Innovative tech and connectivity key to fighting COVID-19 in Africa

Dealing with the health and economic challenges of COVID-19 has made one point abundantly clear for African countries – “that we need broadband, faster, cheaper, and expanded to the last mile of our populations.”

UN Under Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Ms. Vera Songwe, echoed this point today during an exciting virtual high-level policy dialogue on ‘leveraging technology in assisting African countries in the fight against COVID-19’.

Organized in collaboration with Ant Financial Services of the Alibaba Group, the livestreamed event brought together leaders of the Asian tech giant, some African ministers of technology and telecommunication, private sector actors across the continent and innovation/digital economy activists who agreed that technology is a common denominator in mitigating the impact of the pandemic, restoring livelihoods and tackling similar challenges in the future.

Continue reading on UNECA Stories