To overcome the significant digital divide in many African countries, governments are stepping up international partnerships. The financial support or trade agreements obtained are being used to strengthen various areas to improve connectivity and technology access across the continent. 

The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, has announced the signing of two agreements in the digital sector. The announcement was made on Tuesday, 3 September in Beijing, China, on the sidelines of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which runs from 4 to 6 September 2024.

The Head of State said that these two agreements, which he considers important, would help “lay the solid foundations for our digital transformation. This is an essential part of our Big Five program.” He stressed that they will expand the national digital space, increase investment, and intensify innovation.

The first agreement, worth $50 million, was signed between the Sierra Leone government and the China National Technical Import and Export Corporation. It is earmarked for the Smart Sierra Leone project, which will extend internet access to more than 400,000 citizens who are currently excluded from the telecoms network. There are also plans to set up national data centres to manage and secure sovereign data, and to strengthen the country's security infrastructure.

The second agreement, signed with Huawei, will kick off the Smart Village project in Tormabum. This initiative will help provide farmers with online resources to improve their farming practices and increase their yields.

The agreements signed by the President of Sierra Leone during his visit to China align with the ‘Technology and Innovation’ goals outlined in Sierra Leone's Medium Term National Development Plan 2024-2030. This plan aims to boost the number of internet users from 1.84 million in 2023 to 2.9 million by 2030, marking a 63% increase. Additionally, it seeks to raise internet penetration from 21.2% in 2023 to at least 50% by 2030 and expand access to digital financial services from 32% in 2021 to 60% by 2030.

This increase in internet connectivity and improved access to online services should enhance access to information, improve digital inclusion, and support economic and social development.  According to the World Bank, increasing Internet penetration by 10% in low-income countries increases gross domestic product by 2.0%.

Hikmatu Bilali