Smart Africa Digital Academy

From Strategy to Implementation, equips learners with a deep understanding of the policies, strategies, and technical frameworks necessary for developing robust, secure, and sustainable data center and cloud infrastructure across Africa. Drawing directly from the continental blueprint developed by Smart Africa and its partners, the course provides participants with the knowledge to align national and organizational strategies with global best practices while ensuring data sovereignty, economic growth, and technological resilience. Learners will explore IT outsourcing policies, data center classifications, cloud computing strategies, financial models, governance, and security frameworks. The course will blend theoretical insight with practical case studies, enabling participants to design, implement, and manage infrastructures that address Africa’s unique challenges and opportunities.

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain the strategic importance of data sovereignty and local infrastructure for Africa’s digital future.

• Describe different types of outsourcing models and data centre classifications (e.g., Tier levels, private vs. cloud).

• Summarise key regulatory frameworks, including national data protection laws and the AU Malabo Convention.

• Identify the essential requirements for secure provider sourcing, including technical, governance, and compliance considerations.

• Discuss the role of financial models (CAPEX vs. OPEX) and cost optimisation strategies in sustainable data centre and cloud operations.