Public Policy and Technological Transformations in Africa: Nurturing Policy Entrepreneurship, Policy Tools and Citizen Participation (Information Technology and Global Governance)

This book examines the links between public policy and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technological developments in Africa. It broadly assesses three key areas – policy entrepreneurship, policy tools and citizen participation – in order to better understand the interfaces between public policy and technological transformations in African countries. The book presents incisive case studies on topics including AI policies, mobile money, e-budgeting, digital economy, digital agriculture and digital ethical dilemmas in order to illuminate technological proliferation in African policy systems. Its analysis considers the broader contexts of African state politics and governance. It will appeal to students, instructors, researchers and practitioners interested in governance and digital transformations in developing countries. Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures List of Tables Chapter 1: Crafting Policy Technologies (PolicyTechs): An Introduction to Policy Digitalisation Pathways in Africa Introduction Leveraging 4IR Technologies into PolicyTechs—Integrating FinTechs, CivicTecs and GovTechs How We Approach Public Policy and Technological Development Interfaces References Part I: Technologies as Public Policy Tools and Venues of Public Action Chapter 2: State Entrepreneurship in Africa: Realising Digital Transformation for Policy Effectiveness in Selected Countries Introduction Understanding State Entrepreneurship in Africa The Shifting State Strategies in Promoting Technological Development The State’s Technological Infrastructure Investments in Kenya The State’s Technological Infrastructure Investments in South Africa Conclusion References Chapter 3: Technological Leapfrogging and Innovation: Re-imagining Evaluation Approaches and Practice in Africa Introduction 4IR, Innovations, and the Quest for Technological Leapfrog Disruptive Innovations and Africa’s Evaluation Marketplace Mobile Telephony Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Big Data Drones/Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) Geo-satellite Imagery Threats, Opportunities, and Possibilities Conclusion and Way Forward References Chapter 4: Digital Technologies, Data Commons and Rights in Africa: The Case of DigitalTransport4Africa Introduction The Rise of New Data and Digital Technologies: Digital Principles for Development and Rights The Technological and Data Revolution in the Transport Sector in the African Context The Case of DigitalTransport4Africa (DT4A) Approach Learn Create Ewarren Mobility, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire AddisMap, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia GoMetro, Stellenbosch, South Africa KhartouMap, Khartoum, Sudan Share DigitalTransport4Africa’s Governance Structure Conclusions References Chapter 5: Biometric Turn and the Quest of Public Interest. Assessing the National Identification Policy in Cameroon Introduction Approaching Digitisation: Public Policy and Security in Cameroon Digital ID in Cameroon: Regulatory and Institutional Governance in Historical Perspective Securing Cameroonian ID: Technological Choices and Strategical Battles Modernity and Security Governance: ID Trends and Issues Conclusion References Chapter 6: Digital Participatory Budgeting and Policymaking in Botswana Introduction Participation in the Budgetary Process Digital Participatory Budgeting (e-Participatory budgeting) The Case of Public Budgeting in Botswana The Legal-Institutional Framework Digital Participatory Budgeting (e-Participatory budgeting) in Botswana Conclusion References Part II: Technologies as Avenues for Nurturing Policy Entrepreneurship and Performance Chapter 7: The Digital Economy and Youth Employment in Africa Introduction Digital Opportunities and Youth Employment The Digital Divide and Its Implications for Youth Employment Case Studies of Digital Youth Employment Programmes in Africa Kenya Nigeria South Africa Egypt Public-Private Partnership in an Integrated Framework for Digital Youth Employment References Chapter 8: Digitalisation of Agricultural Policy and Policy Performance in Tanzania Introduction African’s Continental and Regional Perspectives of Digitalising Agriculture Policy SADC’s Perspective on Digitalising Agriculture Policy—Realising Climate-Smart Agriculture Tanzania Perspective on Digitalising Agriculture Policy Agricultural Policies and ICT Adaptations in Tanzania Case Study 1: Savings at the Frontier Case Study 2: Digitalizing Agriculture Policy Monitoring Conclusion and Recommendations References Chapter 9: Information Technology, the Complexity of Joint Action, and Child Protection Policy Implementation in Kenya Introduction The State of Child Protection Policy Problems in Kenya Understanding the Complexity of Joint Policy Action Fostering PolicyTechs as Policy Tools in Kenya Child Protection Policy Implementation and the Complexity of the Joint Action Conundrum CPIMS and the Complexity of the Joint Action Conundrum Challenges Conclusions References Chapter 10: Mobilising and Securing Private Financial Flows from Digital Business Platforms and Curbing Tech-Enabled IFFs to Finance SDGs in Africa Introduction Methodology Leveraging Digitalisation to Finance Sustainable Development Goals Opportunities and Policy challenges Taxing Digital Business Platforms Illicit Financial Flow (IFF) Conclusion References Part III: Technologies as Spaces for Citizen Participation Chapter 11: Strengthening Citizen Agencies in Policymaking Through Social Media Introduction: Understanding Social Media and Citizen Agency Evolution of Citizen Agencies in Public Policy Citizen Agency in Public Policy Space: Traditional Media vs Social Media Social Media and Policy Formulation Social Media and Policy Adoption Social Media and Policy Implementation Social Media and Citizen Agencies in Education and Health Policies Competency-Based Curriculum Education Policy in Kenya Health Policy: COVID-19 Health Policy Responses from Citizen Agencies Conclusions References Chapter 12: Social Media and Public Policymaking in Southern Africa Introduction Social Media and Public Policymaking Case Study 1: Botswana Case Study 2: South Africa Case Study 3: Malawi Case Study Policy Implications from the Three Case Studies Conclusion References Chapter 13: Technology-Mediated Transparency, Accountability, and Participation in the Realisation of Citizen-Centred Health Interventions: Case Study of MobiSAfAIDS in Southern Africa Introduction Transparency, Accountability, Participation (TAP) in Health Systems Transparency Accountability Participation Research Approach and Data Analysis MobiSAfAIDS Case Study Social Accountability Monitoring in Southern Africa MobiSAfAIDS Usage Across Pilot Countries Contribution to Policy Information and Outcomes Supporting Citizen’s Voice Evidence of Governments’ Responsiveness Nature and Levels of Participation in MobiSAfAIDS Discussion Conclusion References Chapter 14: Digitalising Decentralisation Policy Across Regions in Africa Introduction Digitalised Decentralisation Case Study 1: Botswana Evolution and Legal-Institutional Framework of Decentralisation E-government and Digitalised Decentralisation in Botswana Case Study 2: Ghana Ghana’s Local Government System, History and Legal Framework E-government Development in Ghana E-government in Ghana’s Decentralised Local Governments: Overview and Challenges Contrasting Botswana and Ghana’s Decentralisation Conclusion References Part IV: Emerging Challenges in Leveraging 4IR Technologies Chapter 15: Regulatory Issues for the Promotion of Entrepreneurship in Electronic Money in the CEMAC Sub-region Introduction The Regulatory Framework for Electronic Money Activity in the CEMAC Region The Operation of Mobile Money in the CEMAC Sub-region Mobile Money in CEMAC: Regulatory Challenges Proposal for a Regulatory Framework for Mobile Money Functions Falling Under Commercial Law Specific Mechanisms Conclusion References Chapter 16: Ethical Dilemmas in Public Innovations and ICT Solutions During COVID-19 in Kenya Introduction Ethical Dilemma in Public Service: A Review Ethical Dilemma During the COVID-19 Pandemic Adoption of ICT in Kenya During COVID-19: Ethical Implications Findings and Discussions of Ethical Dilemma Implications Conclusions References Index