German Version

When the EU strategy “Shaping Europe’s Digital Future” was presented in February, the EU successfully anticipated what would turn out as one of its biggest upcoming challenges and paved the way towards becoming a global leader in digital cooperation. With the help of digital solutions, many societies and economies were able to carry on in times of lockdown – for instance through digital learning offerings, telework, online events and even online medical consultations. One thing is certain: The year 2020 has shown what we can achieve jointly by reaping the benefits of digital solutions. At the same time, it once again shed light on the persisting digital divide.

As we became more aware of the effects of the virus to societies all over the globe, BMZ quickly responded with the #SmartDevelopmentHack. The global idea challenge was carried out in April and May by BMZ, the EU Commission and more than 30 partners. The result: Within one week, more than 1,000 innovative digital solutions were submitted in response to the pandemic. Among these submissions were chatbots fighting disinformation, platforms supporting women and their businesses and drones delivering medication to remote areas.

At the same time, BMZ is taking a bold approach to promoting standards for the most important digital applications (so-called ICT Building Blocks). In October, BMZ has therefore teamed up with Estonia, Smart Africa, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Digital Impact Alliance (DIAL) and tech companies to make citizen services around the world more secure, citizen-oriented and affordable.

In December, the year culminated in the high-level EU Launch of the BMZ D4D Flagship Initiatives with participation of Chancellor Merkel, as they were initiated under the German EU Council Presidency. This newsletter is dedicated to showcasing these new initiatives to promote value-based and human-centred digital innovation between Europe and Africa and around the globe.

In addition, BMZ launched the Smart Africa Digital Academy together with Smart Africa to promote secure internet access in Africa through better regulation.

All these remarkable milestones for digital cooperation once again remind us of the importance of partnerships to achieve our common goals. Let me use this opportunity to thank you for your continued support and interest in our work. We are looking forward to a new year and new partnerships.   

I wish you an insightful read and a festive season,

Gunther Beger

Director General
Global Health; private sector; trade; rural development
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

The Digital4Development (D4D) Hub will mark the beginning of a new era of international digital partnerships to foster the digital transformation across continents.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how much our lives depend on digital technologies. With the Digital4Development (D4D) Hub, Team Europe is building strong ties across the globe to make the digital revolution an opportunity for everyone”, underlined President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen the importance of the new initiative.

On December 8, 2020, she officially launched the D4D Hub in the digital presence of high-level representatives from the Hub-founding Member States Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany and Luxembourg: the premiers Alexandre de Croo, Jüri Ratas, Xavier Bettel, president Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Angela Merkel. The establishment of the D4D Hub marks a turning point in the EU’s international partnerships to support a human-centric digital transformation. The D4D Hub bundles the multitude of digital initiatives by European actors for unparalleled impact. It is the key tool to have a Team Europe in action advancing multi-stakeholder dialogue to leverage expertise and resources and share best practices.

Like the EU Commission, BMZ set D4D as one of its priorities for the German Presidency of the EU Council, championing digital flagship projects together with European, African and global partners. BMZ was represented by Parliamentary State Secretary Dr. Maria Flachsbarth. She expressed her gratitude for the fact that the BMZ flagship projects could be launched under the patronage of the EU, with which BMZ would like to promote investments for a sustainable and green digital economy in Africa. 

To this date, eleven EU Member States (Germany, Belgium, France, Estonia, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, the Netherlands, Lithuania, and Finland) have signed a Letter of Intent to cooperate under the D4D Hub towards a single European digital development approach.

We cordially invite you to join us in these efforts to build forward better and to shape a fair digital future around the globe! For further information on the D4D Hub, please access the link below or reach out to Simone Conrad: simone.conrad@giz.de.

BMZ promotes regulations for secure internet access together with Smart Africa.

On December 7, 2020, the Smart Africa Alliance and Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Dr. Gerd Müller launched the “Smart Africa Digital Academy” (SADA) to promote secure internet access in Africa through better regulations. The four components “Capacity Building for Decision Makers”, “Digital Inclusion”, “Skills Market Place”, and “Talent Bridge” are designed to help national internet regulatory authorities to develop standards for a fair digital society.

The academy, however, will not only train regulators, but also citizens in order to enable a fair digital transformation that benefits the people. “That is why we are working with Smart Africa for fair framework conditions that put people first”, Federal Minister Dr. Müller said at the launch event. He was the only non-African government representative to take part in the virtual board meeting of the 30 heads of state and government of the Smart Africa Alliance.

To deliver digital learning content, SADA uses the BMZ's e-learning platform atingi, which has already reached more than 600,000 people. With atingi, the BMZ has created the e-learning standard for German development cooperation, which is being extensively expanded against the backdrop of the Corona pandemic. In addition to the digital platform, SADA will also use the BMZ's network of Digital Transformation Centers in Africa to complement the online learning offer with face-to-face training.

Um Sie über Neuigkeiten aus der Schnittstelle zwischen Entwicklungszusammenarbeit, Unternehmenskooperation und Digitalisierung auf dem Laufenden zu halten, empfangen Sie als Partner diesen regelmäßigen Newsletter.

Impressum: https://toolkit-digitalisierung.de/impressum/
Foronachweise (von oben nach unten): (1) BMZ, (2 + 3) EU Commission, (4) BMZ