Digitalisation shapes the transformations, evolutions and revolutions in our economy, and influences the way we work, live, and interact. Digitalisation creates numerous opportunities. Yet, if poorly managed, digitalisation and automation can lead to massive job losses, alongside rising fears among citizens and lawmakers when it comes to data protection, and the unchecked power of monopolies. This is true in Africa, in Europe, and elsewhere. More than ever, it is necessary to understand and harness the power of the digital in order to further the global common good.

This virtual meeting was the second of four webinars and brought together national policy-makers from Africa and Europe to discuss the geopolitical dimension of the EU-AU digital partnership, data privacy and the establishment of common regulatory frameworks. The aim was to highlight areas of opportunities, common objectives and mutual interests, as well as potentials for collaborations between the AU and the EU on digitalization.

The event was part of a series of policy briefs and webinars ahead of the AU-EU summit, jointly organized by the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), and the European Center for Development Policy and Management (ECDPM) with the financial support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

For more information on this event contact Benedikt Erforth, Researcher at the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)