The call was made during the Ordinary Session of the Bureau of the African Union (AU) Specialised Technical Committee on Communication and ICT (STC-CICT), held from 22-23 June 2022, where issues pertinent to the role of digitalisation to scale up COVID-19 recovery, enhance energy access and transition and tackle the adverse impacts of climate change topped the agenda.

The Bureau attached prime importance to adequate preparations by key stakeholders ahead of COP27 set to be held in Sharm-El-Shiek, Egypt, in November 2022 to develop a Common African Approach with a view to leveraging digitalisation to address climate change related challenges.  

At the opening of the Ministerial Session AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy H.E. Dr Amani Abou-Zeid said, “Africa should achieve the best possible outcomes from COP27 dubbed as the ‘African COP’.  The opportunities that digital agriculture and digital energy present to transition to clean and sustainable energy systems, increased productivity, food security and mitigate the risks stemming from climate change and global warming should clearly be explored and solutions put forward,” outlined Commissioner Abou-Zeid expressing confidence that Africa will attain favorable milestones at COP27.

It is to be recalled that the 2^nd Extraordinary Session of the STC on Transport Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure and Energy (STC-TTIIE), approved a Common African Position on Energy Access and Just Energy Transition for COP27 this month, further signifying African Union’s keen interest to secure a breakthrough instrumental to advance Africa’s infrastructure integration.

The need to speed-up digitalisation to hasten COVID-19 recovery and improve the resilience of African countries to future shocks has also been among the major highlights of the Bureau meeting. “The pandemic demonstrated the key role of digitalisation to support national resilience through digital infrastructure and digital applications. It increases the shock absorbance of economies and those who were ready have benefitted a lot. It is now time for Africa to endeavor to address the digital divide and enhance resilience to challenges ahead, including climate change” underscored Dr Abou-Zeid.

The meeting deemed critical the implementation of the Continental Digital Transformation (DTS) adopted in 2020, and the subsequent guiding frameworks such as Continental Data Policy and Digital ID Interoperability Frameworks meant to create an integrated and inclusive digital society and economy in Africa.

Chair of the Bureau of the STC-CICT and Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy of the Republic of Congo H.E. Léon Ibombo, commended AUC for coordinating the development and implementation of key digital initiatives. “This meeting is very critical to discuss progress and put forth recommendations and address challenges critical for the implementation initiatives ratified by our Heads of States and Governments,” said the Chair stressing the need to work hand in hand with key implementors to enhance the success of the digitalisation and ICT programmes.

The AUC is also working on policy and legal frameworks to digitalise critical sectors of education, health and agriculture, secure the African cyberspace by developing Continental Cybersecurity Strategy, Child Online Safety and Empowerment Policy as well as reviewing the AU Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection to respond to the latest global standards and norms in the cyberspace.

The meeting has also approved initiatives of the Information and Communication Directorate, particularly with regard to the 20th Anniversary of the African Union to be commemorated in September 2022 and the celebration of the 60th founding anniversary of its predecessor, the Organisation of the African Unity (OAU) in May 2023 with various assortments showcasing Africa’s journey to transformation and integration under the giant continental organ.

The Bureau of the CICT constitutes Ministers of Communication and ICT from regionally represented five African Union Member States namely the Republic of Congo, South Africa, Niger, Rwanda, and Egypt, the Republic of Congo being the chair and serves for two years.

Note to the editor:

About the Specialized Technical Committees (STCs)

The Specialized Technical Committees (STCs), which constitute an important technical organ of the African Union (AU), were established under Article 25 of the African Economic Community Treaty (the Abuja Treaty). With the transformation of the OAU into the AU, the STCs were carried over by the Constitutive Act of the African Union under Articles 14 to 16.

Following AU Assembly referenced Assembly/AU/Dec.227 (XII) reconfiguring the existing STCs the STC on Communication and Information Technologies called Committee on Communication and ICT (CCICT) has been established as one of the fourteen committees set up to work in close collaboration with the various departments of the Commission (AUC) so as to provide well-informed inputs in their areas of specialization to the work of the Executive Council. It’s also expected the Committee be invisved in monitoring programme development and implementation by the AUC and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) on behalf of the Executive Council.

As per Rule 9 of the Rules of Procedure, the STC on Communication and ICT shall meet in ordinary sessions once every two (2) years. Since 2015 ordinary sessions of the Committee have been regularly organized in line with the provisions of the adopted Rules of Procedure stipulating that the STC should be organized every two years.

For media inquiries, please contact:

1. Esther Azaa Tankou / Head of Information Division / Directorate of Information and Communication / Tel: +251(0)911361185 / E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org
2. Molalet Tsedeke| Directorate of Information and Communication| African Union Commission |mobile+251 (0) 911630631| E-mail: MolaletT@africa-union.org|
3. Mrs. Bezayit Eyoel| Department of Infrastructure and Energy| African Union Commission| Mobile:  +251913223288 | E-mail: BezayitE@africa-union.org|

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