OUR ISSUES

INNOVATION & DIGITAL POLICY

OUR ISSUES

INNOVATION & DIGITAL POLICY

Overview
Innovation and digital solutions provide immense opportunities for Africa to transform its economies and societies. In some areas – such as mobile money – Africa is already a global leader, but to leverage its potential, African countries need well-informed and equitable digital policies. The continent lags the rest of the world in connectivity, data ownership, privacy and security, digital infrastructure, and broader digital strategies.

Our work on digital policy and innovation is done in partnership with the private sector, civil society, and the African and global development community. We focus on the need for robust digital strategies, strengthening innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems, advancing critical digital infrastructure, and enhancing digital skills for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Our research, policy advice, and advocacy support African governments to design good innovation and digital policies.

Key Contacts
Rob Floyd

Director, Innovation and Digital Policy

Programs

EXPLORING AI SOLUTIONS FOR ECONOMIC POLICYMAKING IN AFRICA

ACET launched this multi-year, multi-country research and policy project in April 2024 with support from IDRC’s AI for Development in Africa and with a wide array of partners. The project explores innovative models and ideas for applying artificial intelligence to real-world African policy contexts.
Q&A on project launch and objectives
Background learning note on country selection process (PDF)
Download learning note (PDF)
Pillars

Digital Strategies and Frameworks

We support digital and innovation policy development, help governments address barriers to innovation, and develop strategies in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, data ownership, cybersecurity, e-governance, digital finance, and industrial innovation.

Innovation Ecosystems

We facilitate dialogues between innovation and digital stakeholders to create opportunities for knowledge-sharing and collaboration, particularly between business and the public sector and between academia and research institutions. We also advise on incentives and approaches to elevate the role of entrepreneurs and innovation hubs across the continent.

Digital Infrastructure

We research regional solutions to infrastructure development that increase connectivity, trade, and targeted investment. We also provide advisory services for improved investment environments and investment policies to address Africa’s digital infrastructure gap.

Skills for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

We support initiatives that increase digital, STEM, and TVET skills while assessing new skills development models and policies. We contribute to ongoing regional efforts that support innovation scholars and engage with universities in Africa and beyond. We also seek to build the capacity of the youth and private sector to leverage 4IR technologies for industrial innovation.

Innovative Finance

We are helping to expand Africa’s voice on global financial architecture issues such as debt, climate finance, and multilateral development bank reform through knowledge exchange, ground-breaking research, and advocacy.
Amplifying Africa's Voice Initiative $

Featured Reports & Studies
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Reports

Macroeconomic Policies Supporting Start-ups in Africa

Africa’s economic future hinges on its ability to harness the entrepreneurial potential of its youthful population. Start-ups, particularly those driven by innovation and technology, offer a pathway to address the continent’s pressing challenges such as youth unemployment, slow industrial growth, and economic diversification.

Digital Economy entrepreneurship FDI Innovation Macroeconomics Private Sector Development

Reports

Macroeconomic Policies Supporting Start-ups in Africa: A Case Study of Kenya
Africa’s tech start-up ecosystem has expanded rapidly over the last decade. The number of active tech hubs across the continent climbed from fewer than 50 in 2011 to more than 1,000 as of 2024. Kenya is internationally recognized as a leading innovation hub in Africa––often dubbed “Silicon Savannah.” Over the past 15 years, the country has...

Digital Economy entrepreneurship FDI Innovation Macroeconomics Private Sector Development

Reports

Macroeconomic Policies Supporting Start-ups in Africa: A Case Study of Ghana
Africa’s tech start-up ecosystem has expanded rapidly over the last decade. The number of active tech hubs across the continent climbed from fewer than 50 in 2011 to more than 1,000 as of 2024. In Ghana, the start-up ecosystem is quickly evolving as a strategic key driver of change—a critical component of the country’s desire to...

Digital Economy entrepreneurship FDI Innovation Macroeconomics Private Sector Development

Reports

Reforming the IMF Quota System and World Bank Voting Shares
The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are arguably the most important players in the international financial system. The IMF, known as the world’s “lender of last resort,” is tasked with promoting financial stability, while the World Bank works to reduce poverty. Yet, both institutions have long been criticized for their inability to sufficiently meet...

Economic Management Featured Global financial architecture

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Featured Insights & Ideas
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Articles, Insights & Ideas

Emmanuel Owusu-Sekyere on Research, Leadership, and the Power of African-Led Evidence
What does it take to shape policy from the frontlines of African research? As Director of Research, Policy, and Programs at the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), Dr. Emmanuel Owusu-Sekyere leads one of the continent’s most vibrant knowledge ecosystems,...

AI Policy Economic Policy Economic Policymaking Evidence-Based Policy Governance Leadership Research

Articles, Commentary, Insights & Ideas

Nigeria’s First AI and Digital Music Hackathon Reveals New Tools for Measuring Creative Economy Growth

Nigeria’s music industry is booming, but the country still lacks the tools to show just how much value it creates.As artificial intelligence transforms global industries, young Nigerian innovators are showing […]

AI AI & Music AI Policy Featured Innovation Music Music Industry Technology Youth Youth Innovation

Articles

Public AI and African Policymakers: Implications for the Next Frontier

The uses, applications, and awareness of artificial intelligence (AI) have expanded rapidly in recent years. But most discussions about AI concern tools and processes owned and directed by large global […]

AI Digital Public Infrastructure Digitalization Regional integration

Articles

The Future of Development Cooperation
The 18th Amplifying Africa’s Voices (AAV) dialogue took place on 22nd October, 2025 and explored the future of development cooperation—a theme of particular importance for Africa in today’s rapidly shifting global context marked by declining Official Development Assistance (ODA), weakening...

African development policy Aid Debt Debt Reforms Debt Sustainability Development Development Assistance Domestic Resource Mobilization Financial Development Illicit Financial Flows Multilateral Finance Multilateralism Official Development Assistance Private Sector Development

Articles, Insights & Ideas

Unlocking Africa’s Data Potential: A Prerequisite for Economic Transformation

The inaugural Africa Data Summit was recently held in Nairobi. This was a gathering that brought together policymakers, academics, innovators, and private sector leaders to explore one of Africa’s most […]

big data Data Data Systems Digital Economy Digital Infrastructure Innovation Macroeconomics Technology

Insights & Ideas

Rewriting the Script: Mobilizing G20 Private Investment for Africa’s Sustainable Growth

On July 17th, as the morning sun rose over Durban’s coastline, Ministers of Finance, central bank governors, and global development leaders gathered at the Zimbali Capital Resort for a critical […]

CwA Domestic Resource Mobilization Mobilizing Finance Resource Mobilization

Feature Article, Insights & Ideas

New Approaches to Policymaking: Leveraging Satellite Imagery and AI to Measure Economic Activity

Today’s technology revolution presents new and innovative opportunities for informing national economic policies. Furthermore, global economic challenges necessitate that governments, particularly in Africa, adopt new approaches to economic planning that […]

Digital Economy Digitalization Featured Industrial policy Infrastructure Innovation Technology

Policy Briefs

Need for Better-Informed, Inclusive Investment for Green Industrial Transformation

Across the Global South, countries are moving towards green industrial transformation and a green transition. This transition will require massive investments that recognize multiple interdependencies across the value chains, sometimes referred to as “inclusive investment.”

Climate finance Debt FDI green industrialization Industrial policy Trade

Policy Briefs

Re-setting Relations Between Credit Rating Agencies and the Global South

According to the United Nations, subjectivities in global credit ratings— Issued by major credit rating agencies (CRAs)—cost African countries $75 billion annually.

Credit Ratings Debt Economic Management Global financial architecture Macroeconomics

Upcoming Events
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Past Events
News & Media
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Press Releases

Capping Africa’s Debt Costs Could Save Thousands of Lives and Unlock Major Development Gains, New Analysis Finds

For more information, please contact: Belinda Ayamgha at [email protected] or +233 26 818 2817 Tumba Tshimanga at [email protected] or +27 63 295 2951   UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 00:01 GMT ON […]

constitutional reform Debt Debt Economic Management Debt Reforms Economic Growth Economic Management Economic Transformation Economics GFA Global financial architecture Macroeconomics

Press Releases

Experts Convene in Washington to Advance Dialogue on an African-Led Credit Rating Ecosystem

[Accra, April 30, 2025] – African institutions and global credit rating agencies reaffirmed their commitment to developing a fair, transparent, and inclusive credit rating ecosystem for Africa. With more than […]

Credit Ratings

Press Releases

Driving Positive Change: ACET Joins AIM Global in Shaping the Future of AI in Industry

Accra, Ghana. August 14, 2024 – The African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) has joined AIM Global, the Global Alliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Industry and Manufacturing. This strategic […]

AI Governance

Press Releases

Rob Floyd joins the Transformative Innovation Africa Hub Advisory Board
The Transformative Innovation Africa Hub (TIAH), a platform for advancing transformative technology policy and supporting science and technology ecosystems in Africa, has appointed Rob Floyd, Director for Innovation and Digital Policy at the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), to...

Leadership

Press Releases

ACET and ConvergenceAI announce partnership to advance AI in Africa

Accra, October 2, 2023 – The African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) and ConvergenceAI have signed an MoU to collaborate on advancing economic transformation and harnessing the power of AI as a catalyst for positive change on the continent.

4IR Agriculture AI

Press Releases

ACET joins the Datasphere Initiative as an in-kind project partner

The Datasphere Initiative is thrilled to announce that the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) has joined the Datasphere Initiative as a project partner. The organizations will join forces to drive forward the Africa Forum on Sandboxes for Data.

peer learning Regional Public Goods

Press Releases

Africa-Europe Cooperation: A Dialogue on Digitalization

African and European policy institutes are joining forces to contribute to a robust dialogue between Europe and Africa on the digital agenda at a workshop and public event on June 6-7.

digital single market Regional Public Goods Technology

Press Releases

Rob Floyd joins ACET as Director for Innovation and Digital Policy

The African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) is pleased to announce the appointment of Rob Floyd as Director for Innovation and Digital Policy.

AI Infrastructure

Press Releases

ACET Launches Africa’s First AI Challenge for Infrastructure

ACET and Omdena launch a global challenge that aims to use AI to predict future infrastructure needs in Africa

4IR AI Infrastructure

Experts
Deepak Adhikary

Senior Fellow

Nabila Aguele

Senior Fellow
Kofi Agyen

Senior Fellow

Sajitha Bashir

Senior Fellow

Blaise Bayuo

Senior Fellow

Edward K. Brown

Senior Director, Research, Policy & Programs

Richard Carey

Senior Fellow

Chux Daniels

Senior Fellow

Rob Floyd

Director, Innovation and Digital Policy
Sanjeev Gupta

Senior Fellow

Thompson Gyedu Kwarkye

Visiting Fellow

Julius Gatune Kariuki

Senior Fellow

Robin McLay

Senior Fellow

Judith Mwaya

Senior Fellow
Yaw Nyarko

Senior Fellow

Fayez S. Omar

Senior Fellow

Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi

President & CEO
Bayo Oyewole

Fellow

Marysue K. Shore

Fellow

Klaus Tilmes

Senior Fellow

Tsidi M. Tsikata

Senior Fellow

Frederica (Freda) Yawson

Senior Manager

Partners