From aid to autonomy: Rethinking structural dependency in sustainable African digital development

Abstract

The rapid digitalisation of governance systems across Africa has been propelled in large part by foreign aid and donor-driven initiatives. However, recent global aid cuts exacerbated by shifting geopolitical priorities, economic crises, and post-pandemic retrenchment have disrupted these efforts, revealing deep structural vulnerabilities in many African states, particularly at the local government level. This paper thus comparatively examines how the withdrawal of USAID support affects specific digitalisation projects/programmes in different African countries, with a specific focus on the USAID Ubora Mashinani program (Kenya) and Governance for Local Development (GoLD) / GoLD+(Senegal). Framed through the lenses of dependency theory and world-systems theory, the study situates the donor-recipient relationship within a broader historical and economic structure that reinforces technological dependence and peripheral positioning in the global digital economy. By analysing empirical cases in sub-Saharan Africa, the paper explores the cascading effects of aid cuts on the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions). Ultimately, the paper argues that Africa’s digital future must be reimagined through regional and locally supported strategies that reduce reliance on external actors and build resilient institutions from the ground up.