By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The African
Telecommunications Union (ATU) has joined the Common Market for Eastern and
Southern Africa (COMESA) Secretariat and its Member States and partners for the
First Regional Validation Meeting on Digital Inclusion in Zambia, aimed at
reviewing a regional situational analysis and a draft Regional Digital
Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan.
ATU Deputy Director for
Radiocommunications, Martial Dhossa, is representing the Union's Secretary
General, John Omo, at the meeting, which brings together African institutions
around a shared ambition to advance the continent's digital transformation.
The meeting is reviewing the
regional situational analysis and draft strategy and action plan, with
discussions focusing on key issues affecting digital inclusion across the
region.
These include meaningful
connectivity, affordability, digital skills, accessible digital services and
online safety.
According to ATU,
partnerships of this nature are important to its work, particularly when they
bring together African institutions whose mandates complement one another.
The Union noted that greater
coordination among institutions would help strengthen efforts to address
digital inclusion challenges and advance shared regional priorities.
ATU also expressed
appreciation to the COMESA Secretariat for involving it in the process and to
the World Bank Group for financing the Inclusive Digitalization in Eastern and
Southern Africa Programme, under which the work is being undertaken.
The regional initiative
forms part of broader efforts to promote inclusive digitalisation and ensure
that more people across Eastern and Southern Africa can access and benefit from
digital technologies and services.
