Africa Scores Major Innovation Wins at WSIS+20 Summit in Geneva
Africa took the global spotlight at the WSIS+20 High-Level Event, with Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe winning top honours for their groundbreaking digital initiatives. Held in Geneva, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), now in its 20th year, is the UN’s flagship platform for digital cooperation, bringing together over 150 countries to shape the future of global digital transformation.
Among this year’s 19 global winners, four African nations stood out, highlighting the continent’s growing role as a hub for inclusive and sustainable tech innovation.
Nigeria: Expanding Digital Access Through Awareness
Category: Access to Information and Knowledge
Winning Project: Digital Awareness Programme
Lead Agency: Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)
Nigeria’s Digital Awareness Programme was recognized for its efforts to bridge the digital divide, providing communities across the country with digital literacy, internet access, and capacity-building tools. Spearheaded by the NCC, the initiative has empowered thousands of Nigerians to participate in the digital economy and access essential online resources.
South Africa: Enabling Innovation Through Digitech
Category: Enabling Environment
Winning Project: Digitech
Lead Agency: Department of Communications and Digital Technologies
South Africa earned accolades for Digitech, a government initiative that nurtures homegrown digital innovation. From supporting local tech developers to increasing visibility for South African-made digital tools, Digitech has become a model for inclusive digital growth, creating an environment where innovation can thrive at scale.
Zimbabwe: Empowering Girls Through Tech and Media
Category: Media
Winning Project: Girls Speak Out
Lead Organization: Usawa Institute
Zimbabwe’s Girls Speak Out, led by Anoziva Marindire through the Usawa Institute, won in the Media category for its mission to empower girls in underserved communities through technology and coding. By providing access to digital skills and storytelling platforms, the initiative is helping young women find their voice in the digital economy and beyond.
Tanzania: Revolutionizing Healthcare with Digital IDs
Category: E-health
Winning Project: A New Era in Zanzibar’s Healthcare
Lead Agency: PharmAccess
Tanzania was celebrated for its innovative e-health project in Zanzibar, which uses digital unique IDs to improve healthcare access, data transparency, and service quality. Developed by PharmAccess Tanzania, the initiative is a bold step toward equitable, tech-enabled healthcare delivery. “Digital IDs are helping us reimagine healthcare delivery,” said Dr. Heri Marwa, PharmAccess Tanzania.
ITU Comments: Africa’s Role in Global Digital Transformation
Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), praised the African winners, noting that their initiatives prove how locally tailored digital solutions can drive transformational change.
Since WSIS began in 2005, global internet usage has grown from 1 billion to over 5.5 billion users, with the summit shaping key norms in connectivity, digital rights, and multistakeholder governance. “These awards reflect how inclusive innovation is reshaping development,” Bogdan-Martin added.
Looking Ahead: Africa’s Digital Leadership on the Global Stage
The WSIS+20 High-Level Event runs through July 11, setting the agenda for the UN General Assembly’s December review of the WSIS process. Africa’s strong performance signals a new chapter in its digital journey, not just participating in transformation, but leading it.
Conclusion
From expanding digital access and empowering girls in tech to enabling digital health and supporting homegrown innovation, Africa is driving the future of inclusive technology. With global recognition at WSIS+20, the continent’s role in shaping the digital future is clearer and more critical than ever.
