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DIGITAL ECONOMY

DIGITAL ECONOMY

  • Desired Development Outcome: DAVSPE envisions an inclusive, secure digital economy where citizens, micro-enterprises, and public institutions leverage emerging technologies to drive innovation, optimize financial inclusion, and accelerate sustainable wealth creation across Uganda and the African continent.
  • Alignment with Global & National Agendas: Our strategy targets SDGs 8, 9, and 17 by promoting technological industries, decent digital employment, and global partnerships. It drives the Africa Agenda 2063 priority of a digitally connected continent through cross-border e-commerce. It also fulfills Uganda Vision 2040 mandates to transform the nation into a modern, tech-driven society, actively supporting the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance in mainstreaming digital governance.
  • The Need: Rapid digitization presents massive economic opportunities, yet structural challenges persist. Deep digital divides between urban and rural populations, high internet costs, low digital literacy, and weak data protection frameworks stifle growth. Proactive, evidence-based research is required to assist regulators like the National Information Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-U) in addressing systemic bottlenecks, promoting safe FinTech innovations, and building secure ecosystems that protect consumer privacy.
  • Our Contribution: DAVSPE will conduct applied research to inform progressive digital economy policies and regulatory frameworks. We will use visual arts to design inclusive, accessible financial literacy and digital skilling toolkits. Additionally, we will support small businesses, youth, and women entrepreneurs to scale their digital innovations and actively participate in the modern marketplace.

Key Research Themes

  • FinTech & Rural Financial Inclusion: Assessing mobile money, digital banking, and FinTech innovations on the economic resilience of marginalized communities.
  • Digital Infrastructure & NITA-U Policy: Investigating barriers to universal internet access and evaluating public investments in rural digital infrastructure.
  • Data Governance & Privacy Frameworks: Analysing institutional compliance with data protection and cybersecurity standards across state and private actors.