Lomé and Ouagadougou, July 28, 2021. Serge EKUE, President of the West African Development Bank (BOAD), and Abdoulaye DIOP, President of the WAEMU Commission, have signed a partnership agreement aimed at jointly supporting the implementation of programs and projects to develop and promote the digital economy sector in the WAEMU region.
The ceremony took place in virtual mode, with each executive signing at the headquarters of his or her institution, accompanied by the resident representative of the partner institution.
Under the terms of this agreement, the two institutions undertake to (i ) collaborate on the development and adoption of a regional regulatory framework for the digital economy and community texts aimed at promoting digital uses ; (ii) conduct high-level advocacy with all stakeholders, in particular with the Conference of Heads of State and Government, the statutory Council of Ministers, the Ministers in charge of the digital economy, national regulatory authorities and digital operators and service providers, to request their support for the project’s implementation. ; (iii) mobilize resources to finance feasibility studies for community projects covered by this Convention ; (iv) mobilize resources to finance the construction of infrastructure covered by this Convention; (v) carry out the necessary feasibility studies, while ensuring consistency with the studies initiated by BOAD and the WAEMU Commission ; (vi ) organize communication and visibility activities for projects ; (vii) provide assistance to member states in implementing digital public services ; (viii) monitor and evaluate programs and projects.
In terms of implementation, the WAEMU Commission will be responsible for coordinating studies relating to the community programs and projects covered by this Agreement, while the WADB will be in charge of mobilizing resources to finance the programs and projects covered by the Agreement and their operational implementation. A total of eight (08) programs and projects have already been selected for this future collaboration. With the support of the German government through KfW, the BOAD is also considering the creation of a fund to support the financing of projects to digitize administrative processes and promote the digital economy in WAEMU countries. The probable volume of this Fund is estimated at around 30 million euros (19.6 billion FCFA), made up of 9.7 million euros (6.3 billion FCFA) in grants from KfW and 20.3 million euros (13.3 billion FCFA) from BOAD for the first three-year phase.
Through this partnership, BOAD and the UEMOA Commission intend to accelerate the emergence of the digital economy sector and amplify the vast digitalization movement underway in administrations, businesses and, more generally, in the community as a whole.
For further information
Communication, Marketing, Public Relations Department and Knowledge
Tel : + 228 22 23 25 65
Fax : + 228 22 23 24 38
Email : boadsiege@boad.org
Communication Department of the UEMOA Commission
Tel : + 226 25 31 73
Email : dcominfos@uemoa.int