By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The African Union Commission
and Zambia have discussed the implementation of the Global Digital Compact and
regional approaches to compute infrastructure as Africa works to strengthen its
digital transformation.
The discussions took place
in New York on the margins of UNGA81, during a bilateral engagement between
H.E. Lerato D. Mataboge, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, and H.E.
Dr Chola Milambo, Ph.D., Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the
Republic of Zambia to the United Nations.
The engagement focused on
how implementation commitments under the Global Digital Compact can support
Africa’s digital transformation and the role of the African Union Commission in
advancing those commitments through the African Digital Compact.
Artificial intelligence
emerged as a key area of discussion, with connectivity, data governance and AI
capability identified as three areas that need to advance together.
The officials also explored
regional approaches to compute infrastructure, including GPU capacity serving
each of Africa’s five regions and supported by connectivity. Discussions
considered the strategic siting of data centres in locations with stable energy
and water supplies, an issue already under consideration within Regional
Economic Communities, including a proposed SADC data centre.
Power pools, grid access and
policy preparations by Member States for nuclear generation were also discussed
as part of the energy foundation required to support Africa’s digital
infrastructure.
The engagement further
identified skills and logistics as areas where the partnership could
contribute, alongside the broader energy and clean cooking agenda.
