Africa Union banks on technology for Covid-19 recovery

The African Union is betting on technology to jumpstart the continent's trade, travel and tourism.

The body has put in place a number of innovations that will support the growth of online commerce as countries reopen their economies.

Among the solutions unveiled by the organisation is PanaBios – a bio-surveillance and bio-screening suite for Covid-19 and other diseases of epidemiological significance – which has the capacity to monitor and model human congestion, thereby mapping how the virus is spreading, and helping minimize new infections.

Experts say this will ensure continuity of businesses in the region and movement of goods across borders, as the union starts the process of moving Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) operations online at a pace determined by the member states.

However, not all commerce can be virtual and restoration to normalcy requires movements to resume. Because reopening markets and resuming movement present serious risks of an upsurge in infections, it is important for a harmonised solution to ensure risk management. This is where tools such as PanaBIOS can prove useful.

Get tested

 “PanaBios alerts people who have been exposed to an infected person and advise them to get tested. It allows users to access test results and gives them certificates to allow cross-border travel for delivery of goods ordered online,” said Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Presidential Advisor on Health in Ghana, where the technology is under implementation.

The African Union Commission has also come up with the African Virtual Trade-Diplomacy Platform (AVDP), itself a part of the broader AVRIVA (African Virtual Resilient-Integration for a Vibrant Africa) framework.

The move is seen as a precursor to preparing for the future of continental trade, in a period of global digital transformation, where e-commerce is already replacing traditional modes of doing business.

AU Commissioner for Trade and Industry Albert Muchanga said that the plan towards digital solutions for the 55-member state intergovernmental union is crucial as the union commits to meet the AfCFTA operationalisation deadline of January 1, 2021.

 "Taking trade online will help to ensure that African countries meet the new date for the start of trading under the AfCFTA of 1st January 2021, as set by Africa Heads of State and Governments.  We are committed to getting the AfCFTA agenda back on track after the postponement of the start of trading initially set for July 1, 2020 and we believe technology will be key," he said.

Digital technologies

 The commission is optimistic that digital technologies will keep playing a very powerful role in driving positive cooperation among Member States for a safe, smart and harmonised reopening process.

"In this regard, the mandate of the High-level Expert Committee is being broadened to include a review of the various options available to Member States, including digital solutions, which could be used to roll out trade next January," a statement from the AU reads.

Another innovation is the deployment of a technology framework for a medical e-commerce platform, dubbed African Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP) developed in partnership with the Africa CDC, for purchasing verified medicine and related supplies online across borders.

Sokokuu, another online commerce platform launched in July, is meant to connect all businesses across the emerging integrated African market, a strategy geared towards eliminating trade barriers.

But with the continent suffering financially due  vulnerabilities in cyberspace, leading to losses to the tune of Sh350 billion last year alone according to IT consultancy firm Serianu, the AU said it would be sealing such loopholes by implementing a broad initiative to enhance cybersecurity in multilateral affairs of the continent.

 Cyber gangs

Such a measure would shield governments, the private sector and citizens against the shockwaves of cyber gangs that keep spoofing and eavesdropping for user data over the internet, especially on its newly launched e-commerce platforms that are free for use by every member state.

 "Usually, the motivation for many cyber criminals is the cash being transacted online. If you leave your payment systems open, then they can pounce anytime. It is a wise measure to secure all e-commerce payment gateways," Timothy Oriedo, chief executive of local data analytics firm Predictive Analytics Lab says.

Serianu places Nigeria as the hardest hit by cyber attackers with losses of Sh64 billion, followed by Kenya with Sh21 billion and Tanzania with Sh9.9 billion.

The attacks range from simple email scams to large-scale theft of customer financial data using malware and ransom attacks. These have had wide-ranging effects, including financial losses, disruption of businesses and government services.

In 2017, for example, many companies in Nigeria, Egypt, Angola and South Africa were viciously attacked during the infamous global WannaCry ransomware attack, which used a 'crypto worm' to encrypt data on computers running the Windows operating system and demand ransom payments.

 E-trade system

When a secure cloud based e-trade system, such as AMSP is used, some of the problems related to cybercrime can be reduced. Director of Africa CDC, Dr John Nkengasong, says confidence among procurers in using online channels can improve.

As governments attempt the delicate balancing act of maintaining some restrictions whilst jumpstarting the economy, novel tools and solutions become critical.

“These technologies will also help us ease online trade, achieve enhanced surveillance of potential Covid-19 hotspots across countries," Dr Nkengasong said.

But as the AU pushes for the adoption of these solutions, a gap in access to the internet and the ownership of smartphones continue to pose a challenge.

The old notion of a "digital gap" between tech savvy countries and less fortunate countries implies that the benefits of digitalisation do not always accrue evenly across the continent. 

Hopefully, the fact that these new AU-backed solutions like PanaBIOS and TribeID are "public digital goods" instead of pure commercial platforms will ensure that there is equity in the distribution of benefits across Africa.