The « 2024 E-Government Survey » by the UN reports gradual improvements in public services across Africa. While some countries stand out for their advancements, regional disparities remain. This overview highlights the progress in e-governance and addresses the challenges that need tackling to close the continent’s digital divide.
Notable but uneven progress
In the digital age, governments worldwide are enhancing the quality and efficiency of their services. This innovation aims to improve data management, increase transparency, and reduce corruption. African countries are part of this movement, aligning with the continent’s 2020-2030 digital transformation strategy.
In 2024, Africa’s EGDI score rose by 4.8 % from 2022, reaching an average of 0.4247, compared to a global average of 0.6382. However, e-governance progress varies widely among African nations.
UNDESA Evaluation : Africa’s EGDI Score
The E-Government Development Index (EGDI), created by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), assesses the digitization of public services on a scale of 1.000. This composite index evaluates the efficiency and accessibility of e-governance, relying on three pillars :
- Online services (OSI)
- Telecommunications infrastructure (TII)
- Human capital (HCI).
Regional leaders in digital transformation
In 2024, South Africa leads the region, showing significant progress and ranking first continentally. The nation boasts a strong telecommunications infrastructure (TII score of 0.8951) and connectivity (OSI score of 0.8872). Despite its small size, Mauritius ranks second due to its investment in innovation and internet access, with a TII score of 0.9159.
Tunisia and Morocco in North Africa also show solid performance, with EGDI scores of 0.6935 and 0.6841, respectively. While both countries focus on improving public online services, their infrastructure still needs development. Seychelles and Egypt follow closely, each with EGDI scores around 0.67. Although these countries hold growth potential, they exhibit disparities in connectivity and human capital.
Ghana has progressed with a score of 0.6317, ranking highest in West Africa. Algeria and Libya, though less advanced in digital transformation, show connectivity improvement. In contrast, Côte d’Ivoire remains in a transitional phase, while Gabon, leading Central Africa, achieved a score of 0.5741.
Digital divide : Increasingly marked
Despite this progress, the digital divide remains a significant hurdle. UNDESA reports that 28 African countries still score between 0.25 and 0.50 on the EGDI scale. Among these, Burundi, Chad, and Somalia have especially low levels of digital development, underscoring weaknesses in infrastructure and digital skills.
These regional disparities underscore the need to bridge the digital divide and promote equitable digital inclusion. Globally, 1.37 billion people remain excluded from the digital revolution. Navid Hanif, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, urges enhanced efforts to bring these marginalized populations into the digital transition.
Efforts to strengthen digital resilience
Narrowing the digital divide is a priority for African governments. Upgrading telecommunications networks and data centers will improve digital systems’ resilience and provide reliable connectivity. Encouraging open data and digital commons can make technology more accessible and affordable.
Investing in digital skills development and STEM education will enable Africa’s youth to drive the digital economy forward. Integrating these skills at all education levels and supporting the startup ecosystem can transform Africa’s young population into an engine for innovation and economic growth.
UNDP-ITU : Digital hubs for a connected future
The establishment of regional digital hubs fosters research, innovation, and technological development across the continent. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have launched an initiative to support public digital infrastructure (IPN) in 100 countries by 2030.
This initiative promotes interoperable, people-centered digital systems that accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A universal human-rights-based protection framework is being developed to ensure safe and inclusive adoption of these infrastructures.
