Digital for Development (D4D)

Luxembourg Development Cooperation supports an inclusive, green, human-centred and reliable digital transformation in its partner countries, to contribute to sustainable development. Mobilising innovative approaches and instruments in key areas of expertise such as information and communication technologies (ICT), digital skills, cybersecurity and digital financial services, it collaborates with partners such as the Luxembourg House of Cybersecurity and the University of Luxembourg (SnT).

In 2024, Luxembourg maintained its commitment within the European Commission’s Digital for Development Hub (D4D Hub), promoting the alignment of EU digital initiatives to increase their impact. This strategic multi-stakeholder platform promotes new international partnerships in the field of digital transformation between the EU and partner countries, particularly in Africa. The shared aim is a human-centric approach to digital transformation: facilitating multi-stakeholder partnerships, sharing expertise and encouraging investment from various European and global partners. In this context, Luxembourg Development Cooperation is actively contributing to activities within the Africa branch as well as to the cyberspace working group, which Luxembourg co-chairs together with France and the European Commission.

In this context, Luxembourg has also continued its commitment within the African Union-European Union (AU-EU) D4D Hub. Implemented by five European development agencies, including LuxDev, and with €8 million under European funding, this project aims to help bridge the digital divide, including the gender divide, and to use digital innovations to foster sustainable and inclusive development in Africa. The AU-EU D4D Hub also benefits Luxembourg Development Cooperation’s partner countries, including Cabo Verde.

Luxembourg is also pursuing its commitment to cybersecurity through the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise and the EU Cybernet network, working with over 115 international partners to build global capacity and expertise in this area.

Launched in July 2024, the SnT4Dev initiative, with a budget of nearly €10 million over seven years and implemented by SnT and LuxDev, will deepen cooperation between SnT and universities in Senegal and Benin, two Luxembourg Development Cooperation partner countries, with the aim of building local human capacities to promote economic development in ICT and research.

In addition, the first French-language training cycle under the project entitled “Information and Communication Technology Policy and Regulation – Institutional Strengthening” (iPRIS) took place in Luxembourg in September 2024. The project, led by the Luxembourg Institute of Regulation and Luxembourg Development Cooperation, together with the Swedish cooperation agency and the European Commission, aims to enhance meaningful, inclusive and sustainable connectivity in sub-Saharan Africa by strengthening the capacity of national regulatory institutes to implement strategic projects.

Luxembourg Development Cooperation’s D4D projects focus on modernising public administrations, developing digital financial services, strengthening core competences and building capacity in cybersecurity. Efforts to mainstream these areas in a cross-cutting manner in bilateral and multilateral programmes as well as in humanitarian action will continue beyond 2024.