Africa CEO Forum Calls for Fixing Infrastructure First

At the Africa CEO Forum, a roundtable discussion focused on the urgent need to repair broken systems in Africa's digital public infrastructure before further development can occur. Participants stressed that simply layering technology over existing fragmented systems will not yield effective results.

The conversation highlighted the necessity of investing in local talent and addressing governance issues that hinder progress. The example of India's Aadhaar system was referenced as a successful model, showcasing the importance of resilient governance structures.

The forum pointed out that every digital public infrastructure project must align with the incentives for public servants to ensure effective implementation. The discussion underscored that without addressing these foundational issues, efforts to digitize services would likely fail or be sabotaged, as seen in the case of Rwanda's Irembo platform, which relies on daily engagement from government officials.