By Burnett Munthali
Experts discuss the economic and governance benefits of e-Governance amid Africa’s G20 presidency
On 14th November, the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg hosted a key T20 session, one of the official engagement groups of the G20, which explored the social and economic value of Digital Public Infrastructure.
McBride Nkhalamba participated as a guest speaker, contributing insights on governance, economics, and technology, while examining how digital infrastructure can enhance public service delivery and economic efficiency.
The session comes as the G20 convenes in Africa, and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) has recently added e-Governance as a thematic area, highlighting the growing importance of technology in governance and policy implementation.
Discussions focused on e-Governance in practice, including the APRM’s rationale for incorporating it into its assessment framework, and the role of collaboration between governments and technology specialists in implementing such programs effectively.
Experts emphasized that well-designed digital public infrastructure can improve transparency, reduce corruption, enhance citizen engagement, and drive inclusive economic growth.
The T20 serves as the official ideas bank for the G20, providing evidence-based policy recommendations to address pressing global challenges.
Under South Africa’s G20 presidency, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) appointed the T20 Secretariat, comprising the Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD) at the University of South Africa (UNISA), the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), and the Institute for Pan African Thought and Conversation (IPATC) at the University of Johannesburg.
Participants highlighted that Africa’s adoption of e-Governance initiatives offers opportunities for improved service delivery, fiscal transparency, and enhanced citizen participation in policymaking.
The session also underscored the need for interoperability, cybersecurity, and robust regulatory frameworks to ensure that digital public infrastructure is inclusive, secure, and efficient.
Experts noted that insights from this T20 session could guide policy decisions across the continent and support the broader digital transformation agenda of African governments.
The discussion reinforced the growing recognition that technology is central to modern governance, and that strategic investments in digital infrastructure are critical to achieving sustainable development and efficient public service delivery.
