• Senior Research Associate: Digital Economy, University of South Africa

Ashraf Patel holds a Master's in Management (MM) in Public Policy Development and Regulation Management (ICT PRM) from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, where he also lectured on ICT, media, and public policy.

Currently, he is a Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD), a think tank based in Pretoria and connected to the University of South Africa that analyses South Africa and Africa's global politics, diplomacy, human rights, and gender issues. Ashraf leads the Digital Society, Trade for Development programme, focusing on research and advocacy related to ICT, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), and trade equity.

His work aims to broaden public, community, labour, gender, and youth perspectives on issues that will shape Africa's economic, political, and social future in the coming decades. His expertise emphasises the importance of inclusive dialogue in shaping policies that promote sustainable development and equitable growth across the continent.

• –present Senior Research Associate: Digital Economy, University of South Africa

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