African Union
BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN AFRICA
As the African economy recovers from the economic strain caused by the subsequent pandemic, Africa has the opportunity to reshape their economy and society. As opposed to bouncing back to pre-pandemic life, African countries can utilize this opportunity to steer economic recovery in the direction of digitalization: integrating the internet and technology in all aspects of society from education to business to government. Last year, 60.7% of Africans did not access the internet according to the Internet World Stats. It is, therefore, imperative that we make technology and the internet both reliable and affordable across the continent. And at this conference, you will have the opportunity to paint Africa’s economic future by bridging the digital divide.
Throughout our time in committee, we will work to close Africa’s external and internal digital divides. Externally, we will consider the internet usage gap that exists between Africa and the rest of the world. Through the expansion and development of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure, we will lay the foundation for reliable, high-speed internet in Africa. Internally, we will discuss why certain African countries and populations are lagging behind others and focus on how we can make technology more accessible to these countries and disadvantaged populations such as those in low-income and rural areas. In doing so, we will also tackle challenges such as increasing digital literacy and building an inclusive online society.
Lastly, we will resolve how we can reap the economic benefits of digitalization such as the increase in productivity, jobs, innovation and entrepreneurship, and eCommerce. By the end of this guide—and the conference itself—you will understand how narrowing the digital divide will revolutionize Africa and its economy.
Director’s Letter:
Dear delegates,
My name is Abby Miller, and it is my honor to welcome you to the African Union at the Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN) 2022 conference. As your director, I look forward to facilitating high-quality debate, compromise, and resolution writing. Here is a little bit about me, my Model UN experience, and the conference itself.
I am originally from a suburb of Chicago where I attended Deerfield High School. There, I competed in several Model United Nations conferences and served as my high school team’s captain for two years. This past year, I assistant directed the United Nations Human Rights Council at the online HNMUN 2021 conference. These incredible experiences inspired me to continue my involvement in Model UN by directing the African Union at HNMUN 2022.
I selected the African Union because I want us to open our eyes to the challenges of undeveloped nations. As someone who loves problem-solving and is passionate about innovation, I find so much potential for growth in developing countries like those of the African Union. Furthermore, I want us to use the power of technology and the internet to meet Africa’s potential for growth.
I am currently a freshman at Harvard College, planning to concentrate in computer science or economics and pursue a secondary in Spanish. In my free time, I love hiking, cooking, traveling, playing tennis, and adventuring with friends. I look forward to learning about you all, too, in addition to your ideas and solutions to the topic at hand.
As you explore the complexity of bridging the digital divide, you will begin to truly appreciate the power of digitalization. The substantive growth you will gain from this conference, coupled with the public speaking, collaboration, and critical thinking skills you develop in committee will aid you throughout the rest of your college experience and beyond. My goal is for you to leave the conference feeling accomplished, knowing that you collaborated with students across the globe in writing a resolution to address one of Africa’s most complex issues.
As you prepare for HNMUN, please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions you may have.
Best,
Abby Miller
Director, African Union
Harvard National Model United Nations 2022