ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the scope of EU–AU digital cooperation for productive job creation on the African continent. Digital agricultural platforms can boost productivity and access to formal work, but the uptake is low in African countries and large-scale employment gains remain limited. Increasing digitalisation of global manufacturing is raising concerns regarding jobless growth in Africa, the narrowing window of opportunity for export-led manufacturing growth, and limited future offshoring of manufacturing from the EU. A more targeted digital cooperation is needed to realise the full potential of digital technologies in fostering economic development in Africa. The EU–AU digital cooperation should facilitate digital infrastructure development in rural areas, coordinate and scale capacity and awareness building programmes, including targeting women’s access to technology. African firms need to adopt an active approach towards digitalisation of manufacturing to capitalise on new employment opportunities in the digital economy. The EU–AU digital cooperation should support well-embedded African digital and manufacturing start-ups and hubs and facilitate domestic integration for employment generation. There is a need to develop broadband and cloud infrastructure; support the development of local and regional data centres on the continent; and scale initiatives offering broad-ranging support to farmers and firms or that lower cross-platform and cross-border transaction fees.
