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Last week, Vice President Kamala Harris announced public and private sector commitments to advancing digital inclusion in Africa.
The non-profit Partnership for Digital Access in Africa (PDAA) was created in response to the vice president's call to bring together private and public sector leaders from Africa, the United States, and other parts of the world to bridge Africa's digital divide.
The PDAA will support African institutions to double the number of people connected to the internet in Africa from 40% to 80%, connecting one billion people by 2030, and increase connectivity for women and girls from 30% to 80%.
PDAA intends to support the expansion of affordable internet and broadband services, lowering device costs, and enhancing digital skills.
While President Ruto of the Republic of Kenya was visiting the White House in Washington D.C., Harris discussed digital inclusion as part of the Kenyan leader's state visit.
Building off a 2023 trip to Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia, where Harris called on business leaders to increase investment in digital inclusion across the African continent, the vice president participated in a moderated conversation with President Ruto at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to announce new public-private partnerships formed as a result of her call to action.
The moderated conversation about digital inclusion in Africa was hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for International Affairs - Africa and the U.S. Africa Business Center.
The non-profit Partnership for Digital Access in Africa (PDAA) has aligned goals with initial partners, including World Bank Group's International Finance Corporation, Smart Africa, America's Frontier Fund, the African Leadership Group, LifeHikes, SpaceX, HMD Global, and Nokia.
PDAA has entered into a Public Private Partnership with the International Trade Administration, a bureau within the U.S. Department of Commerce, to advance digital access and inclusion in Africa based on a mutual interest to support the aims of the U.S. Government's DTA initiative.