Digital Literacy in Africa: Exploring its Relationship with Infrastructure, Policy, and Social Inequality

Abstract

ABSTRACT Digital literacy has become indispensable for individuals in the contemporary techno-centric world and imperative for governments to promote equitable growth. Using the fixed effects models to analyze a panel sample of 25 African countries from 2017 to 2021, the authors describe the overall situation of digital literacy in Africa and examine its relationship with ICT infrastructure, policy, and social inequality. The results show that the African countries exhibit a substantial and stable disparity in digital literacy. Availability of ICT infrastructure increases digital literacy, while social inequality decreases it. They also find that digital literacy and digital inclusion policies can overcome the barriers of availability and affordability of ICT infrastructure. In addition, digital literacy and digital inclusion policies have the potential to be mutually supportive, reinforcing each other’s role in promoting social equality.