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Strategic collaboration aims to strengthen African digital sovereignty and inclusive AI governance frameworks.
Smart Africa has formalized a partnership with Rwanda based Certa Foundation through an MoU aimed at advancing digital governance policy and research across the African continent. The partnership leverages Smart Africa's continental digital transformation mandate alongside Certa Foundation's expertise in innovative governance approaches. The organizations will provide targeted technical support to policymakers, regulators and public institutions while developing a pipeline of emerging youth policymakers capable of shaping Africa's digital future.
Under the Smart Women and Girls in ICT program, the partners will conduct joint stakeholder consultations and mentorship initiatives designed to support innovators across the continent. Lacina Koné who is the Executive Director of Smart Africa highlighted ”digital transformation cannot succeed without strong governance" positioning the partnership as essential to building African institutional capacity for policy design and regulatory frameworks.
Koné highlighted emerging digital governance challenges requiring continental attention including artificial intelligence governance and innovative concepts such as infrastructure solutions designed to secure digital sovereignty. "Africa must build the institutions and expertise needed to secure its digital sovereignty and compete in the global digital economy," he stated.
Certa Foundation Founder Florida Kabasinga underscored the partnership's practical significance, noting that collaborative efforts will translate research into actionable policy interventions. "The research we published on Data Embassies was a starting point on our roadmap. This joint effort partnership is where that work becomes real," Kabasinga said, emphasizing African agency in shaping its digital infrastructure.
The partnership supports Smart Africa's broader digital transformation agenda that includes establishing the Africa AI Council with Rwandan President Paul Kagame as pioneer chairperson. Through proof of concept initiatives the collaboration aims to strengthen Africa's policy governance environment while promoting safe, responsible and inclusive artificial intelligence deployment. The announcement arrives amid growing continental concerns regarding human rights integration in digital technology development.
Business Honor views Smart Africa's partnership with Certa Foundation as a strategic shift advancing African digital governance capacity.
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