SADC Pushes for Harmonized, AI-Driven ICT Data to Boost Regional Integration
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has concluded a five-day Regional Workshop on Strengthening ICT Statistics and Enhancing the SADC ICT Observatory with a call for greater investment, harmonisation, and innovation in data systems across the region.
The workshop, held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, from 25 to 29 August, was organised under the SADC Regional Statistics Project with funding support from the World Bank. It focused on advancing the implementation of the SADC Protocol on Statistics and the SADC Digital Transformation Strategy.
Participants assessed improvements to the SADC ICT Observatory, discussed international best practices, and explored the integration of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Mobile Phone Data (MPD), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in statistical frameworks. They also reviewed proposed broadband indicators and targets for 2030.
Closing the workshop, Ms Angele Makombo N’Tumba, SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, stressed the importance of reliable ICT statistics in shaping socio-economic policies. “ICT statistics are a critical enabler, and Member States must prioritise their collection and timely submission,” she said, urging countries to invest in modern ICT systems that align with global digital transformation trends.
She further reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to capacity building, technical assistance, and resource mobilisation to support the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030. “ICT is a cross-cutting enabler for agriculture, education, and health. By investing in data and technology, we accelerate regional integration,” she added.
Mr Christian Katende, President of the Congolese Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARPTC), called for harmonised methodologies to ensure comparability of ICT statistics across the region. “We cannot make good decisions without reliable data. Real-time data will give us a more accurate and dynamic picture of reality on the ground,” he remarked.
Representing Madagascar, the current SADC Chair, Mr Brillant Rakotoratsimanjefy welcomed the workshop as an invaluable platform for knowledge exchange. He praised the spirit of regional cooperation displayed, noting that shared experiences will be crucial in addressing technological and statistical challenges.
The outcomes of the workshop are expected to guide the strengthening of the SADC ICT Observatory and bolster regional efforts to harness digital transformation for sustainable development.
