Accra, Ghana (est. May 2021)
Building the case for a digital economy that works for Africa.
ADEF is a non-profit, Pan-African networking, research and advocacy platform engaging governments, industry, academia and young people to promote frameworks that maximize the dividends of a thriving digital economy for every African.
Digital inclusion, in practice
Skills, access and policy working together.
0
African countries in our ambassador network
$0B
mobile economy contribution to Africa's GDP in 2025 (GSMA)
0+
countries with active ADEF programs
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founded in Accra, Ghana
How we work
Three pillars, one mission
Intelligence
We commission and publish research that tracks how Africa's digital economy is actually developing: infrastructure, policy, investment and adoption, so decisions get made on evidence rather than assumption.
Advocacy
We work alongside governments, regulators and industry to push for the policies that let connectivity, data protection and digital identity work in favour of the people using them.
Inclusion
We run campaigns, workshops and school programs that put digital skills and tools directly in the hands of youth and underserved communities across the continent.
Our mission
To expand connectivity, affordable data access, innovation and full digitization of African economies as the basis for inclusive, sustainable development.
Our vision
Expanding opportunities in the digital economy for Africa’s sustainable development.
Where we are
Africa's digital divide, in numbers
Internet penetration lags the global average, and rural Africa lags urban Africa even further. Closing that gap is the work.
0%
of Africa's population using the internet in 2025, compared with 74% worldwide
ITU, Facts and Figures 2025
0%
internet use in urban Africa in 2025, against 23% in rural Africa the same year
ITU, State of Digital Development in Africa 2025
~0%
of Africans live within mobile-broadband coverage but still don't use mobile internet, citing affordability, digital skills and device access as the main barriers
ITU, State of Digital Development in Africa 2025
The objective isn't merely to build a connected Africa, but a digitally empowered, innovative and economically competitive one, where technology creates jobs, strengthens businesses, improves public services and expands regional trade for more than 1.5 billion Africans.
Where we're going
Africa's digital economy is just getting started
The African Development Bank projects the continent's digital economy will grow more than sixfold, reaching approximately $712 billion by 2050, placing it among the world's major digital markets.
AfCFTA as a catalyst: the African Continental Free Trade Area gives digital technologies a platform to expand cross-border trade, connect businesses to regional and global markets, and cut transaction costs.
African Development Bank (AfDB), 2050 digital economy projections
A sixfold expansion by 2050
$115B
2021
$0B
2050 (proj.)
On the ground
Programs & campaigns
Support ADEF
Donation opportunities
Support the Africa Digital Economy Forum in advancing digital possibilities across Africa. Your donation helps us strengthen research and advocacy, digital inclusion, youth empowerment, school outreach, events and digital skills initiatives.
Your donation can help us
- 01 Advance digital advocacy: support research and policy engagement.
- 02 Expand digital inclusion: help communities access digital knowledge and opportunities.
- 03 Empower young people: support digital skills, innovation and entrepreneurship programmes.
- 04 Reach schools and communities: take digital awareness and education to underserved communities.
- 05 Strengthen our programmes: help sustain initiatives that contribute to Africa’s digital transformation.
In partnership with
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Add your voice to Africa’s digital future.
Membership connects you to policy briefings, research access and a continent-wide network working toward the same goal.