The digital age must accelerate the achievement of the development agenda
During the last 20 years, digital technologies have been massively adopted throughout the world. Today, more than 5 billion persons use a mobile telephone. No other technology has been so widely adopted in so little time. This digital revolution affects all societies, in the North and in the South. It is transforming all aspects of life – the ways people work, make a living, access essential services as education, health, information, and participate in social and civic life.
Last year, with the COP21 and the United Nations Agenda 2030, the world set itself an ambitious agenda for the climate and sustainable development. The advent of the digital age may be a tremendous accelerator in reaching these objectives together. It can be an opportunity for development, provided that risks and threats are overcome. The digital revolution, in order to serve development, must therefore enable everyone, wherever they are, to benefit from this new, shared prosperity.
The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) wishes to support its partners in a digital transition that drives development. This new ambition will form part of the Agency's digital strategy.
This strategy is built around four questions:
- 1/ how to improve peoples' access to digital services, particularly in developing countries, emerging countries and overseas territories?
- 2/ what solutions can digital services offer to accelerate the achievement of sustainable development objectives, for a world that is fairer, more equitable and more sustainable?
- 3/ how can the digital transformation help the Agency to improve its efficiency, its impact on the ground and accountability for its actions?
- 4/ how should digital innovation be supported to serve the challenges of sustainable development, in developing countries, emerging countries and in overseas territories?
Our common world is coping with major challenges. The AFD, by implementing the development policy of our country, is acting in the name of the French people, alongside its partners in 90 countries, to meet these challenges together. More than ever, it is essential to mobilise all the stakeholders in development, at all levels, in all fields, with all available expertise.
This is why I would like to open the debate on the Agency's digital strategy. Do you want to share your ideas with us? Promote solutions that work? Make comments on how best to address challenges? Then please share all these with us! The online consultation is open to everyone. You may you comment, completet and discuss the four topics that form our digital strategy. Join the conversation starting nowand until 30 September.
The AFD is entering the digital age. It has already opened its data. With this consultation, a first for the Agency, it is continuing to open up to its partners in France and throughout the world, to become a hive of activity where the development solutions of the future are prepared.
Your contribution will enable the Agency to improve its analysis of the challenges facing development at the digital age and contribute to preparing its future actions. In particular, we commit to reply to the proposals that receive the most votes, and share a summary of your contributions at the end of the consultation.
Please join the conversation with us and discuss, argue, and vote to elaborate AFD’s digital strategy
Rémy RIOUX
Director General of the AFD