Sierra Leone (situated in West Africa) might be small in size, but its digital aspirations are big. The National Innovation and Digital Strategy (NIDS) 2019-2029, spearheaded by the Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), laid out a comprehensive vision for the country’s digital transformation.
Also, they were among the early adopters of a “Mobile First” digital strategy back in 2019. This shows a proactive approach to leveraging digital technologies to drive economic growth and development.
However, despite these ambitious initiatives, Sierra Leone faces challenges in e-government and e-participation, as highlighted by the UN’s data. With a ranking of 185th in e-government and 157th in e-participation among 193 countries assessed, there’s room for improvement in both areas. This suggests that while strides have been made in laying the groundwork for digital transformation, there’s still work to be done to fully engage citizens and enhance government services through digital channels.
Connectivity issues in e-Sierra Leone
Improving internet connectivity
Sierra Leone has taken significant steps to improve connectivity, being among the first countries in West Africa to prioritize access to high-speed internet through initiatives like the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine fiber optic cable.
However, despite these efforts, there are still considerable challenges to address.
Looking at the data from Datareportal, we can see that there were 2.70 million internet users in e-Sierra Leone at the start of 2024, with internet penetration standing at 30.4%. This indicates progress, but it also means that a significant portion of the population remains offline, with 6.19 million people not using the internet, suggesting a 69.6% offline rate.
Also… while there were 1.02 million social media users in January 2024, representing 11.5% of the total population, the affordability and quality of service remain relatively poor. Despite 60% of the country having at least 3G network coverage, only 21% have active mobile broadband subscriptions (ITU data from 2021.) This reveals a gap between coverage and actual usage, highlighting issues with affordability and accessibility.
In terms of network quality, Sierra Leone ranks 137 out of 181 countries for quality and speed according to Speedtest Global Index of April 2024.
This suggests that even for those who do have access to the internet, the experience may be subpar compared to global standards. So…improving network infrastructure and investing in digital literacy initiatives could help address this issue and encourage greater internet adoption.
Unreliable electricity connectivity
Another huge challenge hindering the progress of digitalization in Sierra Leone is its unreliable electricity supply. When you look at the numbers, it’s clear how closely tied access to electricity is with internet usage. Lower electricity access translates to lower internet usage, which in turn affects access to crucial public services. It’s like a domino effect, where one issue compounds another.
Recent events have highlighted the severity of the electricity crisis in the country. In April 2024, Sierra Leone’s Energy Minister Kanja Sesay resigned amidst a prolonged electricity crisis. According to Reuters, this crisis has left major cities like Freetown, Bo, Kenema, and Koidu experiencing multi-day stretches without power.
Therefore, resolving the electricity crisis must be a top priority for Sierra Leone to unlock the full potential of digitalization and drive economic growth.
What I’d like to add is the importance of addressing the root causes of this issue. While it’s promising that the government announced payments to energy providers, it’s clear that more needs to be done to ensure a reliable electricity supply. This involves not only financial commitments but also investments in infrastructure, maintenance, and exploring alternative energy sources.
Increasing literacy level and skills
I believe that for e-Sierra Leone to truly harness the benefits of digitalization, there needs to be a concerted effort towards investing in human capital development. According to an IMF report, the country falls behind the regional average in both literacy rate and internet penetration. With an average literacy rate of around 65%, e-Sierra Leone faces challenges in providing its citizens with the necessary foundational skills to thrive in the digital age.
To address this gap, I think it’s important for education systems to integrate information technology into student learning from a young age. Countries that have seen significant progress in digitalization are those that have prioritized continuous learning and skill development.
Final thoughts
In summary, while e-Sierra Leone may face challenges in terms of literacy rates and internet penetration, I believe there are clear opportunities for improvement through targeted investments in human capital development and the broader digital infrastructure.
Sources:
https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/en-us/Data/Country-Information/id/153-Sierra-Leone
https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2024-sierra-leone?rq=sierra%20leone
https://www.speedtest.net/global-index
https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/DDD/ddd_SLE.pdf
