BISSAU, September 21, 2022 - Guinea-Bissau’s digital economy is nascent, with low international bandwidth, few public services available online, and limited digital skills among the population, in comparison to many of its neighbors in Western Africa. However, the impetus of the COVID-19 crisis plus the Government’s growing commitment to digital transformation has led to some promising developments, such as the substantial increase in the mobile money activity rate over the past two years and the country’s imminent connection to a submarine fiber optic cable.
The Digital Economy Country Assessment for Guinea-Bissau, developed by the World Bank Group and Government of Guinea-Bissau, notes that, while many Sub-Saharan African countries are undertaking digital transformations, Guinea-Bissau must step up its efforts to capture a larger share of the dividends of the digital economy.
“Digital transformation is driving increased employment, productivity, and inclusion across the continent. To achieve its ambitious developmental goals, Guinea-Bissau must continue its efforts on reforms and investments to accelerate digital transformation,” said Anne-Lucie Lefebvre, World Bank Resident Representative in Guinea-Bissau.
The report focuses on challenges and opportunities facing Guinea-Bissau along the five foundations of the digital economy: digital infrastructure, digital public platforms, digital financial services, digital businesses, and digital skills.
“Guinea-Bissau should soon start reaping the benefits of recent digital investments in the public and private sectors. For instance, thanks to Guinea-Bissau’s West Africa Regional Communications Infrastructure Project (WARCIP) the country is expected to be connected to the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine fiber optic cable by November 2022. This should lead to a significant decrease in the country’s average retail price for internet,” said Michel Rogy, World Bank Digital Development Practice Manager for Western and Central Africa.
The report further provides a series of specific, actionable, and prioritized recommendations for Guinea-Bissau to develop a vibrant, safe, and inclusive digital economy. These are intended to structure dialogue going forward between the Government of Guinea-Bissau, the private sector, and the country’s technical and financial partners to catalyze action and enable the country’s rapid digital transformation.
“By working with its partners on targeted interventions that establish strong pillars for its digital economy, Guinea-Bissau can start seeing digital dividends, such as improved access to public and private digital services, increased financial inclusion, and a more competitive and digitally enabled workforce,” said Daniel Nogueira-Budny, World Bank Senior Digital Development Specialist and lead author of the report.
