• Kenya aims to increase international tourist arrivals from 3 million to 5 million and boost tourism revenue by 50% under its new tourism strategy.

• Google Kenya and the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife signed a partnership focused on digital skills, artificial intelligence infrastructure and global marketing campaigns.

• Authorities plan to use AI, cloud technology and data analytics to strengthen Kenya’s competitiveness and expand tourism-related economic growth.

The East African nation has officially launched its new tourism strategy, "Magical Kenya – The Origin of Wonder," an ambitious roadmap that aims to increase international visitor arrivals from 3 million to 5 million and raise tourism revenue by 50%. Authorities plan to achieve those objectives through digital transformation initiatives and global technology partnerships.

At the center of the strategy, Google Kenya and Tourism and Wildlife Minister Rebecca Miano signed a partnership agreement on May 29. The memorandum of collaboration establishes joint investments across three key areas: digital skills development and youth empowerment, artificial intelligence infrastructure deployment through Google Cloud, and enhanced international visibility through Google Ads and market intelligence tools.

The program will run from May through December 2026. The initiative will rely on implementation partners including The Africa Growth Lab and Action Lab. The program will follow several phases, beginning with the development of technological and organizational foundations, continuing with the activation of the ministry’s cloud infrastructure and culminating in global marketing campaigns.

Consequently, authorities expect the initiative to transform Kenya’s tourism industry into a more competitive and digitally driven engine of economic growth.

Kenya Strengthens Its Tourism Appeal

To support the transformation, authorities have established a 22-member task force. The group will redesign the positioning of the "Magical Kenya" brand, strengthen the country’s international appeal and develop innovative strategies to boost tourist arrivals and youth employment.

During the signing ceremony, Minister Rebecca Miano welcomed the strategic collaboration and highlighted the central role of digital technology in diversifying Kenya’s tourism offering.

According to Miano, technology integration will help authorities better showcase all 47 counties through tourism experience mapping and the creation of more personalized visitor journeys.

Through the partnership, Kenya is reinforcing its position as one of Africa’s most advanced adopters of digital technologies for economic development.

By investing in artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure and digital marketing, Nairobi aims to strengthen its competitiveness against leading global tourism destinations.

The strategy aligns with broader continental trends. Several African destinations, including Tanzania, Rwanda and South Africa, have accelerated investments in digital marketing and online booking platforms.

Kenya now aims to convert its established international reputation into more structured tourism revenues by leveraging Google's distribution capabilities and data analytics tools.

Authorities will evaluate the initiative’s effectiveness through the end of 2026, when the first global marketing campaigns are expected to become fully operational.

Muriel EDJO

• Senegal’s National Civil Status Agency (ANEC) and the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC) signed a partnership agreement on May 22 in Dakar to modernize and secure civil registry services through nationwide digitalization.

• Senegal had already digitized more than 19 million civil records by 2024 as part of its broader administrative modernization strategy.

• Authorities aim to strengthen public data management, improve citizens’ access to official documents and reduce document fraud through centralized databases and digital platforms.

Senegal has accelerated the digital transformation of its civil registry system as the government pushes forward with broader administrative modernization efforts.

The National Civil Status Agency (ANEC) and the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC) signed a partnership agreement in Dakar on Friday, May 22, to modernize and secure civil registry services through nationwide digitalization. Senegal had already digitized more than 19 million civil records by 2024.

The two institutions aim to strengthen administrative data management, improve citizens’ access to official documents and curb document fraud, which continues to affect several administrative procedures across the country.

The partnership includes the gradual digitalization of civil registry procedures, the protection of archives, the modernization of administrative centers and the deployment of digital management tools.

Authorities have already launched several projects, including the creation of a centralized database and the deployment of integrated management software in multiple civil registry centers. In addition, authorities continue to expand the “Sama État civil” platform, which already allows citizens to complete some administrative procedures remotely. The government expects the platform to reduce travel requirements for users and accelerate request processing times.

Meanwhile, the reform comes as several African countries seek to modernize identification systems and civil data management.

According to UNICEF, nearly 150 million children under the age of five worldwide still lack official birth registration, while sub-Saharan Africa remains one of the most affected regions.

In Senegal, challenges linked to birth registration, paper archive preservation and access to administrative documents continue to limit access to certain public services, particularly in rural areas.

Through the reform, Senegalese authorities also seek to improve the reliability of public data as digital administrative services expand.

The government considers civil registry modernization a key component of the country’s national digital strategy. Authorities expect the reform to improve citizen identification, facilitate access to public services and support future projects related to digital identity and broader administrative digitalization.

Samira Njoya

• Guinea launched the TELEMO digital platform on May 22 in Conakry to fully digitize public procurement procedures.

• Authorities developed the platform in partnership with Rwanda to improve transparency, reduce administrative delays and modernize public spending management.

• Public procurement represents between 11% and 15% of Guinea’s GDP, according to official figures, making the sector a major driver of the national economy.

Guinea officially launched the TELEMO platform in Conakry on Friday, May 22, as the government accelerated efforts to digitize public procurement procedures and modernize public administration.

Authorities developed the digital platform through cooperation with Rwanda. The government aims to modernize public procurement management, strengthen transparency and reduce administrative processing times.

“TELEMO’s vision is to establish a single, reliable and secure national system for managing public procurement. The system tracks every action and records every decision, which enables full transparency. We also target efficiency and inclusion because the platform remains open to all companies, both domestic and international,” TELEMO project manager Mouslihou Diallo said.

The platform now allows authorities to manage the entire public procurement cycle digitally, from tender planning to contract awards.

In addition, the system centralizes tender publication, bid submission and evaluation, procedural monitoring and secure data archiving. The project also seeks to improve small and medium-sized enterprises’ access to public contracts through an online platform.

Meanwhile, the launch forms part of a broader strategy to modernize Guinea’s public finances and digitize government administration.

According to official figures, public procurement accounts for between 11% and 15% of Guinea’s gross domestic product, which makes the sector a major lever of the national economy.

At the regional level, the World Bank estimates that public procurement represents around 11.5% of GDP across West African countries, with governments in the sub-region spending roughly $80 billion annually on goods, services and infrastructure works.

For Guinea, the reform extends beyond administrative modernization.

Authorities expect the digitization of public procurement to improve the efficiency of public spending, strengthen the country’s business climate and increase local companies’ participation in government contracts.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• Djibouti launched a feasibility study for “Digital Houses” aimed at expanding digital inclusion and skills development across the country.
• The E-SKILLS program seeks to train at least 3,000 young people and women by 2029 with a budget of €7 million ($8.1 million).
• Djibouti faces severe labor market pressures, with youth unemployment reaching 76.32% in 2024, according to the World Bank.

As digital transformation reshapes labor markets, African countries are preparing citizens for future workforce demands. The World Bank estimates that 230 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills by 2030.

Against this backdrop, the government of Djibouti launched a feasibility study for the creation of “Digital Houses” across the country’s five inland regions. The initiative forms part of the E-SKILLS program, which aims to strengthen digital competencies among the population.

In a statement published on Wednesday, May 13, the Ministry Delegate for the Digital Economy and Innovation said the study represented a key step in defining how the community-based centers would be deployed. Authorities designed the facilities to promote digital inclusion and reduce the digital divide.

“The future Digital Houses will strengthen access to digital skills, support citizens in their use of digital technologies, encourage local innovation and foster economic opportunities within the regions,” the ministry said in a statement shared on social media.

The planned centers will also bring the E-SKILLS program closer to local populations. The initiative aims to train at least 3,000 young people and women by 2029 at an estimated cost of €7 million, or about $8.1 million.

The project aligns with the country’s Vision Djibouti 2035 strategy, the Smart Nation roadmap and the National Development Plan 2025-2030, all of which aim to position Djibouti as a regional hub for digital skills.

Digital Skills and Employment Challenges

Governments increasingly view digital skills as a key driver of economic transformation. The issue carries particular importance in Africa, where youth unemployment remains a major challenge.

According to the International Labour Organization, 90% of jobs worldwide will require some level of digital competency by 2030. Over the same period, the World Bank expects 230 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa to depend on digital capabilities.

Djibouti faces especially acute labor market pressures. Youth unemployment among people aged 15 to 24 reached 76.32% in 2024, according to World Bank data, nearly five times the global average of 15.7%.

In the same year, only 23.7% of the working-age population held employment, one of the lowest levels among members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, according to the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries.

Beyond skills development, the Digital Houses could also help reduce connectivity disparities in a country where digital access remains unevenly distributed.

According to the International Telecommunication Union, 4G coverage reached 76% of the population in 2024, while internet penetration stood at 65.3%.

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum