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Paper short abstract:

In the wake of Africa's transition into digital information and communications technologies, this paper uncovers current dialogues of economic and technological co-operation between Africa and Europe, to examine the impact of digitisation and innovation on sustainable economic development in Africa.

Paper long abstract:

The rapid growth of digital technology in socio-economic development across the world cannot be over-emphasized. The last few years have witnessed a rise in appetite for Africa's digital development. This has led to various opportunities with viable potential for implementation of digital information and communication technologies across Africa through international partnerships. Africa's digital transition is basically targeted towards enhancing market interactions and governance to serve as a response to eliminating endemic socio-economic problems. However, with vibrant digital economies come diverse technological innovations that can change the operational structure and processes of the society.

In view of this, this paper uncovers current dialogues of economic and technological co-operation between Africa and Europe, to examine the impact of digitisation and innovation on sustainable economic development in Africa.

The paper focuses on the recent European Union High-Level Forum calling for co-operation between African and Europe and seeks to examine current opportunities and barriers of the varying multidimensional levels of the impact of digital technologies in Africa. The paper contributes to current debates on technology and innovation, focusing on emerging economies such as Africa. The paper seeks to provoke further thoughts on the impact of co-creation between developed and developing economies on digital technologies and the potential issues around balancing the competing interests of innovation and sustainable development in the wake of Africa's transformation to a digitised society.