Smart Africa and CERTA Foundation sign MoU

By: Nana Appiah Acquaye

The Smart Africa Secretariat has signed a memorandum of understanding with the CERTA Foundation to strengthen collaboration on digital governance, innovation policy and regulatory capacity across Africa.

The agreement establishes a strategic framework aimed at supporting policymakers, regulators and public institutions in developing policies that promote responsible digital transformation and strengthen Africa’s position in the global digital economy.

The partnership aligns with the objectives of the Africa AI Declaration, which seeks to harness artificial intelligence to drive innovation, competitiveness and economic growth across the continent.

Under the collaboration, the two organisations will provide targeted technical support to regulators and policymakers while also developing initiatives to build the capacity of public institutions responsible for digital governance. The partnership will also support research and policy interventions to guide decision-making on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Another focus of the partnership will be mentorship and capacity-building programmes aimed at supporting young policymakers and innovators, including through initiatives such as Smart Women and Girls in ICT.

The agreement also builds on CERTA Foundation’s work on digital governance models, including its research on the concept of data embassies as a potential mechanism for addressing Africa’s digital infrastructure gaps and strengthening data sovereignty.

Director General and Chief Executive Officer of Smart Africa, Lacina Koné, said the partnership reflects the need to strengthen governance frameworks that support digital transformation across the continent. He noted that Africa must build strong institutions and regulatory systems to manage emerging technologies and compete globally.

Founder and Executive Director of CERTA Foundation, Florida Kabasinga, said the collaboration represents an important step toward advancing digital sovereignty in Africa and ensuring the continent plays a leading role in shaping its digital future.

Both organisations said the memorandum of understanding marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration aimed at developing innovative approaches to digital governance and strengthening Africa’s capacity to build a sustainable and inclusive digital economy.