Beijing, China – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) have announced a new partnership aimed at significantly accelerating digital transformation across Africa. The two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, to co-design the “Africa Digital Empowerment and Innovation Hub.”
The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, reflects a shared commitment to inclusive, resilient, and sustainable digital development on the continent. Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant UN Secretary General and Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa, described the partnership as “a bold step toward realizing Africa’s digital future.” She added that by combining UNDP’s development expertise with CAICT’s technological leadership, they are “laying the foundation for people-centered digital transformation aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.”
The newly established Africa Digital Empowerment and Innovation Hub will function as a collaborative platform. Its core objectives include co-creating digital solutions, building both institutional and human capacity, and fostering South-South cooperation. The initiative plans to leverage open-source technologies, digital public goods, and local innovations to modernise Africa’s digital ecosystem.
Mr. LI Guanyu, Vice President of CAICT, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “This MoU marks a significant milestone in our efforts to leverage technology for inclusive growth and development.”
The Hub is designed to empower governments, youth, and women by providing advanced digital skills in cutting-edge areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computing, cybersecurity, and digital governance. It will also support the development of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to assist startups and entrepreneurs in scaling impactful solutions. Furthermore, the Hub aims to foster cross-border collaboration between African and Chinese firms in vital sectors including health, agriculture, education, and green energy, facilitated through accelerators, mentorship programmes, and investment dialogues. This partnership underscores a growing global commitment to harnessing technology for sustainable development, with a strong emphasis on inclusive innovation and South-South cooperation.
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