Senegal assumes the presidency of the Leading Group on Solidarity Levies to Fund Development. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, spoke in favour of the “1% digital solidarity” contribution.

Meeting in Seoul from 3 to 5 September 2007 for its 3rd plenary session, the Leading Group on Solidarity Levies to Fund Development appointed Senegal to its presidency. After France, Brazil, Norway and Korea, it is the turn of an African country to head the Leading Group for the next six months (from October 2007 to April 2008). As Africa is the continent most affected by the digital divide and Senegal has helped begin the fight to narrow it, the question of financing digital solidarity will undoubtedly be at the heart of Senegal’s work.


In his nomination speech in Seoul, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Senegal, Dr Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, made the following announcement: “Senegal will strive to give its full attention to tried and tested mechanisms adopted by either States (…) or local authorities, such as the digital solidarity contribution.” The Senegalese Minister of Foreign Affairs added that “we must start to bring to life mechanisms that have already been identified but that, due to a lack of political will, are taking a while to materialise.” He also reaffirmed the unequivocal commitment of President Abdoulaye Wade, to promoting new sources of funding for development.

By electing Senegal to the presidency of the Leading Group on Solidarity Levies to Fund Development, the 54 Member States have recognised that reducing the digital divide is a crucial element of pursuing the Millennium Development Goals. Indeed, this matter was central to Dr Gadio’s speech, which called for greater support for the DSF. “Allow me to come back to one of these major new initiatives identified by our group: the Global Digital Solidarity Fund. (…) The Fund is the most important African initiative of modern times and seeks the commitment of all African countries, especially since Africa will be one of its main beneficiaries. That is why all African countries must immediately rally behind the Fund, paying the one off voluntary contribution and continuing to support it unfailingly. After some early reservations among developed countries, with the exception of France, the Fund is now accepted by nearly all Member States of the United Nations, although some have not yet translated this acceptance into formal adhesion.”

Leading by example, in Seoul, Senegal announced the introduction of a parliamentary bill paving the way for the adoption of the “1% digital solidarity” principle, the innovative financing mechanism devised by the DSF. The State of Senegal has also decided to introduce the “1% digital solidarity” contribution in all public procurement contracts for IT equipment or services. The contribution will be paid by the supplier to the DSF, for the funding of development projects. “The Leading Group (…) has already acknowledged the 1% contribution as one of the projects that is bearing fruit, and we hope that we will be able to take it further by securing adoption by all members of the Leading Group – and beyond – of the 1% digital solidarity principle”, concluded Senegal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.