Dividendes numériques ou dépendance ?

The document examines the evolution of industrial policy in the digital age, using Kenya as a primary case study to illustrate the risks of 'industrial thinness.' It argues that while Kenya has successfully integrated into global digital service markets, the lack of national control over data and algorithmic infrastructure leads to a form of informational dependency similar to the 'resource trap.' The authors emphasize that digital transformation must integrate decent work standards and data sovereignty to prevent the reproduction of extractive economic models. The paper calls for coordinated national, regional (via the AfCFTA), and multilateral actions to ensure that digital dividends are captured locally rather than exported to global platform monopolies.

• Modern industrial policy has shifted from focusing on physical manufacturing and tariffs to the governance of digital infrastructure, as value creation is increasingly immaterial and organized by platforms and algorithms.
• Kenya has established itself as a major exporter of digital labor, with approximately 1.9 million Kenyans in digital work by 2025, including 1.2 million platform freelancers, representing about 1% of the global online labor supply.
• Despite digital growth, Kenya experiences 'industrial thinness,' where the country provides data and labor but lacks control over the infrastructure, leading to a structural dependency where data is stored and monetized abroad.
• Digital labor in Kenya, particularly content moderation and gig work, is characterized by psychological trauma, unstable wages, algorithmic surveillance, and a lack of social protection.
• National reforms alone are insufficient to address digital asymmetries because platform architectures often operate beyond national borders; therefore, regional and multilateral coordination is essential.
• The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) digital protocol and the East African Community (EAC) digital trade protocol are identified as key frameworks for harmonizing data governance and increasing collective bargaining power.

APA

Cerri, K., & Mexi, M. (n.d.). Dividendes numériques ou dépendance ? International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/fr/articles/policy-analysis/digital-dividends-or-dependency

Chicago

Cerri, Kitrhona, and Maria Mexi. Dividendes numériques ou dépendance ? International Institute for Sustainable Development, n.d. https://www.iisd.org/fr/articles/policy-analysis/digital-dividends-or-dependency.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Cerri |first1=Kitrhona |last2=Mexi |first2=Maria |title=Dividendes numériques ou dépendance ? |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |url=https://www.iisd.org/fr/articles/policy-analysis/digital-dividends-or-dependency |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cerrinddividendes, author = {Cerri, Kitrhona and Mexi, Maria}, title = {{Dividendes numériques ou dépendance ?}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/fr/articles/policy-analysis/digital-dividends-or-dependency}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }