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Digital skills drive Zambia’s job growth by empowering youth with training, entrepreneurship, and new career opportunities.(Adobe Stock)

As digital technologies transform industries and reshape daily life, the demand for skilled workers in Zambia’s evolving digital economy is rising

This shift presents a significant opportunity for the country’s youth at a time when over 10% are unemployed, aligning with the implementation of Zambia’s National Development Plan 2022-2026.

According to Bernard Banda, director of Economic Regulation at the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA), digital skills have become essential in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape. Speaking to ITC, he emphasized that businesses must enhance their services, introduce new offerings, and hire workers with the right expertise. “This has also extended to the need for cybersecurity of embedded e-commerce systems or digital services,” he added.

Recognizing the potential for youth entrepreneurship and rural economic growth, the National Development Plan highlights digital capacity-building as a key strategy for economic transformation. In response, ITC partnered with the Women’s Entrepreneurship Access Center and ZICTA to train 175 individuals in Lusaka and Livingstone. The programme equipped them with knowledge in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and social media, enhancing their freelancing capabilities.

Of the participants, nearly half were women, and over 60 have already established profiles on freelancer platforms. Additionally, 43 have reported securing new work opportunities due to the training.

“The We’Digit training programme gave me the confidence to complete my e-commerce website, as I was able to apply the knowledge I gained from the training,” said Mercy Chewetu Mukupa, founder and CEO of Queen of Chitenge Fashion Ltd. She aims to use her platform to onboard other designers and generate advertising revenue.

Livingstone-based freelancer Clive Lusana credited the programme for helping her integrate artificial intelligence tools into digital content creation. “The DIY model really helped me take responsibility over my own future,” she said.

This initiative is part of ITC’s broader efforts to bridge Zambia’s digital divide and unlock new business opportunities. Through its Fast Tracking Digital Entrepreneurship in Africa programme—supported by the Government of the Netherlands—ITC has trained numerous tech hubs, start-ups, and digital entrepreneurs in cutting-edge skills and tools.

Under FastTrackTech Switch ON, ITC has also connected Zambian entrepreneurs with global opportunities by facilitating their participation in major events such as the 2023 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and Web Summit in Lisbon. These networking efforts have helped professionals like Muchu Kaingu, chief technology officer of microfinance firm Lupiya, build international partnerships.

Lupiya has since secured US$8.25mn in Series A financing, attributing its success to ITC’s support through FastTrackTech Switch ON. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to make Zambian fintech start-ups investment-ready, enabling them to connect with investors at key events like Investor Days in Lusaka.

Moving forward, ITC and its partners will focus on expanding digital connectivity in urban and rural areas, making internet access more affordable and reliable. Other priorities include developing virtual e-commerce marketplaces and assisting MSMEs in adopting online payment systems.

Zambia serves as a pilot country for similar initiatives across Africa and beyond, all contributing to ITC’s ambitious ‘digital moonshot’ within its 2022-2025 strategic plan.

Kazang Pay expands in Zambia

Network International collaborates with GIM-UEMOA to enhance financial inclusion through innovative digital payment solutions in West Africa. (Image source: Network International)

Network International, a prominent payment solutions provider in the Middle East and Africa, has announced a new partnership with GIM-UEMOA, the regional payment scheme promoting electronic payments in West Africa

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) aims to foster innovation and improve financial inclusion across the eight member countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).

This strategic collaboration is set to introduce advanced digital payment solutions within the GIM-Pay framework, leveraging the strengths of both organizations. The initiative will provide secure, seamless, and easily accessible payment systems designed to meet the evolving needs of businesses and consumers in the region.

The partnership will not only support the financial needs of individuals in the UEMOA region but will also enhance the offerings of GIM-UEMOA’s member banks. By adopting these cutting-edge digital payment solutions, these banks will be better positioned to serve their customers and contribute to the region's broader goals of economic growth and financial inclusion.

“Partnering with GIM-UEMOA represents a significant milestone for Network International. Together, we aim to harness our combined expertise to empower the UEMOA region with state-of-the-art payment solutions that drive economic inclusion and prosperity,” stated Dr Reda Helal, managing director & co-head of processing, Africa at Network International.

Minayegnan Coulibaly, managing director of GIM-UEMOA, added, “This collaboration with Network International allows for the pooling of infrastructure and solutions to bring cutting-edge digital payment solutions to the West African banking sector. We look forward to the benefits that will be realised for financial services entities throughout the region.”

Through this partnership, both organizations emphasize their shared commitment to innovation and collaboration within the financial technology sector of West Africa. The initiative highlights the significance of partnerships in addressing the unique financial and economic challenges of the UEMOA region.

NTT DATA’s Smart AI Agent aims to drive productivity and transform workflows across industries globally by leveraging Generative AI capabilities. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

NTT DATA, a global leader in digital business and IT services, has unveiled its next-generation Smart AI Agent, marking a key step in the company's strategy to promote the widespread use of Generative AI

The company is targeting US$2bn in revenue from Smart AI Agent-related business by 2027.

This advanced AI tool is designed to autonomously extract, organise, and execute tasks based on user instructions, complementing existing workforces and simplifying complex processes. It enhances operational efficiency across multiple sectors, allowing businesses to quickly assess and deploy Generative AI applications, thereby optimising workflows and boosting productivity.

Yutaka Sasaki, president and CEO of NTT DATA, remarked, “The launch of our Smart AI Agent is a direct response to the growing demand for tools that unlock the full potential of Generative AI. At NTT DATA, we’re committed to pioneering innovation that drives enterprise success. Smart AI Agent is designed to ease operational burdens, drive adoption, and help businesses realise the true value of AI technology.”

The Smart AI Agent is already delivering notable improvements across various industries. In the automotive sector, it is enhancing DevOps data analysis, while in banking, it is streamlining regulatory reporting processes. It is also optimising marketing cycles for a major gas manufacturer.

The Smart AI Agent offers several advanced capabilities from launch. It automates task planning by breaking down complex workflows into manageable processes. Additionally, multiple AI agents can collaborate on tasks, improving efficiency and effectiveness. It incorporates advanced Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to conduct contextual searches of internal data, providing high-quality results. The tool also generates validation data from business documents to optimise operational workflows. A future feature, User-in-the-Loop (UITL), will launch in March 2025, allowing the AI to continuously refine its processes based on user feedback, creating a cycle of autonomous optimization.

NTT DATA's end-to-end solution includes consulting, implementation, and ongoing support, ensuring a smooth integration for businesses. Recognising the security concerns of many enterprises, NTT DATA offers both public and private cloud solutions to ensure confidentiality and compliance.

Beyond enhancing business performance, Smart AI Agent also helps address the global talent shortage by automating routine tasks and enabling employees to focus on more strategic and value-added activities.

The Smart AI Agent will initially be rolled out in the US, China, and several European countries, with plans for a global expansion.

Andre Froneman, operational technology (OT) solutions specialist at Datacentrix. (Image source: Datacentrix)

Datacentrix, a leading hybrid ICT systems integrator and managed services provider, has achieved a significant milestone by earning the Cisco Internet of Things (IoT) Specialisation

This certification highlights the company’s deep expertise in deploying Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions, aimed at accelerating digital transformation across industries such as manufacturing, automotive, energy, oil and gas, and critical infrastructure.

The African IIoT market is expected to grow rapidly, with Statistica predicting an annual growth rate of 15.33% between 2024 and 2029, ultimately reaching a market value of US$8.14 bn by 2029. However, this growth also brings an increased risk of cyber threats, which pose a major concern as industries adopt smarter technologies.

“As the industrial sector increasingly adopts IIoT technologies, cybersecurity and seamless connectivity have become critical concerns,” said Andre Froneman, operational technology (OT) solutions specialist at Datacentrix.

Cisco’s 2024 State of Industrial Networking Report underscores the urgency of addressing these challenges, with cybersecurity being the top reported issue in the industrial sector. The report highlights cybersecurity risks as the leading internal barrier to growth, and reveals that 89% of respondents view cybersecurity compliance as essential for the functioning of their operational networks.

Froneman further emphasises Cisco’s leadership in the space, noted, "Cisco's leadership was further reinforced in the Forrester Wave: Operational Technology Security Solutions, Q2 2024 report, where it was recognised for its 'reliable and comprehensive OT security platform' and 'strong networking capabilities,' including a rugged line of hardware designed for challenging environments."

“Industrial organisations are eager to harness IoT data to improve efficiency and productivity, but need to do so without compromising security or operational reliability. With our expanded Cisco IoT capabilities, which encompass best-in-class OT visibility, zero trust security, PLC automation and industrial networking solutions, Datacentrix is well positioned to help clients achieve these objectives,” remarked Froneman. 

Datacentrix’s new Cisco IoT capabilities complement its existing expertise in OT and automation, enhancing its ability to deliver innovative solutions that address the cybersecurity and operational reliability challenges faced by industries undergoing digital transformation.

"We look forward to leveraging these new capabilities to deliver even greater value to our clients as they undertake their workspace digital transformation initiatives," concluded Froneman.