About ADEF

A continent-wide forum for Africa's digital future.

The ADEForum is a networking and advocacy platform engaging and collaborating with governments, the private sector, academia, and national and international bodies to promote frameworks that maximize the potential dividends of a thriving digital economy for the benefit of all Africans.

Our story

Why we exist

This is a platform created to close a gap we kept running into: policy conversations about Africa’s digital economy kept happening without the research, the practitioners, or the young people the policies were meant for. ADEF was created to put all three in the same space.

It is a platform enhanced to provide digital skills and tools for students, youths and underserved communities — through research that governments and investors can actually use, advocacy that sits at the policy table rather than shouting from outside it, and programs that put tools directly into underserved communities.

How we’re structured

Three pillars

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.

Mission

ADEF is fully committed to the expansion of connectivity, access to affordable data, promotion of innovation and the full digitization of African nations’ economies as the basis for inclusive and sustainable economic development.

Vision

Expanding opportunities in the digital economy for Africa’s sustainable development.

Goal & objectives

To work for the development of Africa’s digital economy.

To create synergy between African technology leaders, business and public-sector executives, policymakers and other stakeholders to provide the connectivity infrastructure necessary for the development of the digital economy.

To expand opportunities for engagement among stakeholders in order to advance the benefits of the digital economy to all citizens.

To encourage the development and promotion of innovations, e-commerce and the startup ecosystem.

To encourage investment in digital identity, data privacy and identity-related projects as part of expanding opportunities in the digital economy.

To assist in promoting affordable data and improving digital access for underprivileged children, young people, adults and families.

To uphold and promote human rights, particularly the rights of children and young people, as well as the rights of underprivileged groups and communities.

To encourage and popularize voluntary work in support of the development and promotion of the digital economy across the continent.

Leadership

The team behind ADEF

Akin Naphtal

Founder & Chief Executive

The rest of the team is growing

Full bios coming soon — reach out at info@adeforum.org if you’d like to speak with our team directly.

Leadership vision

“Mr. Akin Naphtal's vision is to turn digital progress into real opportunities, stronger economies, and greater inclusion for Africans by connecting ideas, people, and institutions to practical solutions.”

ADEF: Connecting Ideas, Shaping Policy, Advancing Africa's Digital Future.

A continent-wide forum for Africa's digital future.A continent-wide forum for Africa's digital future.