Time for a new India-Africa digital compact, Pg9

On Africa Day (May 25), the article advocates for a new India-Africa digital compact anchored in mutual respect, co-development, and inclusive governance.

Africa’s Digital Transformation Strategy 2020–2030 prioritises digital innovation for development.

India’s DPI model (Aadhaar, UPI, CoWIN, DigiLocker, DIKSHA) seen as a public-interest alternative to surveillance-heavy or corporate-owned digital systems.

Collaborations underway:

• Togo’s MoU with IIT-B for digital ID.

• Zambia’s partnership with India’s Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure.

• Bank of Namibia ties with NPCI International for UPI-like payment systems.

• The IIT Madras campus in Zanzibar is India’s first overseas IHE initiative, symbolising academic and tech cooperation.

Detailed Insights:

• India’s Evolution in Digital Diplomacy:

  • Shift from hardware-centric aid (like Pan-African e-Network) to co-creating digital public goods with African nations. * India now promotes open-source, citizen-centric platforms designed to solve local governance challenges. * Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a Model:

    • India’s DPI stack offers interoperability, low-cost scalability, and data sovereignty, avoiding surveillance-capitalism models. * African nations are showing growing interest in adapting India’s DPI tools, e.g., UPI, Aadhaar-style ID, and open educational platforms. * Strategic Collaborations in Progress:

      • Zambia’s digital government initiative. * Togo’s digital ID architecture. * Ghana adopting India’s UPI for fast transactions. * Tanzania hosting IIT Madras Zanzibar campus, linking education with digital skills development. * Geopolitical Context:

        • Unlike China’s infrastructure-centric strategy, India’s focus is people-centric digital transformation. * India’s model is seen as more scalable, affordable, and transparent, especially for democracies.\n Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): A suite of interoperable, open-source platforms enabling foundational digital services (identity, payments, data sharing).

• UPI (Unified Payments Interface): A real-time payment system facilitating peer-to-peer and business transactions.

• Open-Source Governance Tools: Software systems whose source code is freely available for use, adaptation, and local customisation.\n Significance:

• Enhances South-South cooperation, offering Africa an alternative to Western or Chinese digital governance models.

• Can support financial inclusion, service delivery, education, and public health in digitally underserved areas.

• India’s digital diplomacy strengthens soft power while promoting shared development goals across the Global South."

Mains Mock Question:

Q. How can India’s Digital Public Infrastructure model serve as a framework for advancing development cooperation with Africa? Discuss in the context of changing paradigms in global digital diplomacy.