Intersecting Digital Governance and Sustainable Development Goals in Africa

Abstract

The advent of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the internet has revolutionalised the manner in which governments and citizens interact as well as service delivery models. Digital tools have the potential to promote sustainable economic transformation and development within the 21st Century by ensuring that governments attain cost efficiency and effectiveness gains. The successful attainment of Agenda 2030 has become a priority for all governments across the globe and Africa is no exception. There is acknowledgement that the Agenda 2030 can be driven by digitisation efforts. However, there is little scholarly evidence which indicates how digital tools can be incorporated in SDGs implementation in Africa. The study adopted extant secondary qualitative literature as the research method. Findings, conclusions and recommendations were drawn from documentary books, journal articles, working papers and government reports. This study focused on examining how ICTs can be incorporated in the SDGs’ implementation trajectory, progress made and challenges being faced. The study findings established that despite progress made in adopting ICTs by several African countries, most of them have failed to fully embrace ICTs in driving the implementation of SDGs. African countries are facing underlying problems which include digital divide, lack of political will, lack of skills and limited funding, among others, which have been a hindrance towards their digitisation efforts. The study recommended that governments in Africa have to invest in regulatory and policy frameworks, source adequate 
funding for digital projects and educate the general populace on ICTs.