An important step has been taken towards a fairer information society governed by solidarity. The Senegalese Foreign Affairs Minister, H.E. Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, sets the exemple.

 

n 23 September 2008, the President of the Republic of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade, enacted “a law introducing a voluntary contribution of one percent (1%) on public procurement contracts for digital goods and services”. The first article of the law immediately defines the principle: “a voluntary contribution of one percent (1%) is hereby introduced on public procurement contracts relating to the acquisition of digital goods and services, to support the Global Digital Solidarity Fund”. Article 3 describes the procedure for collecting the levy: “the contribution must be clearly specified in the tender documentation for digital goods and services”.

A decisive first step has been taken at the national level. This example must be followed by all developing countries, in order to raise the resources needed to bridge the digital divide.

By the time economic players in industrialised countries have embarked upon the Internet of things and web 3, the countries left out of the digital revolution will be lagging so far behind that there will be dramatic consequences. While Internet penetration in Africa accounts for just 2.9% of access worldwide and the cost of access remains prohibitive for poor countries, it is unrealistic to think that developing countries will be able to survive in a position of ‘digital exclusion’. Entire sections of their populations will be forced to emigrate, with tragic consequences for all concerned. Consensus must be reached before Doha in order to shape a more equitable information society.

If we miss this deadline, we risk a catastrophe. It is for this reason that the move made by Senegal is exemplary. By taking the decision to implement the “1% digital solidarity” contribution devised by the Global Digital Solidarity Fund, not only is Senegal helping raise awareness of the issue, it is also promoting a mechanism that, if applied globally, will be an effective means of reducing the digital gap.

The digital solidarity contribution is all the more justified since, in the long run, it will benefit all actors in both the North and South, and entails no cost. The only thing that stands in its way is a dogmatism that destroys our moral values, or a misguided conservatism. The “1% digital solidarity contribution” is deducted by public authorities from transactions involving digital products and services; the DSF then channels the funds raised back to businesses in the ICT sector through the purchase of equipment or services for community-based projects in insolvent countries. Thus, the “1% digital solidarity contribution” helps enlarge the market for suppliers of these new technologies and develop a digital economy in countries currently on the margins of globalisation.

The Senegalese law must prompt other countries to follow suit, and must serve as a foundation for the development of an “international convention on financing digital solidarity”. A draft convention which, unfortunately, faces indifference from industrialised countries, is being studied by the Leading Group on Solidarity Levies to Fund Development.

Senegal’s initiative must also encourage local actors, mayors and regional political leaders worldwide to apply this solidarity commitment at their respective levels. Although they wax lyrical about the role of local authorities in globalisation, local leaders all too often use administrative reasons as an excuse to postpone their commitment. The ethics of cooperation and solidarity call for a much more committed attitude. We hope that the World Conference on Digital Solidarity in Lyon will give them the courage to take concrete action.