UEMOA launches IMPACT 2030 plan and regional AI strategy

The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) is advancing two major strategic frameworks to bolster regional integration and technological readiness. The Commission has launched a sensitization campaign in Ouagadougou regarding its ‘IMPACT 2030’ strategic plan and its 2040 prospective vision. This plan shifts focus from mere regulatory harmonization toward driving regional value chains, competitiveness, and human development across twelve key ecosystems, including agriculture, digital services, and logistics.

Simultaneously, UEMOA aims to adopt a unified regional artificial intelligence strategy by 2027. This initiative seeks to address the technological gap within the eight-member bloc, where the average AI readiness score of 31.50 lags behind the global average of 47. The strategy will focus on four pillars: governance and ethics, infrastructure and sovereign cloud services, human capital development, and innovation sovereignty to support startups and prevent brain drain.