Smart Africa is an alliance of 33 African countries, international organisations and global private sector players tasked with Africa’s digital agenda. The alliance is empowered by a bold and innovative commitment by African Heads of State to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development on the continent and usher Africa into the knowledge economy through affordable access to broadband and the use of ICTs. With a vision to create a single digital market in Africa by 2030, the Smart Africa Alliance brings together Heads of State who seek to accelerate the digitalization of the continent and create a common market. Launched in 2013 by seven (7) African Heads of State, the Alliance now has 33 member countries, representing over 815 million people and over 40 Private Sector members committed to the vision and the advancement of Africa.
The Council of Ministers of ICT (CMICT) is a consultative organ of the Smart Africa Alliance comprising Ministers of ICT from the 34 member countries of the Alliance. The council lends country-relevant perspectives and recommendations to the decision-making organs of the Alliance and the Secretariat. The Council is chaired by Hon. Leon Juste Ibombo, the Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy for the Republic of Congo and the deputy chairperson is Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation for the Republic of Ghana. The Council engages on matters related to the digital transformation of Africa that primarily impact the national sovereignty of member countries.
The meeting is open to Ministers of ICT and will discuss the growth of cross border initiatives that Smart Africa is engaged it to drive digital transformation.
The Steering Committee is co-chaired by the African Union and the ITU and comprises Ministers of ICT from Member States, International Partners as well as Smart Africa’s Platinum and Gold members.
Its mandate includes advising and reporting to the Board, recommending flagship projects and acting as a catalyst to support the Smart Africa vision.
The Steering Committee meets at least twice a year before the Board meetings and whenever extra ordinary sessions need to be held.
On this occasion, Smart Africa will host an extra ordinary Steering Committee to discuss among other topics the Smart Africa Triennial Strategy 2023-2025 and execute the soft launches of blueprints and toolkits.
The Forum of the Private Sector is a consultative organ of the Smart Africa Alliance comprising the 44 private sector members of the Smart Africa Alliance. The purpose of the forum is to amplify the voice of the private sector in Africa’s digital transformation agenda and to ensure that the private sector is an active and equal participant in the Alliance. The meeting engages on all the active projects within the Smart Africa Alliance and how these can be scaled up across the continent.