The EU leverages its extensive expertise and experience in developing secure and trusted digital infrastructure, having successfully implemented large-scale investments across its Member States and partner countries globally. With a strong commitment to innovation, cybersecurity and sustainability, the EU is actively pursuing strategic investments in Ethiopia’s digital infrastructure. 

Under the Global Gateway initiative, Team Europe unites financial and technical resources to create a robust investment pipeline. This initiative focuses on a comprehensive range of projects, including the expansion of fiber backbone networks, the rollout of 4G and 5G mobile broadband, the establishment of data centers, cross-border fiber corridors, and cloud computing solutions. As part of the Global Gateway RISED Ethiopia flagship project, Team Europe is expanding fibre backbone throughout Ethiopia while prioritizing the enhancement of cybersecurity and digital monitoring systems to protect this critical infrastructure.

• RISED Ethiopia

As part of its commitment to boosting domestic and foreign investments in Ethiopia, the EU has been actively supporting the government’s initiatives to enhance the business environment and investment climate. By mobilising expertise from a diverse array of private and public European partners, the EU has introduced a suite of e-governance solutions that streamline and integrate services, ranging from business registration to digital-enabled public-private dialogue, including public legislative consultations and automated credit scoring. 

Additionally, the EU has played a significant role in high-level policy development alongside governmental partners. In this regard, Ethiopia and the EU have developed the e-Government Strategy and Business Enterprise Architecture 2025-2030. Recently, the EU has been appointed as key partner for the formulation of the Digital Ethiopia 2030 Strategy, a pivotal policy set to guide Ethiopia’s digital journey in the coming years. 

• Improving Ethiopia’s Business Environment through e-Governance (BEIC)

A country’s digital transformation is only as strong as its citizens’ ability to embrace and benefit from it. To support this, the EU places a strong emphasis on providing Ethiopian citizens with access to high-quality digital education and fostering awareness of their digital rights. 

Building on a long-standing partnership with the Ethiopian Government, Team Europe is dedicated to strengthening the quality and relevance of Ethiopia’s Technical and Vocational Education & Training (TVET) system, focusing on market-relevant digital skills. Through the DESTA project, the EU is reinforcing the digital infrastructure of TVET colleges and equipping teachers with the right digital skills to improve training programmes. Crucially, the programme will provide TVET graduates with market-relevant digital skills, opening up employment opportunities in various key economic sectors. 

The EU is a leader in digital rights, boasting robust expertise and regulatory frameworks that address crucial areas such as privacy and data protection, digital inclusion and accessibility, and cybersecurity. Through a range of ongoing and upcoming initiatives, the EU is committed to empowering citizens by helping them understand and mitigate the risks associated with the digital world.

• Advancing Market-Ready Digital Skills in Ethiopia (DESTA)

These ongoing initiatives highlight a robust digital partnership between the EU and Ethiopia.

As the opportunities and challenges of a digital society grow, it is crucial to enhance the mobilization and sharing of expertise, knowledge, and resources between the EU and its partner countries. In this context, the EU and the Government of Ethiopia are developing a Digital Economy Package designed to consolidate and expand their digital partnership.

This package underscores the political and strategic significance of deepening digital cooperation between Ethiopia and the EU. It is set to boost investments in Ethiopia’s digital infrastructure and promote the adoption of shared values and principles for a human-centric digital transformation. Moreover, it aims to create an enabling environment that spans digital skills development, the promotion of digital rights, the strengthening of digital governance, and the implementation of necessary regulatory reforms.