By David Muwanga

An African agency working to bridge the digital divide between Africa and the developed west, has identified partners who are prepared to contribute towards the Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF).
The partners identified by the African Digital Initiatives and Financing Agency (ADIFA) include the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Union and the Global Knowledge Partnerships (GKP) among others.
“Realising that a lack of financing information communication technology projects and programmes is a fundamental problem in Africa which has, to a large extent contributed to the widening of the digital divide between African communities, countries and between Africa and the rest of the world,” ADIFA’s executive director Ebrima D. Jobe has said.
He urged Africa to entice donors and financing entities to be responsive to the outcome of international conventions and heed recommendations that would help improve the lives of African people.
“We need to forge strategic partnerships and play a catalytic role in enticing and facilitating interventions in projects and establish close links with African regional and sub-regional organisations with interest in financing ICT’s,” Jobe said.
He said regional bodies should monitor ICT initiatives in Africa and assist countries in their efforts to secure the necessary financial resources to implement projects emanating from e-strategies in particular.
“They should help governments, civil society, the private sector, women, the youth and the physically disadvantaged in establishing relationships and partnerships with financing mechanisms for information society development,”.
ADIFA has a network of national focal points in 53 African countries.