Digital in EU development projects

The European Commission (DG DEVCO) is committed to promoting the use of digital technologies in EU external aid programmes.

A vast majority of countries around the world have recognized that advancing on the Digital Economy can accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. DG DEVCO joins the trend by delivering on its Digital4Development (D4D) approach.

Together with public and private partners, DG DEVCO is identifying and implementing initiatives to boost job creation and inclusive growth through digital transformation.

At the moment, DG DEVCO is piloting and promoting several initiatives with digital as the common denominator:

• The energy-digital nexus initiative: aimed at increasing access to energy by stimulating financially sustainable business models of investments for digitally-enabled energy grids.
• Digital2equal initiative: aimed at engaging with the private sector at both domestic and international levels to promote more opportunities for women in online platforms.
• DIGIFI initiative: aimed at promoting financial inclusion through inclusive and Digital Financial Services (DFS) by creating a conducive regulatory framework and scaling-up successful digital financial projects.

To deliver on these initiatives, DG DEVCO has created several task forces bringing together the expertise of the private sector and policy makers. 

The EU-AU Digital Economy Task Force (the DETF) works across different pillars:

• Developing of a common enabling regulatory environment;
• Identifying ways to boost both public and private investment through existing initiatives such as the External Investment Plan, D4D Coordination Mechanism, the Sustainable Business for Africa platform, blending opportunities, technical assistance, etc.);
• Promoting affordable broadband connectivity, boosting the uptake of digital skills, support to digital entrepreneurship and the deployment of e-Services.

The Task Force Rural Africa was created to enhance the role of the EU agri-food and agro-industrial sector in the sustainable economic development of Africa. In this sense, it recognizes the potential of rural/agricultural digitalization in Africa.