Chad and Burkina Faso Collaborate to Enhance Technical Expertise through Strategic Alliance
In a significant stride for African technological cooperation, the Agency for Information and Communication Technologies Development (ADETIC) of Chad and Burkina Faso's International Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE) have joined forces. This partnership aims to enhance digital and emerging technology skills in Chad, focusing on training Chadian professionals, including executives, in areas such as artificial intelligence and digital governance.
The collaboration rests on three main pillars: training in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, hosting Burkinabe interns at ADETIC, and developing collaborative research projects focused on digital governance, local innovation, and sustainable development. This initiative also aligns with broader regional efforts for digital capacity building and education reforms.
The partnership will foster academic synergies, pedagogical exchanges, and the co-development of training programs. It will enable 2iE trainees to gain professional experience in Chad's digital ecosystem through internships at ADETIC. The partnership will also launch joint applied research projects, focusing on sustainable development, digital governance, and local innovation.
This strategic move is part of a broader push for ambitious and concrete South-South cooperation, prioritizing the mutualization of knowledge and the interconnection of African institutions. It exemplifies South-South cooperation by leveraging 2iE's recognised expertise as a regional centre of excellence to strengthen digital skills in Chad, fostering mutual academic and research exchanges with institutions like Chad's National School of ICT (ENASTIC).
The impact of this collaboration on African technological cooperation is multifaceted. It promotes sustainable development through technology-enabled governance and innovation while contributing to regional stability by building resilient digital infrastructures and human resources. By focusing on emerging technologies like AI, it positions participating countries to better integrate into the global digital economy and enhance public sector efficiency.
Moreover, the agreement between ADETIC and 2iE is seen as a foundation for a new African partnership model, training professionals who can adapt to global digitalization and create African solutions to African challenges. This is evident in the choice of Dr. Boukar Michel to sponsor 2iE's 17th engineering promotion, a recognition of his leadership in youth, education, and inclusive digital transformation.
In conclusion, the 2iE–ADETIC partnership represents a strategic step in reinforcing African technological capacity, fostering academic collaboration, and accelerating digital transformation vital for socio-economic development across the Sahel region. This partnership underscores the notion that "digital is not a luxury, but a strategic necessity" and underscores the potential for African countries to drive their own digital transformation through collaborative partnerships.
[1] Sahel Digital Platform
[2] Sahel-wide projects emphasizing technology-enhanced learning and innovation
[3] Regional efforts for digital capacity building and education reforms
[4] The role of digital governance in sustainable development
- This partnership between 2iE and ADETIC in digital and emerging technology education will foster the creation of Sahel Digital Platform, a region-wide project emphasizing technology-enhanced learning and innovation, thus aligning with broader regional efforts for digital capacity building and education reforms.
- By focusing on academic synergies, pedagogical exchanges, and the co-development of training programs, this collaboration aims to equip professionals with the necessary skillset in areas such as artificial intelligence and digital governance, positioning participating countries to better integrate into the global digital economy and enhance public sector efficiency, while also contributing to the role of digital governance in sustainable development.
