As of: 12/2022
All eight countries of the West African state confederation the Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA) have adopted or are planning extensive national digitalisation strategies. Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Senegal and Togo have devised strategies to streamline their administrative practices through digital technologies, improve the economy’s access to digital services and increase connectivity. Guinea-Bissau and Niger are working on similar legislative initiatives. The opportunities for these projects lie in providing citizens with better and fairer access to government services. The digital transformation requires a high demand for financial resources. On behalf of the German Federal Government, KfW is supporting UEMOA countries’ projects through cooperation with their development bank BOAD.
The countries of West Africa still have some catching up to do in terms of digital transformation – including compared to other countries on the continent. The digital gap can be seen in the ICT development index, where UEMOA member countries were in the bottom third and thus underperforming. UEMOA countries worldwide are also lagging behind when it comes to access to the Internet. The lack of digitalisation reduces the efficiency and transparency of administration. Where paper files are still being maintained, citizens find it difficult to view the documents of authorities. Below-average digitalisation also has a negative impact on policy making: data is frequently lacking as a basis for decision-making, such as budgeting, education allocations or social security. When digital data is used, there is often a lack of data security. Some authorities have found their own solutions for digital applications, but these are isolated and unconnected. They are often incompatible with each other because they are based on different technologies. Cooperation is thus hindered rather than facilitated. So far, there has been no exchange of good standards in the region.
A large amount of funding is needed to meet the need for investment in UEMOA countries’ digitalisation projects. This will require the development of ICT infrastructure, such as network access and connectivity, automation of processes and the learning of skills in dealing with digital technologies. KfW is therefore helping to ensure that BOAD (UEMOA’s development bank) can also fulfil its development policy role with regard to closing the digital divide and provide funds to the public administrations of UEMOA countries at sustainable conditions.
On behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), KfW is contributing EUR 16.2 million to BOAD’s project to promote the digital transformation of UEMOA countries. Two components are provided for this purpose. The first component is about improving government networks and IT equipment, as well as developing digital services. It also aims to improve data and network security. With its second component, KfW is supporting the rise of BOAD as a key player in West Africa’s digital transformation.
The aim is to standardise the solutions for the basic needs of the governments involved as much as possible. When all administrations work with the same IT solutions, it is easier to share best practices.
Government institutions in UEMOA countries can apply for BOAD’s promotional funds for digitalisation, creating a competition for funding for the best projects.
The aim of the project is to ensure that the public administrations of the UEMOA countries have new and secure equipment with ICT applications, infrastructure and equipment.
BOAD is expanding its expertise in terms of digitalisation and is taking a strong leadership role in digitalisation issues in West Africa.
Partnerships between UEMOA countries are being established at regional level in order to exchange their own experiences with digitalisation.
The project contributes to the achievement of these following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:
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KfW Group
KfW Development Bank
LAa2 – Governance, Peace and Security
Dr Annemie Denzer-Schulz
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