By Mandere Onyinkwa
The East African Community (EAC) has stepped up efforts to accelerate regional digital integration by convening a high-level forum aimed at turning digital policies into practical investments and services.
The 2026 Digital for Development (D4D) Forum, held at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, brought together policymakers, regulators, parliamentarians, central banks, private sector leaders, civil society organizations and development partners to advance the region’s digital transformation agenda.
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The two-day meeting focused on building a Digital Single Market that would make it easier for businesses to trade across borders, reduce transaction costs and expand access to digital services for more than 330 million people across the EAC’s eight Partner States.
Speaking during the opening session, EAC Deputy Secretary General for Customs, Trade and Monetary Affairs Annette Ssemuwemba said the region had moved beyond planning and was now focused on implementation.
“Digital transformation is no longer an option; it is a necessity for accelerating regional integration and expanding trade opportunities,” said Ssemuwemba.
“Our focus now is implementation and ensuring that citizens and businesses experience the benefits of a connected digital market.”
The forum comes as the EAC advances key regional frameworks, including the EAC Digital Transformation Strategy, the Cross-Border Payment System Master Plan and the E-Commerce Strategy. The initiatives are expected to support the EAC Customs Union, Common Market and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Officials said the digital agenda is expected to strengthen interoperable payment systems, digital public services and e-commerce ecosystems, while creating new opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation, particularly among women and youth.
However, the EAC acknowledged that several challenges continue to slow digital integration, including costly cross-border payments, limited interoperability of digital systems, fragmented e-government platforms and uneven regulatory environments across member states.
The forum also marked the launch of the EU–EAC Digital Economy, E-Commerce, E-Payments and Public E-Services (DEEP) Programme, a regional initiative funded by the European Union and Team Europe partners Germany, France and Estonia. The programme is being implemented by GIZ, ESTDEV and Expertise France.
Acting Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Tanzania and the EAC, Paola Trevisan, reaffirmed the EU’s support for East Africa’s digital transformation agenda.
She said the partnership is anchored in the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and the EU Tech Offer, which seeks to provide expertise, standards and investment to support digital development in partner regions.
Participants at the forum are also working to identify investment-ready regional digital projects in areas such as interoperable payment systems, regional e-government platforms, cross-border digital public services and secure data-sharing infrastructure.
By the close of the forum, delegates are expected to agree on practical recommendations, partnership commitments and financing initiatives aimed at accelerating implementation of the EAC Digital Transformation Agenda and bringing the region closer to a secure, inclusive and interoperable Digital Single Market.
