COTONOU DECLARATION
PREAMBLE
We, the Ministers responsible for Digital Affairs of the Member States of West and Central Africa, meeting in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, reaffirm our common determination to accelerate digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) as drivers of inclusive growth, job creation and regional integration.
We recognise that these transformations must first and foremost serve and empower people, by creating jobs, strengthening the resilience of our communities and improving the competitiveness of our economies. We welcome the progress made in our countries in expanding broadband, building digital infrastructure, developing digital skills and cybersecurity, while noting that major challenges remain in terms of financing, governance and inclusion.
We acknowledge the commitment of regional institutions, the private sector and technical and financial partners to advancing the continent's digital transformation agenda.
We reaffirm our collective commitment to building, by 2030, a single African Digital Market founded on connectivity, trust, innovation, sustainability and ethical AI, so that no country and no citizen is left behind in the digital economy.
VISION AND STRATEGIC COMMITMENTS
We aspire to an Africa where every citizen, particularly young people, women and vulnerable groups, benefits fully from the opportunities offered by digital technology and AI; where technology stimulates entrepreneurship, productivity and decent employment; and where Africa establishes itself as a global hub of digital talent and innovation.
To translate this vision into measurable progress, we commit to achieving the following objectives:
1. Universal connectivity and resilient infrastructure. Ensure affordable and reliable broadband access for all, covering at least 95% of the population by 2030. Promote cross-border infrastructure, open access and energy-efficient systems to reduce the digital divide.
2. Inclusive digital public services and reliable data systems. Deploy interoperable digital public infrastructure – digital identity, payments, data exchange – enabling at least two thirds of citizens to access secure online services by 2030. Strengthen cybersecurity, data protection and AI governance frameworks in order to build trust and protect rights.
3. Jobs, innovation and artificial intelligence for sustainable growth. Equip young people, persons with disabilities and women with digital and entrepreneurial skills, and ensure that at least 70% of young graduates attain a basic level of digital literacy by 2030. Create two million new jobs in the digital sector. Develop regional computing, cloud and data management capacity that meets national hosting needs. Consolidate innovation ecosystems and promote African, inclusive and ethical digital solutions.
4. Sustainable financing and regional cooperation. Integrate digital transformation into national budgets and regional programmes. Develop competitive regional digital markets by reducing barriers to entry and encouraging private investment. Mobilise public and private financing through blended finance mechanisms, regional innovation and venture capital funds, and partnerships that favour youth, women and job creation.
5. Harmonised policy and governance framework. Establish inclusive and harmonised digital policies, based on accountable governance mechanisms that align national and regional strategies, legal frameworks and institutional coordination for sustainable and interoperable digital ecosystems. Promote structured coordination and the joint implementation of digital initiatives in order to strengthen trust, transparency, innovation and inclusive participation in the digital economy.
We also commit to strengthening coordination between governments, regional bodies and partners through a common monitoring framework and an annual review of progress in digital transformation. Each Member State will designate a national focal point responsible for ensuring alignment with the regional priorities of the Cotonou Declaration. In order to strengthen the impact and monitoring of these commitments, we will develop, as part of the post-Cotonou roadmap, a regional framework of common indicators covering digital inclusion, affordability, quality of service, skills, employment and digital trust, as well as common principles on interoperability, data protection and cybersecurity.
EXPECTED RESULTS BY 2028
We agree to measure progress through concrete results demonstrating the impact on inclusive growth and employment.
Connectivity and access:
- Halving of the average cost of data.
- Reduction of the usage gap by a quarter.
- 70% of rural households with affordable Internet access.
- Broadband coverage extended to 90% of the population.
- Harmonised roaming tariffs.
- Collaboration between States to interconnect national backbones and deploy regional Internet exchange points (IXPs) in order to secure and optimise African data traffic.
- Migration of at least 60% of mobile infrastructure to 4G/5G and partnerships to establish regional assembly units for affordable digital equipment.
Digital services:
- Secure digital identity for at least 50% of citizens.
- Interoperable payments in 15 countries and a 40% reduction in the cost of cross-border digital transfers.
- Ten priority e-government services available in all Member States.
- Doubling of intra-African e-commerce.
- Adoption of harmonised data protection instruments, recognising that a breach in one partner State constitutes an attack on the regional community.
- Administrative interoperability: protocols and technical infrastructure enabling 60% of cross-border exchanges (customs, immigration) in the region to be handled digitally.
Jobs and skills
- Two million young people, persons with disabilities and women benefit from digital jobs or digital entrepreneurship.
- 20 million people trained in digital skills.
- 200,000 professionals trained in cybersecurity and digital technologies.
- Three regional AI centres of excellence operational.
- Promote the development of specialised training infrastructure in order to strengthen local expertise in emerging technologies and support the creation of high-quality jobs.
Data and artificial intelligence:
- Regional data centres host at least 40% of critical government data.
- Deployment of regional Internet exchange points to secure African traffic.
- Implementation of AI application programmes in priority sectors in at least ten countries.
- Adoption of harmonised frameworks for cybersecurity and for data and AI governance.
Governance and coordination:
- Establishment of a regional mechanism for monitoring digital transformation, ensuring accountability, peer learning and consistency between national and regional initiatives.
- Encourage the use of advanced digital solutions, including artificial intelligence, in order to improve productivity, administrative transparency and cross-border exchanges, in accordance with national and regional frameworks.
PARTNERSHIPS AND FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS
We recognise that Africa's digital transformation is a shared responsibility, requiring strong leadership, solid partnerships and coordinated investment.
The Regional Economic Communities of West Africa and Central Africa, together with the African Union, will play a central role in harmonising digital policies, standards and regulations to ensure interoperability, cybersecurity and data protection. They will coordinate regional programmes on digital skills, innovation and entrepreneurship, and support cross-border initiatives on e-commerce, digital payments and data flows, fostering integration, added value and job creation.
The private sector is recognised as an essential driver of innovation, investment and employment. Businesses and investors are encouraged to extend broadband and data infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas, and to contribute actively to training, mentoring and entrepreneurship for young people, persons with disabilities and women. Digital and AI solutions developed in Africa will be promoted as levers for inclusive growth and employment in all economic sectors.
Governments reaffirm their commitment to establishing predictable and transparent regulatory and tax frameworks that encourage responsible investment and sustainable innovation. They will strengthen institutional capacity for swift and appropriate regulation, reducing obstacles to investment and keeping market power in check to guarantee fair competition. Blended finance instruments – guarantees, loans, equity and public-private partnerships – will be developed to catalyse digital infrastructure and data systems. Governments will also co-finance training, certification and entrepreneurship programmes with private stakeholders, so that every initiative contributes to sustainable employment and inclusion.
Technical and financial partners are invited to align their support with the priorities of this Declaration, as well as with national and regional initiatives promoting the development of the digital economy.
We commit to developing innovative financing mechanisms combining public resources, private capital and development aid to accelerate digitalisation, job creation and sustainability. Universal service funds will be strengthened to connect all areas more effectively and reduce the usage gap. Renewable energy and interconnection systems will be promoted so that Africa's digital infrastructure remains resilient, sustainable and low-carbon. The post-Cotonou implementation roadmap will further specify the mechanisms for mobilising appropriate and flexible financing, including risk-mitigation instruments and innovative approaches that facilitate digital investment in countries with more limited institutional capacity.
We will work towards the creation of a Regional Digital Transformation Financing Mechanism (or Digital Transformation Facility) tasked with mobilising and coordinating the investment, technical assistance and policy support needed to implement the Declaration, ensuring consistency between regional priorities and sustainable financing.
Together, we will ensure that every dollar invested in digital transformation generates measurable impact.
GOVERNANCE AND MONITORING
Determined to translate these commitments into measurable results, we will establish a Regional Digital Transformation Dashboard to track progress in connectivity, inclusion, innovation and employment.
An annual Regional Digital Forum will bring together governments, regional bodies, the private sector and development partners to assess progress, share experiences and set priorities for the following year.
The Regional Economic Communities, with the support of technical and financial partners, will publish an Annual Report on Digital Transformation, presenting the progress made, the lessons learned and the results achieved, particularly in terms of jobs, businesses created and investment mobilised.
Each Member State will designate a national focal point responsible for coordinating implementation between the national and regional levels, in accordance with the Cotonou Declaration.
These mechanisms will guarantee transparency, mutual learning and accountability, while keeping Africa's digital transformation aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and international best practice.
CALL TO ACTION
We, the Ministers and representatives of the States of West and Central Africa, call on all governments, regional organisations, the private sector, civil society, young people, women and development partners to join forces over the next 24 months to accelerate tangible progress by 2028.
We place young people, persons with disabilities and women at the heart of Africa's digital future and stress the urgency of building solid foundations in digital technology and AI for inclusive, job-creating growth.
We reaffirm that digital transformation is not only a technological imperative, but also a political and social issue, essential to sovereignty, competitiveness and shared prosperity.
We announce the creation of three regional working groups, tasked with proposing, as part of the post-Cotonou roadmap, operational guidelines on: (i) connectivity and digital infrastructure, (ii) artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, and (iii) the creation of jobs and economic opportunities through digital technology.
We invite all Member States to adopt, by 2028, National Digital Compacts reflecting high-level political commitment and setting out clear roadmaps for reforms, public investment and partnerships that catalyse private investment and job creation.
We invite regional institutions and partners to support the development of a post-Cotonou Roadmap and an Investment Framework to accompany the implementation of the Declaration.
We express our deep gratitude to President Patrice Talon and the Government of Benin for the exceptional quality of their hospitality and of the organisation of the Summit.
We commend the World Bank for its firm commitment to supporting and financing the countries of West and Central Africa in their digital transformation.
Together, we commit to making the 2025 Cotonou Declaration a decisive turning point in Africa's digital and artificial intelligence destiny.
Adopted in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, on 18 November 2025
By the Ministers of Digital Economy of the Member States of West and Central Africa, within the framework of the Cotonou Regional Summit on Digital Transformation.