Pakosta: Estonia and Africa are building a smarter future together

TALLINN – Cooperation between Estonia and African countries is an excellent example of mutual learning and growth, said Justice and Digital Minister Liisa Pakosta, who represented Estonia at the African Union-European Union summit which concluded on Tuesday in Luanda, the capital of Angola.

"Future technologies must serve people and respect their rights. Together with African countries, we have created solutions that have proven themselves and help make people's lives easier and public administration more transparent," Pakosta said.

According to her, Estonia's central information exchange platform, X-Road, has become a trusted model in several African countries, and Estonia continues to support the development of reliable and human-centric digital services. This effort is also backed by additional Team Europe funding announced at the summit. A total of 43 million euros will be directed to support digital innovation and entrepreneurship, and 122 million euros for the development of digital infrastructure, including data communication and fiber-optic networks.

Estonian experts and companies are already working closely with their African colleagues. In Angola, Digital Nation is developing a practical interoperability roadmap with its partners. In Mauritius, the e-Governance Academy is advising on the creation of a more transparent public procurement system, while in Madagascar, it is providing technical expertise to strengthen the foundations of a more efficient digital state. In Botswana and Kenya, the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), together with private companies, is supporting the development of modern and user-friendly e-services. At the heart of this cooperation is the sharing of experiences and partner-led development based on respect for local needs and priorities.

With the support of the Estonian Honorary Consulate, the Estonian delegation in Angola met with several important partners, including the Head of the President's Office, Dionísio Manuel da Fonseca, and the Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technology, and Social Communication, Mário Augusto da Silva Oliveira. 

During the summit, Estonian representatives also held bilateral meetings with other countries in the region, including the Undersecretary of the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’oei, and ministers from Zambia and Tanzania. Topics of discussion included digital governance, reliable public services, and opportunities for practical cooperation in major regional projects, such as the strategic Lobito transport corridor.

At the AU-EU summit, leaders reaffirmed their commitment to keeping global warming within 1.5 degrees Celsius. Achieving this requires significantly larger investments: at least 300 billion US dollars should be directed annually to climate action in developing countries by 2035, with the long-term goal of increasing the amount to 1.3 trillion. The European Union reaffirmed its leading role in climate finance, having already mobilized over 15 billion euros for clean energy projects in Africa.

"Digital solutions and artificial intelligence play a pivotal role here. Used wisely, data can help conserve nature and resources in both Europe and Africa," said Minister Pakosta.

In addition to technology and climate topics, the summit addressed several other issues shaping the common future of both continents.

Aggression and violence were condemned in both Ukraine and African conflict zones such as Sudan and Somalia. It was agreed that African Union-led peace operations will receive more secure funding through the UN. The summit's final declaration openly acknowledges painful chapters of history, including the suffering caused by slavery and colonialism. A goal was also set to facilitate the movement of students and researchers between the two continents and promote the mutual recognition of degrees to open new opportunities for young people.

Cooperation will continue to increase Africa's local manufacturing capacity for medicines and vaccines. In the energy sector, a clear target has been set: by 2030, at least 100 million Africans should have access to electricity from clean energy sources.

At the AU-EU business forum held alongside the summit, the importance of public-private partnership in promoting digital development was emphasized. The Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) organized a discussion on the role of GovStack and its building blocks in creating human-centric digital services. Participants included Cybernetica, Trinidad Wiseman, Kenya Citizen Registration Services, and GIZ, and Minister Pakosta delivered the keynote address. A second discussion introduced the X-Road solution and highlighted how its success in Africa is based on local partners and trust-based cooperation.