The East African Community has intensified efforts to accelerate regional digital integration by convening the 2026 Digital for Development (D4D) Forum at its Headquarters, in Arusha, Tanzania on 23-24 June, 2026.
The high-level platform aims at translating regional digital strategies into concrete actions, investments and partnerships that will benefit citizens and businesses across the region.
The Forum brings together senior policymakers, regulators, parliamentarians, central banks, private sector leaders, civil society and development partners to advance implementation of the region’s digital transformation agenda under the theme “From 
Strategy to Implementation: Building the Digital Single Market.”
The Forum comes at a critical time as the EAC advances implementation of key regional digital frameworks, including the EAC Digital Transformation Strategy, the Cross-Border Payment System Master Plan and the E-Commerce Strategy.
Together, these frameworks provide a roadmap for developing a secure, inclusive and interoperable digital ecosystem that supports the EAC Customs Union, Common Market and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).  It is expected to contribute to the development of interoperable payment systems, digital public services and e-commerce ecosystems that will make it easier for businesses to trade across borders, reduce transaction costs, improve access to services and create new opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation, particularly for women and youth.
Speaking during the opening session, the EAC Deputy Secretary General responsible for Customs, Trade and Monetary Affairs, Hon. Annette Ssemuwemba, reflected on the journey from the first Digital for Development Forum in 2023 through the co-creation process in 2024 that shaped the DEEP Programme.
“Digital transformation is no longer an option; it is a necessity for accelerating regional integration and expanding trade opportunities. Our focus now is implementation and ensuring that citizens and businesses experience the benefits of a connected digital market,” said Hon. Ssemuwemba.
Despite significant progress, barriers remain. Digital systems are not yet fully interoperable, cross-border payments remain costly, e-government platforms often operate in isolation, and innovative private sector solutions face uneven regulatory environments. The Forum therefore serves as a working platform to address these challenges, align implementation priorities and unlock the potential of a Digital Single Market serving more than 330 million citizens across the EAC’s eight Partner States.
On her part, Ms. Paola Trevisan, Acting Head of Cooperation, European Union Delegation to Tanzania and the EAC, reaffirmed the EU's commitment to a long-term, mutually beneficial digital partnership with the EAC, anchored in the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and the EU Tech Offer, which brings European expertise, standards and investment to support partner regions.
The Forum commenced the EU–EAC Digital Economy, E-Commerce, E-Payments and Public E-Services (EU–EAC DEEP) Programme. DEEP, funded by the European Union and Team Europe partners Germany, France and Estonia and implemented by 
GIZ, ESTDEV and Expertise France, supports implementation of the EAC digital policy agreements with a strong focus on e-commerce, e-payments, e-governance and cybersecurity.
In line with the Programme’s Digital Public Infrastructure Acceleration Mechanism and the EU’s Global Gateway investment approach, the Forum is also serving as a platform for identifying and structuring a pipeline of bankable regional digital projects. 
These projects span critical areas such as interoperable payment systems, regional e-government platforms, cross-border digital public services and secure data-sharing infrastructure.
Participants are working to align priority projects with suitable financing instruments from Global Gateway, European and African development finance institutions, commercial banks and private investors, with the aim of moving from pilot initiatives to scalable and investment-ready solutions. The Forum also provides a platform for public-private collaboration, connecting policymakers and regulators with fintechs, e-commerce platforms and other technology providers capable of deploying proven solutions at regional scale.
By the close of the Forum, participants are expected to agree on a set of practical recommendations, partnership commitments and investment-ready initiatives that will accelerate implementation of the EAC Digital Transformation Agenda and bring East Africa closer to a secure, inclusive and interoperable Digital Single Market.