National digital development strategy in Côte d’Ivoire by 2025

The National digital development strategy in Côte d’Ivoire by 2025 (Stratégie Nationale de Développement du Numérique en Côte d’Ivoire 2021–2025 (SNNCI)), published on 26 January 2022 by the Ministère de l’Économie Numérique, des Télécommunications et de l’Innovation, outlines Côte d’Ivoire’s comprehensive plan for national digital transformation.

The strategy responds to structural reforms initiated since the 1990s, including liberalisation of the telecom sector (notably the 1995 Telecommunications Code) and significant legislative updates in 2012, aligning with ECOWAS/UEMOA frameworks. Despite progress, challenges remain such as limited fixed broadband penetration, underdeveloped infrastructure in rural areas, and gaps in digital literacy. The strategy is also a response to global digital acceleration, particularly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The overarching objective is to strengthen national economic growth and inclusion through digital transformation, aligning with broader plans such as the National Development Plan 2021–2025 and Côte d’Ivoire Vision 2030.

The strategy is built on seven strategic pillars:

1. Digital infrastructure: Although mobile penetration is high, fixed broadband remains limited. There is a focus on completing and extending the national broadband backbone (RNHD), enhancing last-mile connectivity, and improving access to data centres.
2. Digital services: Development has been substantial but fragmented. The strategy calls for better coordination, interoperability between platforms, and further digitisation of public services and administrative processes, including ID systems and fiscal platforms.
3. Digital financial services: Côte d’Ivoire is a leader in mobile money within the UEMOA region, but the landscape suffers from limited interoperability and a lack of coordination. The plan promotes government partnerships with fintechs and the expansion of services like Trésor Pay.
4. Digital skills: Despite existing programs, a large gap remains between education outcomes and market needs. The strategy seeks to enhance ICT curricula, provide teacher training, expand access to equipment, and promote digital certifications.
5. Business environment: The ecosystem for startups remains underdeveloped. Reforms are needed to improve access to finance, ease of doing business for tech firms, and policy frameworks that support entrepreneurship and innovation.
6. Innovation: There is a vibrant youth population and a growing number of local incubators, but structural barriers remain. The strategy promotes the use of emerging technologies (AI, IoT, 5G, blockchain) and supports research, development, and regulatory reforms.
7. Cybersecurity and trust: While a legal framework exists (notably laws from 2013 and 2017), implementation gaps, weak institutional capacity, and insufficient training hinder progress. The strategy calls for a national cybersecurity policy, development of sectoral CERTs, and adherence to international conventions such as Budapest and Malabo.

The document includes detailed SWOT analyses per pillar and highlights areas requiring regulatory reform, institutional strengthening, and private sector engagement. A monitoring and evaluation framework is defined, as well as governance mechanisms to oversee implementation.