GVCs, digitalisation and services in Africa: What we know and what we would like to know

Andrea Ariu, Jaime de Melo and Jean-Marc Solleder
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Andrea Ariu: UNIMI - Università degli Studi di Milano = University of Milan
Jaime de Melo: FERDI - Fondation pour les Etudes et Recherches sur le Développement International, UNIGE - Université de Genève = University of Geneva
Jean-Marc Solleder: UNIGE - Université de Genève = University of Geneva, FERDI - Fondation pour les Etudes et Recherches sur le Développement International

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Abstract: Broadband connectivity, data-driven logistics, e-commerce, cloud services, and fintech reduce coordination costs and loosen the ties between production and physical proximity, opening the door to participation in Global Value Chains (GVCs). These technologies expand opportunities both to embed services into goods exports and to export services directly. This policy brief reviews the evidence on the extent and pattern of Africa's participation in supply chain networks. Research gaps—data, Methodological, and Conceptual Obstacles— that prevent African countries from breaking into high-skilled, tradable service exports are identified. The paper concludes by proposing three research areas: understanding services-led integration; exploring the mechanisms of change; building the data foundations.

Keywords: Innovation; Africa; Digitisation; Services; GVCs; Trade; Economic policy; Digital transformation; Ecommerce; Fintech; Development; Economy; Afrique; Digitalisation; Economie; Transformation digitale; Politique économique (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-01-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr
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Published in 2026

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