The Global Digital Solidarity Fund establishes a presence on the African continent

Most of the poorest countries of the world are found in Africa. Given that information technologies offer a solution to problems of development, the presence of the DSF in the heart of the continent is clearly necessary », explains Mr Ayuba Kadafa, the DSF representative in Africa. Thus the Global Digital Solidarity Fund’s first regional office was established in July in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, where the Nigerian government has put an administrative building at its disposal.

«For me it is a matter of engaging a fruitful dialogue with a variety of actors – the African Union, the NEPAD, the African Development Bank, and all the institutions committed to development – so that we can take full advantage of the synergies at work to enable the Fund to bring the existing initiatives in Africa to completion. The Fund’s message needs to be understood by all the actors involved», commented Mr Kadafa.

The presence of the DSF in Africa will also bring it closer to the needs of the populations so that it can assess requests for support more rapidly and verify the transparency of the source of projects. The Fund’s allocation criteria stipulate that 60% of resources are to be devoted to projects in the least developed countries.

For Alain Clerc, Executive Secretary of the DSF, a presence in Africa will permit the Fund to intercede with the African Heads of State in favour of digital solidarity. «Our policy is to put in place a solidarity that involves everybody. The of «1% digital solidarity principle» also applies to collectivities that are in need of aid. We are hoping that Africa will show the way by demonstrating that this principle can also be applied by the poorest collectivities. It is important that the African nations should be the first to show that this innovative financing mechanism can provide new resources. Our thanks go to President Obasanjo at this juncture for his support in establishing our first regional office. »