Conference Paper

Digital Governance for Sustainable Economic Performance in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Critical Review of Evidence and Policy Implications

Digital governance has become an important instrument for improving public sector efficiency, strengthening institutional accountability, and promoting sustainable economic performance in developing economies. Across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), governments have increasingly adopted digital governance initiatives, including e-government platforms, digital public services, electronic procurement, and digital taxation systems, to enhance service delivery and economic development. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives remains uneven due to institutional weaknesses, inadequate digital infrastructure, regulatory challenges, cybersecurity concerns, and disparities in digital inclusion. This study critically reviews existing evidence on the contribution of digital governance to sustainable economic performance in Sub-Saharan Africa and identifies the institutional factors influencing its effectiveness. The study adopts a critical narrative review approach, synthesizing peer-reviewed journal articles and reports from international organizations published between 2015 and 2025. Thematic analysis was employed to examine evidence relating to governance effectiveness, transparency, public sector performance, economic growth, and policy implementation across the region. The review indicates that digital governance enhances administrative efficiency, public financial management, transparency, revenue mobilisation, and citizen engagement, thereby supporting sustainable economic performance. Nevertheless, these benefits depend on complementary factors such as effective institutions, supportive regulatory frameworks, investment in digital infrastructure, cybersecurity preparedness, and digital literacy. The study contributes to the literature by providing an integrated synthesis of recent evidence on digital governance and sustainable economic performance in SSA while highlighting policy priorities for strengthening digital governance ecosystems. It recommends greater investment in digital infrastructure, institutional reforms, human capacity development, and regional collaboration to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic development. Keywords: Digital governance; Sustainable economic performance; E-government; Digital transformation; Institutional quality; Transparency; Public sector innovation; Sub-Saharan Africa.