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The Future of Digital Identity: Exploring Policy and Technical Innovations in Europe and Africa
April 27, 2023 @ 15:30 – 17:00
The EU’s Next Generation Internet initiative is hosting a workshop at the Transform Africa Summit focusing on digital identity policy and technical developments.
The European Commission is organising a workshop at the Transform Africa Summit on 27 April 2023 form 15:30-17:00 (GMT+2) in the context of the Next Generation Internet initiative.
The workshop will present policy and technical developments in relation to digital identity, privacy and data protection in Europe, as well as African perspectives on digital identity. Participants will share knowledge and experience, identifying the steps needed to facilitate further cooperation in this area between the European Union and Africa.
Digital identity and privacy is a key focus of the Next Generation Internet (NGI) initiative as we enter the Digital Decade. It is also a fast-expanding area across Africa, as the role of online identification systems become essential in a range of areas from finance, to migration, to social protection and more.
The workshop will feature speakers from both the EU and Africa, including:
- Gemma Carolillo, Acting Head of Unit in DG CONNECT for Next Generation Internet
- Irene Hernandez, CEO of Gataca, a cybersecurity company building decentralised digital identity technology
- Maya Madrid, policy officer for eGovernment and trust in DG CONNECT
- Markus Sabadello, founder of Danube Tech and expert on decentralised digital identity technologies
- Mawaki Chango, founder and CEO of DigiLexis consulting and researcher in the ICT field
- Mariin Ratnik, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Estonia
The event is being organised within the framework of the “Promotion and Development of the Open Internet in Africa” project, which is funded by the European Union.
A comprehensive report titled “The Open Internet as cornerstone of digitalisation” was produced as part of the project, highlighting the role of the Open Internet as a driver of innovation, enabling human-centric sustainable development and digital empowerment in Africa in line with UN SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Transform Africa Summit
The Transform Africa Summit is the leading event for digital and tech in Africa. Organised by Smart Africa, it brings together over 5,000 delegates from more than 100 countries to discuss the digital transformation of the continent.
This year, the theme is Connect, Transform and Innovate. Events will focus on regulation and policy, digital infrastructure financing, capacity building and skills development, digital continental trade and more.
