Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria lead AfCFTA digital infrastructure rollout
Pilot countries will test digital identity systems, payment integration and regulatory frameworks to support a continental digital trade ecosystem.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has selected Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria as the first countries to implement a digital public infrastructure initiative designed to support cross-border trade.
The initiative, known as Africa Digital Access and Public Infrastructure for Trade (ADAPT), aims to connect digital identity, trusted data exchange, and interoperable payment systems to reduce friction in intra-African commerce.
ADAPT focuses on replacing fragmented and paper-based trade processes with interoperable digital systems that can reduce delays, lower transaction costs, and support more predictable cross-border trade. The selection of the pilot countries was based on assessments of political commitment, regulatory readiness, technical capacity, and private-sector engagement.
The programme is intended to strengthen intra-African trade and improve access for small and medium-sized enterprises. Implementation is expected to begin with live cross-border data exchange, digitised documentation, and the integration of core digital infrastructure components, including identity and payment systems.
Participating countries will also test governance and regulatory models that could inform wider continental adoption. The initiative is being developed with partners including the World Economic Forum, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, and the IOTA Foundation.
If successful, ADAPT could provide a model for scaling interoperable digital trade infrastructure across AfCFTA markets.
Why does it matter?
The pilot points to a shift from fragmented national trade systems towards more interoperable digital infrastructure for the African single market. By connecting identity, payments, and trusted data exchange, ADAPT targets practical barriers that continue to slow intra-African trade, particularly for smaller firms. Its success in Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria could shape how digital public infrastructure is used to support broader AfCFTA implementation.
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