Smart Africa is a bold and innovative commitment by African Heads of State and Government to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development on the continent, supporting Africa towards the knowledge economy through affordable access to high-speed internet and the use of information and communication technologies.
The Transform Africa Summit, held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 28 to 31 October 2013, resulted in the adoption of the Smart Africa Manifesto by seven (7) African Heads of State (Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Mali, Gabon, Burkina Faso), who committed to play a leading role in accelerating socio-economic development through ICTs. On 30 and 31 January 2014, the SMART Africa Manifesto was endorsed by all African Union Heads of State and Government at the 22nd Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly in Addis Ababa.
This development places the Manifesto at the heart of the ICT agenda in Africa, beyond the original 7 signatories of the Summit, across all 53 African countries. Since then, the Smart Africa Alliance has expanded to include 32 African countries representing more than 815 million people.