This week is UNESCO’s Global Media and Information Literacy Week. Ahmed Badawi Mustapha, author of a chapter in Global Agenda for Social Justice 2, reflects on the impact of digital poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Our discussions on poverty usually focus on financial or economic deficiencies. In this regard, Sub-Saharan Africa features prominently as one of the poorest regions of the world. However, one of the formidable tools that the region could employ to alleviate its poverty remains the internet, which has a part to play in almost all human endeavours.
The United Nations (UN) passed a non-binding resolution to declare the disruption of internet access to be a violation of human rights. Even though disruption is deliberate in many instances, in Sub-Saharan Africa the problem remains that much of the population has inadequate access. Currently, access to the internet, or the lack of it, directly impacts productivity and social wellbeing.
Access is not an issue for most advanced countries, where the internet is accessible and affordable, if not free. However, the situation is different in many parts of the world. Inadequate internet access is a pre-existing problem, but COVID-19 exposed how unprepared the region has been for increased reliance on the internet to keep affairs running. I regard this inadequacy in connectivity as a form of poverty that could be referred to as ‘digital poverty’. This form of poverty is, in some ways, far worse than economic poverty for the region. This is because even the financially sound are affected. There is no benefit in having the financial resources to pay for access to the internet if the infrastructure to provide it is lacking.
The lack of internet access in various sectors, particularly in education and among younger individuals, is apparent. Most households and schools lack connection. In West and Central Africa, only 5 per cent of people under age 25 have access to the internet at home, and only 3 per cent of the same age group in Southern and Eastern Africa. Compare these figures to the 59 per cent of young people in Eastern Europe and Central Asia who have internet access at home. These figures reflect the situation at a time when most educational institutions across the globe have switched to online teaching and learning. A total of 65 per cent of children and young people (2.2 billion youth and children aged 25 or less) were without internet access at home globally. However, the disparity is even starker in Sub-Saharan Africa. Faced with this reality, it is no surprise that millions of young people and students in this region find it difficult to cope with the global online trend. In some countries like Ghana, teenage pregnancies and other social problems soared as school-aged youth remained unsupported at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We need comprehensive policy options to mitigate the problem and, ultimately, improve the situation significantly. There are several areas to tackle, such as infrastructure development, affordability of equipment and mobile devices, and internet services. Interestingly, most policy recommendations that are largely in line with the Broadband Commission’s proposals could easily be adopted and adapted by most countries in the region. The Commission has established three broad areas to help tackle internet deficiencies: resilient connectivity, affordable access and safe use.
Resilient connectivity
This aims to ensure uninterrupted connectivity and access to the internet through a robust broadband infrastructure. To help achieve this, the action plan recognises the need to increase bandwidth and support all populations in becoming connected. A practical way to ensure that this target is realised in the Sub-Saharan African region (and perhaps beyond) is for subregional governments to minimise uncontrolled privatisation of the telecommunication sector and grant tax exemptions on infrastructural equipment that would boost connectivity.
Affordable access
Service discounts and price reductions for devices are vital to achieving broader connectivity. Most importantly, affordability must be tied to corporate social responsibility and tax regulations that would directly impact accessibility by the populace.
Safe use
This aims to protect users’ privacy and ensure they have adequate and accurate information on online content of interest. Indeed, once efforts have been made to achieve resilient connectivity and affordable access, the next step is to build citizens’ confidence in using various online platforms. Telecommunication companies, in partnership with governments, need to pay particular attention to the presubscription and aftersales customer services of various internet providers. New subscribers could be provided with safety tips while online, through various media avenues in different local languages and dialects so that users are continually reminded of online safety. Regional governments need to regulate the protection of consumers’ and citizens’ data through appropriate policies that prioritise their wellbeing online.
Confronting digital poverty, especially in less developed regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, could help alleviate the abject poverty and the low level of literacy that plagues the region. Adequate policies adopted to tackle the problem, through concerted efforts by government, regional and international institutions, must be far-reaching and inclusive. The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development’s initiative to help improve the situation in the coming decade sets the context. Adapting it to suit regional contexts and dynamics would ultimately salvage many parts of the world from digital poverty.
Ahmed Badawi Mustapha is a Research Fellow at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana. He is the author of the chapter ‘Sub-Saharan Africa’s digital poverty in perspective’ in the Global Agenda for Social Justice 2.
Global Agenda for Social Justice 2 edited by Glenn W. Muschert, Kristen M. Budd, Heather Dillaway, David C. Lane, Manjusha Nair and Jason A. Smith is available on the Bristol University Press website. Order here for £14.99.
The chapter ‘Sub-Saharan Africa’s digital poverty in perspective’ is available to buy on Bristol University Press Digital.
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