US Vice President Kamala Harris has announced a new partnership to provide internet access to 80% of Africa by 2030 ¹. This is a significant increase from the current 40% and is part of Harris' efforts to promote digital innovation on the continent. The partnership, called the Partnership for Digital Access in Africa (PDAA), aims to bridge Africa's digital divide by doubling the number of people connected to and meaningfully using the internet.
PDAA will work to expand affordable internet and broadband services, lower device costs, and enhance digital skills, with a focus on increasing connectivity for women and girls. The initiative has already generated over $1 billion in public and private commitments, with the goal of connecting one billion people by 2030. Additionally, Harris announced the launch of the Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance, which aims to provide digital access to critical services for 100 million individuals and businesses in Africa over the next 10 years, with an initial focus on the agricultural sector and women.
The alliance will start a pilot program to give digital access to 3 million farmers in Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria, before expanding elsewhere.
