The issue of digital identity is another critical policy issue that must be urgently addressed. Indeed, at the core of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the goal of inclusion, and SDG 16, target 9 (SDG 16.9), specifically calls for the delivery of a legal identity for all by 2030. Yet, according to the World Bank, a staggering 1 billion people in the world today lack official identity proof, including one in two women. Without a legal identity, it is almost impossible for citizens to claim fundamental rights and essential services such as healthcare, social protection, and education. A lack of a stable and predictable digital identity framework also restricts the ability of startups to scope their target markets, scale their businesses, and access crucial statistics and planning content. More work is needed to get Africa up to speed, because despite the significant growth in the continent’s digital space, the supporting infrastructure remains siloed and fragmented at the national and regional levels. This has led to increases in the cost of scalability for tech startups such as those in e-commerce, many of which struggle to access regional and international markets due to technical barriers. Conversely, a few countries have harmonised infrastructure that have fuelled growth in their Fintech sectors. For continent-wide growth, regional infrastructure-sharing, an agreement between market players to share various parts of their infrastructure to provide services, can be an effective and affordable way to improve digital infrastructure. Infrastructure-sharing has traditionally taken place between actors in the private sector but could be widened to cover services between countries, to facilitate the deployment of more advanced networks such as 4G and eventually 5G mobile connectivity, and the co-location of cloud data centers using previously-established infrastructure. For inclusivity, AfriLabs is working with civil society partners to campaign for a safe, non-discriminatory and secure digital economy that benefits all. We will also leverage our network and partners to build coalitions that advocate for policies, and regulations, that seek to lower industry costs and, ultimately, create more affordable broadband and online services for all across Africa.
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