• ARTP signs cooperation agreement with the ITU at the WTDC-25 in Baku

• Project aims to build skills, support ecosystems, and create digital tools for young women

• Initiative aligns with Senegal’s New Technological Deal and ambition to become a digital hub

Senegal’s Telecommunications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARTP) announced on November 27 the signing of a cooperation agreement with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The partnership aims to promote digital business ecosystems that include young women in the country.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25), held in Baku, Azerbaijan from Monday, November 17 to Friday, November 28. According to ARTP, the project supports young women by strengthening their participation in digital trade through targeted skills development, ecosystem support, and the creation of digital tools.

Although not detailed in its official communication, the Senegalese telecom regulator says operational arrangements and the distribution of roles and responsibilities are outlined in a specific project document. It will take effect once signed and after ARTP completes its internal approval procedures.

The initiative may fall under the “New Technological Deal,” which aims to make digital technology a pillar of socio-economic development and position the country as a regional and international digital hub by 2034. “We aim to create a dynamic ecosystem built on the development of our human capital, support for entrepreneurship, and the growth of innovative SMEs and start-ups. Through this approach, we intend to boost economic competitiveness, strengthen social cohesion, and offer every citizen real opportunities for professional advancement,” President Diomaye Faye said.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) notes that women entrepreneurs face obstacles that limit their full participation in the digital economy. In Sub-Saharan Africa, these challenges include limited digital connectivity, unequal access to financing and capital required for business growth and cross-border expansion, major gaps in both technical and soft skills, and persistent underrepresentation in leadership positions.

Isaac K. Kassouwi