The Smart Africa Secretariat and information and communication technology (ICT) group Ericsson have entered into a collaboration to support Smart Africa Digital Academy (SADA)’s ambitions of promoting digital transformation across Africa through education and capacity development.

The new collaboration will enable SADA to adopt the Ericsson Educate programme to enhance the digital skill competences of ICT Ministries’ and regulators’ top management in member countries of the Smart Africa Alliance.

Under the collaboration, SADA will equip the public administrations of each member State with the latest information to enhance their knowledge and competences around emerging digital technologies.

This will, in turn, support them in establishing impactful digital skills development roadmaps and strategies, with the Ericsson Educate programme curated and customised to support the ongoing digital skills development of SADA’s target audience.

The programme will, at a later stage, extend to the youth, students and professionals, particularly educators.

The programme, incorporating content surrounding fifth-generation networks, the Internet of Things, automation, artificial intelligence and machine learning, provides a digital skills portal, as well as live online workshops.

The Ericsson Educate programme aims to empower the continent’s policymakers to develop harmonised digital transformation frameworks that will ensure a prosperous future for Africa in the digital age.

“We are committed to bridging digital skill gaps across Africa to ensure the inclusive digital development of the continent. We are confident the Ericsson Educate programme will support us in accelerating our mission and nurturing an ecosystem of ICT specialised training that will increase digital proficiency across our member States,” says Smart Africa director-general and CEO Lacina Koné.