African Union Deputy Chairperson pushes digital jobs agenda at World Bank Meetings in Washington
Date: 2026-04-16
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Amb. Selma Malika
Haddadi, has underscored the importance of linking Africa’s digital
transformation agenda to job creation and inclusive economic growth during
engagements at the 2026 World Bank Group Spring Meetings.
Arriving
in Washington, D.C. for the high-level discussions, she highlighted Africa’s
priorities within the AU–World Bank partnership, with a focus on ensuring that
digital progress translates into tangible employment opportunities for citizens
across the continent.
Speaking
on digital transformation and jobs, she emphasized that success should not be
measured solely by expanded connectivity, but also by its impact on labour
markets and economic inclusion. She called for stronger alignment between
digital skills development and market demand to ensure young people are better
positioned for emerging opportunities.
She
also stressed the importance of advancing digital identity systems to promote
inclusion, particularly for underserved populations, and ensuring that
connectivity extends beyond urban centres to reach rural and remote
communities.
According
to her, the development of a Digital Single Market must be designed to deliver
shared prosperity across all African countries, ensuring that no region is left
behind in the continent’s digital transition.
The
engagements form part of broader discussions between African and global
partners on leveraging digital transformation to accelerate sustainable
development and job creation.
