The Government of the Republic of Zambia, in collaboration with COMESA, the World Bank and other regional stakeholders, convened the First Regional Validation Workshop under the Inclusive Digitalization in Eastern and Southern Africa (IDEA) Programme from 3 to 5 November 2026 in Chongwe, Zambia.
The workshop brought together representatives of Member States and relevant institutions to review and validate the Situational Analysis Report, draft Regional Digital Inclusion Strategy and accompanying Action Plan. The objective was to ensure that the documents accurately reflected countries’ digital inclusion progress, challenges and institutional realities while establishing a practical framework for regional cooperation.
Discussions focused on affordable connectivity, digital skills, accessibility, digital trust and safety, and the role of regional cooperation in promoting inclusive economic growth, trade and integration.
Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Technology and Science, Dr Brilliant Habeenzu, Director Planning and Information Mr Saboi emphasized the importance of digital technologies as essential infrastructure for economic development, public service delivery, trade and competitiveness. He highlighted that connectivity alone does not guarantee digital inclusion, as people must also be able to access and use digital services affordably, safely and meaningfully.
He outlined Zambia’s progress in digital infrastructure and services, including:
- Mobile network coverage reaching more than 92% of the population.
- Expansion of the national fibre-optic backbone from approximately 15,000 kilometres in 2021 to over 42,000 kilometres.
- Growth in mobile money transactions, strengthening financial inclusion, particularly in rural communities.
At the regional level, he noted that high-speed internet coverage in Eastern and Southern Africa stood at approximately 64%, while actual usage remained lower. Women, rural communities, persons with disabilities and low-income groups continued to face barriers relating to affordability, digital skills, accessibility, relevant content, trust and safety.
He highlighted the COMESA IDEA Programme, supported by the World Bank with an indicated financing envelope of approximately US$2.48 billion. The programme aims to expand internet access to approximately 180 million people and provide digitally enabled services to 100 million people.
Mr Saboi further emphasised the importance of digitalisation in advancing COMESA’s regional trade ambitions under the Medium-Term Strategic Plan 2026–2030, themed “One Market, One Future.” Initiatives such as electronic certificates of origin, interoperable digital public infrastructure, digital retail payments, smart borders and a digital free trade area were identified as opportunities to reduce trade costs, strengthen regional value chains and expand opportunities for MSMEs, particularly those led by women and young people.
He identified five priority areas to guide the validation of the regional documents:
- Regional relevance and national ownership.
- Meaningful connectivity and affordability, particularly in underserved and cross-border areas.
- Digital skills, accessibility, and locally relevant content and services.
- Digital trust, safety, data protection and cybersecurity.
- Implementation, financing, partnerships and accountability.
- He stressed the importance of incorporating the needs of women, young people, persons with disabilities, rural communities, MSMEs and other underserved groups into the strategy and its implementation.
He also called on the private sector, including mobile network operators, internet service providers, technology companies and fintechs, to support affordable connectivity, accessible local-language content, digital skills development, cybersecurity and regional digital integration through stronger partnerships.
He concluded by encouraging delegates to develop practical, measurable and implementable outcomes aligned with national and regional priorities, before officially declaring the workshop open.
Director of Infrastructure and Logistics , COMESA Secretariat Mr Dzwanda acknowledged Zambia’s continued support for regional cooperation and its hosting of IDEA-related engagements in 2026, noting that these initiatives promote knowledge exchange and strengthen regional collaboration on digital inclusion.
He explained that the IDEA Programme, supported by the World Bank and participating Member States, seeks to strengthen the enabling environment for digital transformation in Eastern and Southern Africa through regional coordination, capacity-building and coordinated implementation.
He highlighted the potential contribution of digital transformation to economic development, regional competitiveness, innovation and social inclusion, including improved public service delivery, access to education and healthcare, agricultural productivity, trade, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.
However, he cautioned that these benefits would not be realised without addressing persistent barriers such as inadequate connectivity, high costs, limited digital skills, accessibility challenges, insufficient relevant digital content and limited trust in digital systems.
Mr Dzwanda outlined the purpose of the three documents under review:
- Situational Analysis Report: To provide a credible, evidence-based assessment of digital inclusion progress, persistent barriers, policy and institutional gaps, and the different circumstances of participating Member States.
- Regional Digital Inclusion Strategy: To translate the findings into clear and achievable priorities, identifying areas where regional cooperation can complement national initiatives.
- Action Plan: To translate the priorities into realistic interventions with assigned responsibilities, indicative timelines, capacity and resource requirements, measurable results and appropriate monitoring and reporting arrangements.
He further emphasised that subsequent policy and governance arrangements should promote common principles and alignment while respecting the legal, institutional and policy contexts of individual Member States.
He urged delegates to place inclusion at the centre of the review, ensuring that the needs of women and girls, young people, persons with disabilities, rural communities and other underserved populations were adequately addressed. He also highlighted the importance of recognising different levels of digital maturity and capacity among Member States while identifying practical opportunities for regional collaboration.
He concluded that the success of the workshop should be measured not merely by the completion of the reports and strategy documents, but by tangible improvements in affordable connectivity, digital skills, accessible services, safer online environments and wider economic opportunities.
He reaffirmed COMESA’s commitment to working with Member States and development partners and encouraged delegates to agree on clear recommendations and a practical pathway towards implementation.
Overall Outcome and Key Messages
The workshop emphasised the importance of developing a coordinated and inclusive regional digital transformation framework that addresses the different needs and levels of readiness of participating Member States.
Key messages included:
- Expanding meaningful, affordable and accessible digital connectivity.
- Strengthening digital literacy, skills development and locally relevant digital content.
- Promoting digital trust, cybersecurity, data protection and online safety.
- Ensuring the inclusion of women, young people, persons with disabilities, rural communities and MSMEs.
- Strengthening public-private partnerships, regional cooperation and harmonised policies.
- Establishing clear implementation responsibilities, financing arrangements, timelines, monitoring mechanisms and accountability measures.
- The workshop called for the three documents to serve as practical instruments for advancing national digital inclusion and regional integration, translating agreed priorities into measurable improvements and tangible benefits for communities across Eastern and Southern Africa.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Technology and Science, Republic of Zambia.
