and combined effectively, will contribute to economic growth and job creation, which remains the ultimate goal of the Manifesto for a Smart Africa.
