The Biden-⁠Harris Administration launched an initiative for Africa in December of last year with the aim of enhancing digital environments, expanding digital access, and fostering digital literacy across the continent. The initiative does have nine objectives, three pillars, and funding, which are briefly explained below.  

President Biden set up the US-Africa Business Forum to increase digital access and literacy, improve digitally enabling environments, and make it easier for Africa to access over $450 million in funding. DTA will support an inclusive and robust African digital ecosystem, empowering women and other marginalized people, and support the economic recovery of COVID-19-affected countries. Additionally, it will advance investments in global infrastructure, like digital connections. 

The initiative will achieve its objectives along three core pillars: 

Pillar 1: Digital Economy and Infrastructure 

Objective 1: Expand access to an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure Internet for African communities across sectors. 

Objective 2: Expand access to and adoption of key enabling digital technologies, platforms, and services and scale the African technology and innovation ecosystem. 

Objective 3: Facilitate investment, trade, and partnerships in Africa’s digital economy from the African diaspora, the U.S., and like-minded allies. 

Pillar 2: Human Capital Development 

Objective 4: Facilitate inclusive access to digital skills and literacy, particularly for youth and women. 

Objective 5: Foster inclusive participation in the digital economy through digital entrepreneurship and workforce development. 

Objective 6: Strengthen the capacity of public sector employees to deliver digital services. 

Pillar 3: Digital Enabling Environment 

Objective 7: Strengthen the capacity of authorities and the independence of regulators to develop, implement, and enforce sound policies and regulations. 

Objective 8: Support policies and regulations that promote competition, innovation, and investment. 

Objective 9: Promote governance that strengthens and sustains an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure digital ecosystem. 

DTA will support an inclusive and robust African digital ecosystem, empowering women and other marginalized people.

DTA will include initiatives from the following departments and agencies as part of a whole-of-government effort that makes use of the varied resources and capabilities of the US government: 

1. The United States Agency for International Development USAID will lead interagency initiatives to improve public sector digital service delivery, boost digital entrepreneurship, and increase digital skills and literacy. They will use resources and networks from the Young African Leaders Initiative to support regional digital businesses and ecosystems, facilitate investment, and promote business-friendly reforms. 

2. The U.S. Department of State will lead interagency efforts to improve the digital enabling environment. 
   An open, interoperable, dependable, and secure digital ecosystem will be promoted by the Department of State’s Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership. 
   Targeted information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure efforts will be made, including testing and deploying new technologies, conducting feasibility studies, encouraging supplier diversity, and using reliable suppliers. 
   In consultation with African partners, the Department of State will support capacity building and technical assistance to promote enabling environments for innovation, cybersecurity, and digital capacity building. 
   The Department of State will invite a group of regulators to Washington for regulatory technical assistance, and in March 2023, the United States will host an Open RAN workshop in Africa. 

3. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) will collaborate with its partner countries to address country-driven digital transformation priorities, harmonize regulatory and enabling environments, and encourage private sector investment. MCC will prioritize long-term engagement to implement systemic changes and tackle poverty in African partner countries, while also promoting digital skills and services, digital innovation, and the private sector to spur economic growth and eradicate poverty. 

4. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) supports private sector investment to expand access to affordable internet and telecommunications as well as leverage technology to drive economic growth, such as financial technology and online education. DFC is improving mobile connectivity across Africa through, for example, $100 million in financing for Africell to support mobile network upgrades and expansions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gambia, and Sierra Leone to make mobile internet services more affordable and widely available. DFC is also advancing technology infrastructure across Africa through $300 million in financing to build and expand Africa Data Centers in South Africa, Kenya, and other countries in Africa to meet the growing demand for connectivity. 

5. The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) will support DTA under its loan, guarantee, and insurance programs, including bolstering the competitiveness of U.S. exporters through the China and Transformational Exports Program. 

6. Power Africa is a U.S. Government initiative that works to increase access to power in sub-Saharan Africa and has helped deliver first-time electricity to nearly 159 million people.  Power Africa will engage the private sector to expand digital access and strengthen the business-enabling environment for trade and investment.  For example, as part of its Health Electrification and Telecommunication Alliance, Power Africa will invest $10 million to improve internet access in rural health clinics and regional health facilities. 

7. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will co-lead interagency efforts on digital economy and infrastructure. USTDA will fund grant-based project preparation and partnership-building activities to support the development of digital infrastructure across Africa. Leveraging its Access Africa initiative, USTDA will partner with the U.S. industry and Africa’s public and private sectors to advance inclusive, secure, and sustainable digital infrastructure, including priority connectivity, cybersecurity, and smart cities projects. USTDA’s Access Africa portfolio has the potential to help unlock more than $1.5 billion in financing for digital infrastructure projects in close to 40 African countries. 

8. Prosper Africa is a U.S. government initiative to increase trade and investment between African nations and the United States. Prosper Africa will serve as a one-stop-shop for businesses and investors, as well as coordinate interagency support for deals in the ICT sector. Prosper Africa will engage the private sector to strengthen the business-enabling environment for digital trade through the Prosper Africa Tech for Trade Alliance. 

9. The Department of Commerce will co-lead interagency efforts on the digital economy and infrastructure. The Department of Commerce will leverage regional digital attachés, located in South Africa and Egypt, to increase its focus on the digital sector through DTA and will co-chair Pillar one: Digital Economy and Infrastructure with USTDA. Additionally, the Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration is pleased to announce its intention to work with the United States Telecommunication Training Institute to empower and develop the next generation of telecommunications and ICT leaders in Africa. The program will include a networking and mentorship event in Washington, DC, for young African leaders with U.S. tech, start-up, and government representatives, followed by a training workshop in Africa to help build out skills, knowledge, and digital leadership. 

Numerous federal department and agencies are involved, as illustrated by the above brief. The American role, through the initiative with their African partners, is critical to achieving the objectives in terms of both scope and quality. Indeed, the DTA initiative as a whole appears to be promising in terms of ushering Africa into a new era of digital transformation. 

“The trip will strengthen the United States’ partnerships throughout Africa and advance our shared efforts on security and economic prosperity,” said a statement from the vice president’s spokesperson, Kirsten Allen. 

At the end of March, Vice President Kamala Harris will spend a week in Africa as the United States expands its engagement with the continent amid increased competition, particularly with China.  

“The trip will strengthen the United States’ partnerships throughout Africa and advance our shared efforts on security and economic prosperity,” said a statement from the vice president’s spokesperson, Kirsten Allen. 

She plans to be in Ghana from March 26 to 29, then in Tanzania from March 29 to 31. Her final stop is Zambia, on March 31 and April 1. 

According to Allen, the vice president’s agenda will include promoting democracy, climate adaptation, economic empowerment for women, and food security. 

In addition to meeting the presidents of the three nations she will be visiting, Harris wants to meet with “young leaders, business representatives, entrepreneurs, and members of the African Diaspora,” according to Allen. 

At the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington, D.C., in December last year, Vice President Kamala Harris made announcements about working with Congress to finance a US government investment of more than $100 million in the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).  With the additional financing, YALI will be able to train and mentor more young African men and women in leadership roles, which will result in transformational change for the continent as a whole.

With that kind of funding, YALI is going to be able to further utilize the assistance of the private sector, the African Diaspora, and governments to increase economic opportunities, digital connectivity, gender equality, women’s empowerment, and social inclusivity. It will also enable YALI to better equip young African leaders who are engaged in business and entrepreneurship, public management, and civic leadership. The increased funding will also enable the first pan-African YALI The increased funding will also enable the first pan-African YALI Alumni Expo and Trade Fair, which will highlight alumni innovations and strengthen their connections with professionals from business, civil society, government, and the diaspora.