{"id":44111,"date":"2025-04-10T13:59:58","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T13:59:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/?p=44111"},"modified":"2025-04-11T08:00:50","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T08:00:50","slug":"south-africa-sets-its-ambitious-g20-agenda-for-digital-public-infrastructure-and-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/builder\/south-africa-sets-its-ambitious-g20-agenda-for-digital-public-infrastructure-and-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"South Africa sets its ambitious G20 agenda for digital public infrastructure and AI"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post<\/a> was originally published on this site<\/a><\/p>

<\/p>\n

Digital technologies hold immense potential for economies\u2019 long-term development. South Africa, through its G20 Presidency, is seizing this transformative opportunity to prioritise digital public infrastructure (DPI) and artificial intelligence (AI), both critical enablers of digital transformation, on this year\u2019s G20 digital agenda.<\/p>\n

Building on declarations from the past two G20 presidencies, South Africa is now advancing discussions on how to measure the dynamic societal and economic value of DPI. This recognises that the potential benefits of DPI for people and the planet will not come about automatically  –  yielding them depends on how countries design and implement DPI.<\/p>\n

On the AI front, following the announcement by South Africa\u2019s President Cyril Ramaphosa on establishing the <\/span>G20 Task Force on Artificial Intelligence<\/a>, the G20 Presidency particularly seeks to further Africa’s strategic priorities on AI. This requires investments and partnerships to strengthen AI foundations across the continent through regional and country leadership, with the AI Hub for Sustainable Development focused on private sector growth. <\/p>\n

Unlocking the societal and economic value of DPI<\/strong><\/p>\n

Discussions on DPI are central to South Africa\u2019s G20 Digital Economy Working Group. A critical question posed is: <\/span>How can we measure the value of DPI beyond traditional cost-benefit analyses, focusing on its role in unlocking long-term development for economies and societies?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

G20<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To answer this question, it’s worthwhile considering the following aspects:<\/p>\n

Regional diversity<\/strong><\/p>\n

Analyses from data collected by the <\/span>DPI Map<\/a> <\/span>indicate stark differences across regions. In Asia, Europe and Latin America, DPI is leading transformation across sectors, such as education and health. Meanwhile, in Africa and the Caribbean, countries planning or piloting DPI face significant challenges, such as governance gaps, that limit DPI\u2019s potential impact. A key barrier is the underutilisation of digital ID and authentication for electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) at scale in these regions, where weak adoption of DPI hinders benefits to people and governments.<\/p>\n

Africa\u2019s momentum<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Africa, various mechanisms, such as the African Union\u2019s (AU) <\/span>Digital Transformation Strategy<\/a>, the <\/span>AU Data Policy Framework<\/a> <\/span>and the <\/span>Interoperable Framework for Digital ID<\/a> <\/span>(adopted in 2022\/2023) are driving progress, complementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and its 2024 Digital Trade Protocol. These frameworks promote interoperability, effective governance and people-centred regulations.<\/p>\n

However, many African countries are still in the planning or piloting stages. Micro-, small- and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs) make up <\/span>90%<\/a> <\/span>of the private sector on the African continent, <\/span>providing 80% of jobs<\/a> <\/span>and contributing <\/span>40%<\/a> <\/span>of gross domestic product (GDP), with 70% being women-owned and often informal. DPI could empower MSMEs on the continent with improved operational efficiency, access to finance and market reach. Orienting DPI implementations towards development impact can help unlock additional job opportunities and other society-wide benefits.<\/p>\n

The United Nations Development Programme (Ucdp) is partnering with the African Union and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to support the Presidency\u2019s agenda to identify and catalyze DPI innovations and implementations that can unlock societal and economic value for governments, people and the planet.<\/p>\n

Closing the AI equity gap<\/strong><\/p>\n

The G20 AI Task Force is a pivotal coalition-building platform, working to ensure the AI equity gap does not become the new digital divide. How do we move beyond centralised global policies, including in the private sector, to local approaches for long-term development and sovereignty? <\/span>Closing this gap<\/a> <\/span>requires working with local actors in economies, including the private sector and civil society, to shape AI\u2019s future. Complementing governance discussions led by partners, such as Unesco, the OECD and others, Undp\u2019s engagement in South Africa\u2019s G20 Presidency centres on three themes: <\/p>\n

1. The private sector as an engine of growth and responsibility<\/strong><\/p>\n

Private sector players, including startups, are vital partners for achieving AI equity. They are engines of growth on the African continent and throughout developing countries. More collaboration and innovative partnerships are needed in countries to move ahead with greater responsibility and investments. In 2024, UNDP collaborated with the G7 Italian Presidency and the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy on the <\/span>AI Hub for Sustainable Development<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The AI Hub is a borderless initiative co-designed with African stakeholders, ITU and private sector players from Cairo, Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi, San Francisco, Toronto and others. Building on this progress, it is envisioned that South Africa’s G20 Presidency will continue to create space for the private sector to lead in innovative ways, invest in the AI foundations of compute, data and talent, as well as <\/span>re-imagine AI trust and safety<\/a>. <\/p>\n

2. Africa\u2019s AI foundations are emerging and vibrant<\/strong><\/p>\n

From GPU clusters to renewables for powering data centres, Africa\u2019s AI foundations are already emerging. South Africa-based <\/span>Deep Learning Indaba\u2019s<\/a> <\/span>participation in the Task Force demonstrates the G20 Presidency\u2019s commitment to action and impact across Africa in 2025. UNDP\u2019s <\/span>Every Languages Matter<\/a> <\/span>think piece, co-authored with the University of Ghana, highlights the need for incentivizing community efforts to deploy datasets for African low-resource languages. Integrating them into AI systems is especially important in cases of low literacy and low connectivity. <\/p>\n

3. Green compute<\/strong><\/p>\n

Currently, only <\/span>5% of African talent<\/a> <\/span>has access to adequate compute, with just 1% having on-premise facilities, which presents a significant barrier to innovation. Through innovative and action-oriented partnerships  – with public interest and business models at the core – the AI Hub for Sustainable Development is steering the design of the <\/span>Africa Green Compute Coalition <\/span><\/a>(AGCC) to address challenges in AI equity and unlock responsible private sector growth for all. Cassava Technologies and Nvidia recently announced a landmark partnership on AI infrastructure for Africa, furthering the agenda of shifting industrial value chains for long-term development with the private sector and start-ups.<\/p>\n

South Africa\u2019s role as one of the <\/span>compute hubs across Africa<\/a> <\/span>underscores its potential to help close the AI equity gap. This year, working hand-in-hand with the African Union, South Africa\u2019s G20 Presidency aims to build the necessary coalitions and plans for the AI in Africa Initiative.<\/p>\n

As South Africa\u2019s G20 Presidency prepares for the second round of meetings in April in Eastern Cape, the energy and momentum are commendable. The Presidency’s ambitious vision, showcased in its National DPI Roadmap during the first meetings of 2025, is aptly articulated in the theme of the G20 South Africa Presidency \u2013 <\/span>Solidarity, Equality <\/span><\/i>and <\/span>Sustainability<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Building on the <\/span>G20 Trioka Declaration<\/a> <\/span>of India, Brazil and South Africa, as well as the Global Digital Compact adopted by 193 Member States, South Africa\u2019s G20 Presidency is playing an instrumental role in furthering discussions on DPI and AI, with Africa and the priorities of the Global South at the core of its agenda.<\/p>\n

WEF logo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Robert Opp <\/a>is the chief digital officer, United Nations Development Programme and Keyzom Ngodup Massally<\/a>, the head of Digital Programmes and AI Programmes, Chief Digital Office, United Nations Development Programme.<\/em><\/p>\n

This article was published by the World Economic Forum. The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.<\/em>
BUSINESS REPORT<\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Digital technologies hold immense potential for economies\u2019 long-term development. South Africa, through its G20 Presidency, is seizing this transformative opportunity to prioritise digital public infrastructure (DPI) and artificial intelligence (AI), both critical enablers of digital transformation, on this year\u2019s G20 digital agenda.Building on declarations from the past two G20 presidencies, South Africa is now advancing discussions on how to measure the dynamic societal and economic value of DPI. This recognises that the potential benefits of DPI for people and the planet will not come about automatically\u00a0 –\u00a0 yielding them depends on how countries design and implement DPI.On the AI front, following the announcement by South Africa\u2019s President Cyril Ramaphosa on establishing the\u00a0G20 Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, the G20 Presidency particularly seeks to further Africa’s strategic priorities on AI. This requires investments and partnerships to strengthen AI foundations across the continent through regional and country leadership, with the AI Hub for Sustainable Development focused on private sector growth.\u00a0Unlocking the societal and economic value of DPIDiscussions on DPI are central to South Africa\u2019s G20 Digital Economy Working Group. A critical question posed is:\u00a0How can we measure the value of DPI beyond traditional cost-benefit analyses, focusing on its role in unlocking long-term development for economies and societies?G20To answer this question, it’s worthwhile considering the following aspects:Regional diversityAnalyses from data collected by the\u00a0DPI Map\u00a0indicate stark differences across regions. In Asia, Europe and Latin America, DPI is leading transformation across sectors, such as education and health. Meanwhile, in Africa and the Caribbean, countries planning or piloting DPI face significant challenges, such as governance gaps, that limit DPI\u2019s potential impact. A key barrier is the underutilisation of digital ID and authentication for electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) at scale in these regions, where weak adoption of DPI hinders benefits to people and governments.Africa\u2019s momentumIn Africa, various mechanisms, such as the African Union\u2019s (AU)\u00a0Digital Transformation Strategy, the\u00a0AU Data Policy Framework\u00a0and the\u00a0Interoperable Framework for Digital ID\u00a0(adopted in 2022\/2023) are driving progress, complementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and its 2024 Digital Trade Protocol. These frameworks promote interoperability, effective governance and people-centred regulations.However, many African countries are still in the planning or piloting stages. Micro-, small- and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs) make up\u00a090%\u00a0of the private sector on the African continent,\u00a0providing 80% of jobs\u00a0and contributing\u00a040%\u00a0of gross domestic product (GDP), with 70% being women-owned and often informal. DPI could empower MSMEs on the continent with improved operational efficiency, access to finance and market reach. Orienting DPI implementations towards development impact can help unlock additional job opportunities and other society-wide benefits.The United Nations Development Programme (Ucdp) is partnering with the African Union and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to support the Presidency\u2019s agenda to identify and catalyze DPI innovations and implementations that can unlock societal and economic value for governments, people and the planet.Closing the AI equity gapThe G20 AI Task Force is a pivotal coalition-building platform, working to ensure the AI equity gap does not become the new digital divide. How do we move beyond centralised global policies, including in the private sector, to local approaches for long-term development and sovereignty?\u00a0Closing this gap\u00a0requires working with local actors in economies, including the private sector and civil society, to shape AI\u2019s future. Complementing governance discussions led by partners, such as Unesco, the OECD and others, Undp\u2019s engagement in South Africa\u2019s G20 Presidency centres on three themes:\u00a01. The private sector as an engine of growth and responsibilityPrivate sector players, including startups, are vital partners for achieving AI equity. They are engines of growth on the African continent and throughout developing countries. More collaboration and innovative partnerships are needed in countries to move ahead with greater responsibility and investments. In 2024, UNDP collaborated with the G7 Italian Presidency and the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy on the\u00a0AI Hub for Sustainable Development.The AI Hub is a borderless initiative co-designed with African stakeholders, ITU and private sector players from Cairo, Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi, San Francisco, Toronto and others. Building on this progress, it is envisioned that South Africa’s G20 Presidency will continue to create space for the private sector to lead in innovative ways, invest in the AI foundations of compute, data and talent, as well as\u00a0re-imagine AI trust and safety.\u00a02. Africa\u2019s AI foundations are emerging and vibrantFrom GPU clusters to renewables for powering data centres, Africa\u2019s AI foundations are already emerging. South Africa-based\u00a0Deep Learning Indaba\u2019s\u00a0participation in the Task Force demonstrates the G20 Presidency\u2019s commitment to action and impact across Africa in 2025. UNDP\u2019s\u00a0Every Languages Matter\u00a0think piece, co-authored with the University of Ghana, highlights the need for incentivizing community efforts to deploy datasets for African low-resource languages. Integrating them into AI systems is especially important in cases of low literacy and low connectivity.\u00a03. Green computeCurrently, only\u00a05% of African talent\u00a0has access to adequate compute, with just 1% having on-premise facilities, which presents a significant barrier to innovation. Through innovative and action-oriented partnerships\u00a0 – with public interest and business models at the core – the AI Hub for Sustainable Development is steering the design of the\u00a0Africa Green Compute Coalition\u00a0(AGCC) to address challenges in AI equity and unlock responsible private sector growth for all. Cassava Technologies and Nvidia recently announced a landmark partnership on AI infrastructure for Africa, furthering the agenda of shifting industrial value chains for long-term development with the private sector and start-ups.South Africa\u2019s role as one of the\u00a0compute hubs across Africa\u00a0underscores its potential to help close the AI equity gap. This year, working hand-in-hand with the African Union, South Africa\u2019s G20 Presidency aims to build the necessary coalitions and plans for the AI in Africa Initiative.As South Africa\u2019s G20 Presidency prepares for the second round of meetings in April in Eastern Cape, the energy and momentum are commendable. The Presidency’s ambitious vision, showcased in its National DPI Roadmap during the first meetings of 2025, is aptly articulated in the theme of the G20 South Africa Presidency \u2013\u00a0Solidarity, Equality\u00a0and\u00a0Sustainability.Building on the\u00a0G20 Trioka Declaration\u00a0of India, Brazil and South Africa, as well as the Global Digital Compact adopted by 193 Member States, South Africa\u2019s G20 Presidency is playing an instrumental role in furthering discussions on DPI and AI, with Africa and the priorities of the Global South at the core of its agenda.WEF logoRobert Opp is the chief digital officer,\u00a0United Nations Development Programme and\u00a0Keyzom Ngodup Massally, the head of Digital Programmes and AI Programmes, Chief Digital Office,\u00a0United Nations Development Programme.This article was published by the World Economic Forum. The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.BUSINESS REPORT<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44113,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-builder"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44111","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44111"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44111\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44116,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44111\/revisions\/44116"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44113"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44111"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44111"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44111"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}