Digital Public Infrastructure in East Africa: Charting a Policy Pathway to Regional Transformation
A REPORT examining how Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is reshaping governance, public service delivery, and regional integration across East Africa.
Abstract
East Africa is experiencing a major wave of digital transformation. This shift is driven by the need for stronger infrastructure, better public service delivery, and deeper cross-border integration. At the heart of this progress is Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). DPI refers to the ‘digital backbone’ that includes systems such as digital IDs, e-payments, data-sharing platforms, and digital public services. These tools help governments serve citizens more efficiently while also supporting innovation in the private sector.
The urgency for these digital solutions became even more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, and since then, East African countries have continued to invest in their digital foundations. This regional push is also boosted by global efforts. Initiatives like the US Digital Transformation with Africa (DTA) Initiative and programs spearheaded by the East African Community (EAC) are promoting new partnerships, attracting crucial funding, and providing important technical support.
This report assesses how foundational DPI systems are shaping East Africa’s socio-economic transformation. Through a qualitative, research approach, the study combines official government strategies, development institution reports, academic analysis, and regional news to provide a comparative view of DPI maturity, inclusivity, and institutional readiness.
Ultimately, the report argues that DPI is becoming the bedrock of inclusive development and regional integration. However, its success depends on closing infrastructure gaps, strengthening governance, and aligning regional standards. DPI’s transformative potential can only be realized through coordinated action that ensures digital public goods are accessible, secure, and equitable.
Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for Africa to strive for a large scale reimagination of its economic structure rather than return to its pre-pandemic reality. The essential role of digital infrastructure in sustaining economies, driving service delivery, and enabling resilience across Africa was realised. In East Africa, where over 60% of the population is under 25 and mobile phone penetration has reached 100%, the post-pandemic period has catalysed a renewed push for digital transformation. However, while demand has surged, access remains uneven, particularly in rural and underserved regions. The World Bank notes that only 24% of individuals in Sub-Saharan Africa used the internet as of 2023, reflecting the digital divide that persists across the region. A primary reason for this is the significant infrastructural gaps in regional digital infrastructure.
In response, regional and global actors have launched transformative initiatives. In addition to individual initiatives, the East African Community (EAC) and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have launched the East Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP), aimed at harmonising cross-border connectivity and building shared digital public infrastructure (DPI) such as digital ID, e-payments, and data-sharing frameworks. Complementing this, during the 2nd Edition of the East African Digital Leaders Forum on Digital Public Infrastructure, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) stated that GIZ was committed to furthering regional collaboration on digital public infrastructure to accelerate cross-border services for EAC citizens.
Such efforts signal a shift toward interoperable, citizen-centric systems that transcend national boundaries and promote inclusive growth. Yet, the road ahead is complex. In Africa, it’s not just internet connectivity that’s missing; so are other basics including electricity, literacy, financial inclusion, and regulatory harmonisation. According to a 2018 WEF report, countries in East Africa ranked in the lower half of the Global Competitiveness Index 4.0 which considered factors such as those mentioned above, with Kenya leading at a rank of 93 out of 140. This reflects the drastic improvements that need to occur across the board. While DPI represents a transformative opportunity for East Africa, its success hinges on addressing fundamental infrastructural gaps alongside creating regionally harmonised governance frameworks. Without this dual approach, digital initiatives risk exacerbating existing inequalities rather than bridging them.
To unlock the full potential of digital transformation, East African governments must: (1) continue investing in foundational infrastructure such as reliable electricity, affordable internet access, and digital skills training, while (2) strengthening coordinated regional governance. Harmonised regulatory frameworks, anchored in shared standards and regional collaboration, will be essential to ensuring that digital transformation benefits all citizens, reduces inequalities, and strengthens the region’s competitiveness in the global digital economy. By examining the interplay between infrastructure development, policy coordination, and international partnerships, this report reveals both the promise and pitfalls of East Africa’s digital transformation journey.
Methodology
This report seeks to examine how Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is reshaping governance, public service delivery, and regional integration across East Africa. It aims to offer a comparative and policy-relevant analysis of the region’s progress by assessing the maturity, inclusivity, and institutional coherence of foundational digital systems such as digital identity, payments, and government platforms.
To achieve this, the report employs a qualitative research approach to examine the state and evolution of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in East Africa through a desk-review. The goal is to assess how foundational digital systems such as identity, payments, and platforms are transforming governance, service delivery, and cross-border integration in the region. The analysis centres on key East African countries with active DPI developments.
The study begins by establishing a thematic framework based on four core components of digital public infrastructure:
Digital Identity Systems –including government-issued biometric ID programs.
Digital Payment Systems – such as mobile money and interoperability tools.
Government Service Platforms – portals that facilitate public access to services.
Data Infrastructure – including sovereign cloud development and data centres.
By organizing research into these categories, the report presents a comparative lens for evaluating infrastructure maturity, inclusivity, and digital service access across the five countries. To construct a well-rounded and regionally informed analysis, the study draws from official government publications from the ministries of ICT in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda and policy strategy documents which provide national perspectives and ambitions.
Additionally, this report incorporates development organization reports from institutions like the World Bank’s Digital Economy for Africa Initiative and the Smart Africa Alliance, which offer critical insights on investment trends, digital inclusion, and regional cooperation.
To contextualize international influence and policy discourse, the article draws on think tank analysis, including the Carnegie Endowment’s review of the U.S. Digital Transformation with Africa Initiative and the Brookings Institution’s Foresight Africa series.
This report also reviews news reports and regional developments and insights from academic and policy literature – including OECD, and Research ICT Africa to assess regulatory challenges, governance issues, and long-term implications of DPI investments.
By combining regional, institutional, and technical perspectives, this report aims to provide a comprehensive and policy-relevant view of how digital infrastructure is shaping East Africa’s socio-economic transformation.
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