Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

Overview

Encompassing the area of the African continent below the Saharan Desert, and subsequently the vast majority of Africa’s landmass, this region is home to an astonishing amount of geographic diversity, ranging from deserts and savannas to tropical rainforests. Commonly divided into 4 sub regions, SSA is home to over a billion people, who comprise a vast multitude of ethnic, cultural and linguistic groups. Although the region is growing economically at an impressive rate, it still faces many development challenges. These include some of the world’s highest and most concentrated rates of poverty, gender inequalities, political instability and the ever-increasing threat of climate change.

Projects

The African Union-European Union (AU-EU) Data Economies

In collaboration with the European Union and the African Union, and support from GIZ, DPA developed an overview of the Data Economy Framework between Europe and Africa in a concise report focused on the potential of the data economy in Africa, and its potential to boost the African-European data market exchange. The final report discussed the landscape of the African data economy and mapped the potential fields of common interest between the African and European Unions. The findings synthesized information from recent in-depth studies, as well as from indices on inclusive internet, affordability drivers and network readiness.

Liberia Country Gender Equality Profile (CGEP)

The CGEP of Liberia, the first of its kind in the country, examined the situation of gender inequality in Liberia from a multi-sectoral and intersectional perspective, including an analysis of the gendered impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as response and recovery implications. As part of an increasing effort to eliminate all forms of gender-based discrimination, the CGEP represents an important guide to assess the existing situation regarding women’s empowerment and gender equality in Liberia. This project was funded by UN Women Liberia, and supported by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection Liberia; the European Union, the African Development Bank, and the Government of Sweden.

Technical Assistance Facility for Africa-EU Relations in the Field of Economic Development

This series of three reports analyzed varying aspects of Africa-EU and provided technical policy insights to strengthen the European Commission Directorate General for International Partnerships’ (DG INTPA) capacity in “knowledge-based” policymaking. Each report was conducted through a study and analysis of policy briefings, taking into account EU political interests towards Africa, as well as relevant existing legally-binding agreements, political declarations and strategic documents. The topics of each report included:

(1) Transport and Infrastructures;
(2) Digital Technologies and Services;
(3) Sustainable Energy and Climate Change; and
(4) Private Sector and Trade.

Mastercard Foundation′s Impact Pulse Platform

Phase 1:

DPA developed the Sector Pulse Platform, a data-driven tool that will provide the Mastercard Foundation (MCF) with access to key information on global and regional trends relevant to its work in Africa. This tool will support the foundation’s future investment decisions with an evidence-based and system-change approach. Additionally, the tool will grow the organizational awareness and understanding of the most important issues shaping social debates in Africa. The development of this tool is structured across 4 project phases: discovery, development, reporting, and training. The platform is structured around three data modules: The ‘Impact Evidence’ module, the ‘Social Listening’ module, and the ‘Policy and Funding Development’ module.

Phase 2:

For the project’s second phase, DPA developed the Impact Pulse Platform (IPP), a data-driven digital tool designed to provide real-time intelligence on global trends to support MCF’s investment strategy in Africa. The platform integrates components such as a PowerBI dashboard and generative AI, leveraging non-traditional data sources. This tool enables the Foundation to make future investment decisions through an impact-oriented, systemic, and data-driven lens, specifically focused on Africa.

Development of Senegal’s National Data Strategy

DPA, in collaboration with Smart Africa and GIZ under the leadership of the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, led the development of Senegal’s National Data Strategy. The main objective was to identify all the measures and propose an implementation roadmap in order to:

(1) Enable the digital ecosystem to leverage the potential of data for economic growth;
(2) Promote innovation and the use of emerging technologies, with the reinforcement of skills and the development of a data culture; and
(3) Foster cross-border collaboration in terms of commerce and data in Africa, all while respecting privacy and human rights.

Development of Ghana’s National Data Strategy

Data-Pop Alliance, in partnership with Smart Africa, contributed to the development of Ghana’s national data strategy in line with the country’s priorities in terms of sustainable development, promotion of innovation, the creation of value and, above all, digital sovereignty. The general objectives are:

(1) Promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including by strengthening data partnerships and local capacities;
(2) Promoting good governance in general, and data governance, data sharing and collaboration with the private sector;
(3) Supporting better targeting and use of development data;
(4) Promoting research and innovation in the field of data, academia, new businesses; and
(5) Developing data skills.