Abstract
Africa's food systems, dominated by smallholder farmers, have yet to benefit from the transformative potential of digital technologies. While large-scale farms have widely integrated digital solutions, smallholder farms have lagged behind. This disparity creates unequal opportunities in the sector. African governments are not oblivious to the severe impact of the digital divide. Therefore, several policy frameworks and strategies are being adopted to address the challenge. This article examines current policy frameworks and strategies to address the digital divide in Africa's food systems. It also explores the impact of these policy frameworks and strategies. The article draws from a qualitative review methodology underpinned by a review of primary and secondary sources, both in grey and academic formats. The article reveals that at the regional level, policies such as the African Union (AU) Digital Transformation Strategy, the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme, the AU Digital Agriculture Strategy and the African Continental Free Trade Area Digital Protocol are being adopted to address the digital divide. There are also several Regional Economic Communities Initiatives that focus on several intertwined areas to address the digital divide. In addition, countries adopt notional strategies and policies to address country-specific challenges related to the digital divide. The article concludes that policies aimed at addressing the digital divide have had a limited impact in Africa due to poor implementation. Accountability must be built into the policy lifecycle, from planning and implementation to monitoring and evaluation, to address the digital divide in Africa's food systems effectively. This can be achieved through a combination of political oversight, legal and regulatory frameworks, civil society engagement, and the establishment of measurable performance metrics.