East African countries are moving to align their digital infrastructure and regulations, as the East African Community (EAC) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) press for greater coordination on connectivity and cross-border trade.
Representatives from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan met with the EAC, IGAD and the World Bank in Nairobi from Sept. 22-24 for a regional workshop on digital integration.
The talks focused on shifting the region away from fragmented national digital systems and toward interoperable services that work across borders — part of a broader push as countries invest in broadband infrastructure, digital public services, cybersecurity and the digital economy. Organizers said the meeting aimed to address common implementation challenges and improve coordination between national and regional projects.
The workshop identified five priorities: expanding connectivity, building digital public infrastructure and services, strengthening regional cybersecurity cooperation, promoting cross-border digital trade, and improving coordination among participating countries and institutions. The EAC said the goal is to clear implementation bottlenecks, improve interoperability and lay the groundwork for a more connected regional digital economy.
Linking national projects
Several participating countries are implementing World Bank-funded digital transformation projects under the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP) and related programs, which the EAC said are being complemented by regional efforts to harmonize policy and improve cross-border connectivity.
Kenya is not a direct EARDIP beneficiary, but its World Bank-backed Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project aligns with EARDIP’s goals, making it a key partner in the regional push. Policymakers say the coordination effort is meant to ensure national investments reinforce one another rather than develop as isolated systems, with participants stressing the need for interoperable, trusted digital ecosystems across borders.
Digital trade and regional markets
The effort ties digital infrastructure to wider economic integration. The EAC said stronger connectivity could help businesses tap into regional markets and expand cross-border e-commerce.
The workshop also reviewed earlier efforts on regulatory harmonization, knowledge-sharing platforms and bilateral agreements supporting cross-border connectivity. The EAC and IGAD said they are working to strengthen coordination among national project implementers, regional institutions and development partners as countries accelerate their digital programs.
The goal, organizers said, is a more connected Eastern Africa where citizens, businesses and governments can access secure digital services and participate more easily in regional markets.
EARDIP is financed by the World Bank and aims to expand regional broadband infrastructure, strengthen the legal and regulatory framework for digital integration, and build digital capacity across Eastern Africa.
