Public Management (567)
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Mauritania joined 20 other countries in Doha for the first Arab cybersecurity exercise, aiming to boost regional coordination and crisis-response capabilities.
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The country has accelerated reforms, including the creation of a National Cybersecurity and Electronic Certification Agency (ANCCE) in 2024 and a national strategy running through 2026.
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The ITU’s 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index ranks Mauritania in the fourth and second-to-last tier, calling for stronger technical and organizational investments.
As digital transformation accelerates, African nations continue to scale up investments in cybersecurity. Twenty-one African countries are now among the 72 signatories to the UN Convention on Cybercrime.
Mauritania participated last week in the first Arab cybersecurity exercise held in Doha, Qatar, an initiative that gathered 21 participating countries. The exercise supports the government’s effort to reinforce national digital security.
The Ministry of Digital Transition said in a 25 November statement: “This exercise aims to strengthen Arab cooperation in cybersecurity, develop the technical and administrative readiness of participating countries to respond to cyberattacks and manage digital crises. It also represents an important step toward building a safer and more efficient Arab digital space.”
Cybersecurity has become a key pillar of Mauritania’s international cooperation agenda, notably with the United States. The government has adopted a 2022-2026 National Digital Security Strategy, which outlines six strategic goals covering governance, protection of critical infrastructure, anti-cybercrime measures, awareness and skills development, and both national and international cooperation.
In April 2024, authorities created the National Cybersecurity and Electronic Certification Agency (ANCCE) by decree. The institution aims to protect the national cyberspace and strengthen cybersecurity governance. The move builds on prior progress, including the country’s 2023 ratification of the African Union’s Malabo Convention on cybersecurity and data protection.
Mauritania’s initiatives reflect a continental and global environment marked by rapid digitalisation and rising cyber threats. In January, the government launched Digital-Y, a €4 million ($4.6 million) project funded through a partnership with the German cooperation agency. The initiative plans to expand digital tools across public administration, modernise services, improve transparency and support economic and social development.
Several public services have already been digitised since early 2025, especially in education and justice.
Despite progress, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reports that countries must increase cybersecurity investment to fully benefit from ICT adoption. In its 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index, the ITU places Mauritania in the fourth and second-to-last tier. The organisation highlights strong performance in legislative frameworks but says the country must step up efforts in organizational, technical, capacity-building and cooperation pillars.
This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
- Gabon to digitize payments for online visa applications via mobile money
- Move supports broader push to modernize public services and reduce delays
- Part of national strategy to boost digital economy and cut reliance on oil
The Gabonese government is preparing to digitize payments for its online visa application system. The subject was discussed on Friday, November 21, during a meeting between Mark Alexandre Doumba (photo, center), Minister of Digital Economy, Digitalization and Innovation, and mobile money operators Airtel Money, Moov Money and Clikpay Money.
According to the ministry, enabling electronic payments is an “essential step toward providing a fully digital service that is faster, smoother and more transparent.”
The initiative fits into Gabon’s broader digital strategy. The government aims to make digital technology a core driver of socioeconomic development and to reduce the country’s dependence on extractive industries. In September, Gabon adopted a new legal framework to regulate and accelerate the digital transformation of public administration.
Digitizing payments is a key part of this modernization effort. In late October, authorities launched a pilot to digitize social and tax contributions, with a full rollout scheduled for January 2026. Earlier this year, Gabon also partnered with Visa to develop digital solutions for modernizing tax collection, automating fund disbursements and deploying a secure digital identity.
Officials say that digitizing payments will benefit the state “by reducing the costs and delays linked to administrative procedures, improving the quality of public services and strengthening citizens’ trust in public administration.” They added that wider digital payment adoption will support economic development by making transactions easier, attracting investment and creating jobs.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
Tunisia launched on November 19 a National Charter aimed at strengthening families’ capacity to ensure a safe digital environment for children. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Family, Women, Children and Seniors and the Ministry of Communication Technologies, is supported by telecom operators, Internet service providers, public media, and other sector actors.
In her remarks, Family Minister Asma Jabri stressed that the family is “the first line of defense for the child.” Families must therefore receive the tools needed to interact safely and effectively with digital technologies through awareness, training, and guidance. This support will enable parents to follow technological developments and provide positive, responsible supervision of their children’s online activities.
The initiative comes as children are increasingly connected to the Internet for both entertainment and learning. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) estimates that a child somewhere in the world goes online for the first time every half-second. In Tunisia, Communication Technologies Minister Sofiene Hemissi recently reported that minors aged 12 to 16 spend an average of eight hours per day online.
In October, during a conference organized by the Ministry of Interior alongside the Ministries of Defense and Communication Technologies, Mr. Hemissi highlighted the rise in cyberthreats targeting minors, intensified by the use of artificial intelligence. He noted that risks no longer concern only exposure to immoral content but now include the spread of false historical, religious, and cultural information.
In this context, the government had already launched in 2024 a National Action Plan for preventing and responding to online violence against children, in partnership with UNICEF. “While access to this technology provides numerous educational and social benefits to children, it also has the potential to expose them to risk and cause harm. Furthermore, it is possible for both risks and harms to traverse the digital and physical environments, whereby online risks can become offline harms and vice versa.,” the UN agency stated at the time.
Meanwhile, the GSMA, in partnership with UNICEF, launched in late October 2025 a working group dedicated to online child protection. This multi-stakeholder platform aims to guide, coordinate, and strengthen efforts across Africa while building national and regional capacities to ensure children’s safety online. The group includes major telecom operators on the continent, including Orange, which operates in Tunisia.
- Ericsson opens new Zambia office to support national digital transformation goals
- Govt unveils “Digital Pact” with focus on innovation, local solutions, and inclusion
- ICT sector grew 17.4% in 2023; digital shift could add $1.26B by 2028
Swedish technology firm Ericsson opened its new office in Zambia last week, a move that authorities say reflects a strengthening partnership aimed at advancing the country’s digital transformation. The government also encouraged other technology companies to invest in the country.
“The opening of the Ericsson Zambia office marks a pivotal moment in the country’s technological advancement. It reflects a collective vision shared by government, industry, and international partners to build a secure, inclusive, and innovative digital future,” Zambia’s Ministry of Technology and Science said in a Facebook post on Friday, November 14. “With strong policy reforms, trusted partnerships, and continued investment in infrastructure and skills, Zambia is well-positioned to become a leading digital hub in the region.”
During the event, Minister of Technology and Science Felix Mutati introduced a “Digital Pact,” a cooperation framework involving Ericsson, the government and the Zambian public. The pact is built around four principles: agility and innovation, solutions tailored to Zambia’s needs, faster processing and smoother operations, and shared responsibility and opportunity.
Mutati also highlighted government efforts to create a supportive policy environment, including tax exemptions on digital infrastructure imports and regulatory reforms that have helped make information and communication technology the country’s fastest-growing sector, expanding by 17.4 percent in 2023.
Zambia’s national digital strategy aims to make the country an integrated, inclusive and digitally autonomous nation by 2030. Authorities say digital adoption can raise productivity, improve efficiency and deliver better services, which in turn can support growth and reduce poverty. Mutati noted that technology can also cut costs and improve efficiency in priority sectors such as mining.
The GSM Association (GSMA) estimates that continued digital transformation could generate additional value of 28.64 billion Zambian Kwacha, or about 1.26 billion dollars, across the agriculture, trade, manufacturing, transport and public service sectors by 2028. The first four sectors alone could add 5.16 billion Kwacha in tax revenue and create 378,422 jobs.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
- Côte d’Ivoire seeks Algeria’s expertise in postal, telecom, and ICT sectors
- Officials discussed investment ties; no concrete projects announced yet
- Côte d’Ivoire aims to grow digital sector to boost long-term economic output
Côte d’Ivoire wants to draw on Algeria’s experience in the postal, telecoms and ICT sectors, the Algerian government said. The announcement followed a November 13 meeting between Post and Telecommunications Minister Sid Ali Zerrouki and Ivorian Ambassador Alphonse Voho Sahi.
In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the Algerian ministry did not provide specific details on concrete bilateral cooperation projects or the exact areas in which Algeria would share its expertise. However, both parties discussed investment and partnership opportunities between Algerian and Ivorian companies.
The talks come as Côte d’Ivoire expands its digital sector to support economic growth. The World Bank says digital activities could add 6 to 7 percentage points to the country’s growth rate. The sector’s contribution, estimated at 5.5 billion dollars by 2025, could rise to 20 billion dollars by 2050 if investment and reforms continue.
Algeria ranks 116th on the UN’s 2024 E-Government Development Index with a score of 0.5956, above the African average but below the global average. It is also classified in Tier 3 of the International Telecommunication Union’s Global ICT Index. The country scored 86.1 out of 100 on the 2025 ICT Development Index, up from 80.9 in 2024, and placed sixth among 47 African countries, according to Ecofin Agency. In 2023, its 2G, 3G and 4G coverage reached 98.5%, 98.2% and 90.4%. Mobile penetration stood at 93% and internet penetration at 76.9%.
Côte d’Ivoire ranks 124th on the EGDI with a score of 0.5587 and is also listed in Tier 3 of the Global Cybersecurity Index. The ITU highlights the country’s strengths in legislation and institutional organisation but says technical capacity, training and cooperation need improvement. Côte d’Ivoire scored 69.5 on the 2025 ICT Development Index, up from 65.3 a year earlier. In 2023, 2G coverage reached 98.9%, 3G covered 98.3% and 4G reached 93.7%. Mobile penetration was 66.5% and internet penetration 40.7%.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
- UNDP-backed project boosts digital skills, enables virtual court operations
- Digitization cuts costs, expands access, supports remote testimony for survivors
Malawi’s judiciary launched a new Information and Communications Technology (ICT) policy and a dedicated ICT laboratory on Monday, November 3, in Blantyre.
The initiative, carried out in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims to modernize judicial procedures, improve access to justice, and strengthen the rule of law.
The new policy sets out a framework for digital transformation focused on governance, security, capacity building, and institutional resilience. The accompanying ICT laboratory will serve as an innovation and training center for judges, magistrates, and judicial staff. It aims to strengthen their digital skills and allow them to test technology solutions suited to local needs.
This project builds on ongoing digitization efforts launched in 2024. With UNDP support, the judiciary has already established twenty pilot virtual court sites connecting courts, prisons, and police stations. The system has reduced administrative costs by roughly 375 million Malawian Kwacha (about $216,600) over fifteen months while improving access to justice. Notably, it allows survivors of sexual and gender-based violence to testify remotely.
The new ICT policy is expected to accelerate the digital transformation of Malawi’s judiciary, improving transparency and efficiency and strengthening public confidence in the justice system.
Malawi joins other African nations such as Rwanda, Kenya, and Ghana that are modernizing their justice systems by introducing online platforms, virtual hearings, and paperless procedures to reduce delays and expand access to justice.
Samira Njoya
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Egypt, GIZ, and tech firms launch ServiceNow training initiative
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Program targets youth digital upskilling for local, global job markets
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Part of broader MCIT strategy to build national digital workforce
Egypt’s Information Technology Institute (ITI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) on Wednesday, Nov. 5. The agreement also involves several multinationals, including Capgemini, Deloitte Innovation Hub (DIH), and Vodafone Intelligent Solutions (VOIS).
The partnership aims to launch a national initiative to train young talent on the ServiceNow platform, enhancing their technical skills for both local and international job markets.
Described by Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) as the “first of its kind in Egypt,” the initiative offers internationally recognized training on ServiceNow, a digital transformation platform used by organizations to manage IT, HR, and operational services. The platform improves efficiency, streamlines workflows, and cuts costs by integrating systems into a unified digital environment.
Under the agreement, Capgemini, DIH, and VOIS will help select top graduates, provide technical and advisory support to align training with market needs, and recruit top performers. GIZ Egypt will provide international licenses and certified training materials, while ITI will design and implement specialized training programs based on the latest technology curricula.
Digital Workforce Strategy
Developing digital skills is a core pillar of Egypt’s national digital transformation strategy. The MCIT stresses that a “digital society cannot be built without the right level of expertise and sufficient human resources to carry out this mission.”
The ministry’s strategy focuses on four key areas: digital literacy, intermediate technology training, advanced programs to train a new generation of competitive technicians, and a professional master’s degree program offered annually through the Digital Egypt Builders Initiative (DEBI), implemented in partnership with global technology firms and international universities.
In related efforts, the MCIT signed an MoU with Microsoft in April to train and certify 100,000 people, including young professionals and IT staff from ministries and digital transformation units. A similar five-year agreement was concluded with IBM. In February, the ministry also signed an MoU with Cisco to improve the digital skills of about 250,000 trainees over the next five years.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
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Nigeria launches upgraded NgREN to connect higher education institutions
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New platform supports online learning, research, and digital services
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Full national rollout planned by 2026 under digital education strategy
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Education recently announced the rollout of an upgraded version of the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN) and its integration with the Tertiary Education, Research, Applications and Services (TERAS) platform.
Officials said the initiative aims to boost digital connectivity, research collaboration, and innovation across the country’s higher education system.
Education Minister Alausa said the new NgREN will serve as a national high-speed education network, linking universities, research institutes, polytechnics, and colleges of education through a shared digital platform. The system will support online learning, cloud computing, plagiarism detection, digital libraries, research services, high-performance computing, and institutional analytics.
Digital Transformation Goals
The minister said the pilot phase will begin in 2025 in selected universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country’s geopolitical zones. Nigeria plans to connect all higher education institutions by 2026.
This initiative is part of a broader digital transformation drive for Nigeria’s education sector. For instance, on October 30, Alausa unveiled a national program to distribute tablets in all public schools to make digital education universal by 2027. In September, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) signed an agreement with U.S. firm Digital Learning Network (DLN) to supply digital devices to nearly 47 million students and teachers nationwide.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
- Gabon, Morocco to launch joint AI and digital skills training programs
- Talks focus on innovation, distance learning, and expanding digital cooperation
- Morocco ranks 4th in Africa on UN e-Government Index; Gabon seeks to improve
Gabon and Morocco are moving to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital transformation and digital skills training following talks between their ministers in Rabat. Gabon’s Minister of Digital Economy, Digital Transformation and Innovation Mark-Alexandre Doumba met his Moroccan counterpart, Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, on November 3 to outline future joint programs.
Doumba expressed Gabon’s interest in drawing on Morocco’s experience and forming a partnership centered on digital innovation and skills training. The two sides agreed to launch joint programs focused on AI and data analysis training, as well as on expanding distance learning through Moroccan digital platforms.
During the talks, El Fallah Seghrouchni highlighted Morocco’s national training initiatives such as “JobInTech,” along with programs designed to introduce children to digital technology and AI. She also invited Gabon to take part in the upcoming GITEX Africa exhibition in Morocco.
The partnership comes as Gabon works to make the digital sector a cornerstone of its economic development and reduce dependence on extractive industries. In 2025, Libreville expanded partnerships with countries including Turkey, Botswana, and Saudi Arabia to pursue this objective. Morocco, regarded as a continental leader in digital transformation, is seen as a key model.
The UNDP recently recognized Morocco’s leadership, highlighting its launch of the “Digital Morocco for Sustainable Development (D4SD Hub)” platform to promote inclusive digital transformation in Arab and African countries. Morocco ranks 90th globally and 4th in Africa on the 2024 UN e-Government Development Index (EGDI), with a score of 0.6841 out of 1, above both regional and global averages.
Gabon, for its part, ranks 121st globally with a score of 0.5741. It performs well in telecom infrastructure (0.8263) but lags in online services (0.3188) and human capital (0.5772).
Isaac K. Kassouwi
- Burkina Faso to transform post offices into digital service centers by 2030
- $9.7M plan targets rural access, with 20 “Zama Tchè” centers planned
- Move supports national strategy amid 83% offline population in 2023
Burkina Faso will equip post offices nationwide with digital assistance centers to help citizens access online public services. The plan aims to turn the national postal network into a driver of digital and financial inclusion.
The initiative was approved during the Cabinet meeting on Oct. 30, which endorsed a performance contract between the state and La Poste Burkina Faso. The plan calls for the gradual transformation of post offices into “citizens’ houses,” known as Zama Tchè. Under the 2026-2030 agreement, the state and La Poste will jointly fund the construction and outfitting of 20 such centers, at a total cost of 5.5 billion CFA francs (about $9.7 million).
The government said the move aligns with its broader effort to digitize administrative services and make them more accessible, transparent, and efficient. Expanding digital access to public services is one of Burkina Faso’s 12 national digital priorities under its 2030 strategy, which aims to ensure equal access to digital tools, including in rural areas.
Access to the services requires internet connectivity, digital devices, and basic skills, which remain out of reach for much of the population. In 2023, an estimated 83% of Burkinabe were not using the internet, according to the International Telecommunication Union. To bridge that gap, La Poste currently operates a network of 129 branches across the country, which will serve as the foundation for the new initiative.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
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Madagascar has appointed a new minister to lead its ongoing national digital transformation strategy. The young expert is tasked with modernizing government administration and enhancing the country's overall connectivity.
Mahefa Andriamampiadana was appointed Madagascar’s Minister of Digital Development, Digital Transformation, Posts, and Telecommunications on Tuesday, Oct. 28. His appointment is part of the new 29-member “Re-foundation” government.
Andriamampiadana succeeds Tahina Razafindramalo, who held the post for several years and launched several key projects to modernize the country’s digital sector.
The new minister is relatively unknown to the public and has maintained a low national profile. Available information suggests he has solid experience in the private tech industry. He reportedly served as a senior IT strategy executive at Exo-S for three and a half years and previously held roles at Microsoft 365, Skyone Television and Radio Général, Compurweb, and Communication Network Corporation, covering operations management and executive leadership.
Andriamampiadana takes office as Madagascar seeks to strengthen its digital infrastructure and expand Internet access. Despite progress, connectivity remains costly and uneven: mobile Internet currently accounts for 15.5% of monthly GNI per capita, far above the 2% threshold recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The minister’s priorities include expanding the fiber-optic network, digitalizing public services, implementing a national digital identity system, and modernizing postal services. To meet these challenges, he will need to mobilize a dynamic ecosystem of private firms, telecom operators, startups, and international partners, collaboration on which Madagascar’s digital transformation depends.
Samira Njoya
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Gabon boosts 2026 digital budget by 156% to 82B CFA francs
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Funds target infrastructure, literacy, and e-governance expansion
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Country scores low in cybersecurity despite digital policy gains
Gabon’s Ministry of Digital Economy, Digitalization, and Innovation has announced a budget of 82 billion CFA francs for 2026, representing a massive 156.2% increase from the 32 billion CFA francs allocated in 2025. Minister Mark-Alexandre Doumba presented the budget to the National Transition Assembly on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025.
The significant increase "reflects the government’s commitment to accelerating the country's digital transformation through the strengthening of the digital entrepreneurial ecosystem, the deployment of digital infrastructure, and the promotion of a genuine digital literacy across the country," the ministry said in a statement released on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
While the statement did not specify the projects planned for 2026, the government has launched several digital infrastructure initiatives in recent months. These include signing an agreement with an American technology company to construct a national data center. Private partners such as Cisco, Tech 41, Visa, Huawei, Moov Africa Gabon Telecom, and Afrastructure SAS have also been approached. Discussions have focused on expanding the national fiber optic network, strengthening universal service, telecom infrastructure sharing, 5G deployment, and connecting the country to a new submarine cable.
In digital transformation policy, the government recently issued an ordinance that mandates public administrations to digitize their services, interconnect their systems, and fully integrate the national private sector to establish digital sovereignty.
Gabon is currently ranked 121st out of 193 countries on the United Nations E-Government Development Index, scoring 0.5741 out of 1. This places it above the average for Central Africa (0.3354) and Africa (0.4247), but below the global average (0.6382). The country’s lowest score, 0.3188 out of 1, was recorded in the online services indicator, while its highest, 0.8263, was in the telecom infrastructure indicator.
This result aligns with the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) 2024 ICT Development Index, where Gabon scored 76.1 out of 100, ranking 11th out of 42 African nations.
However, Gabon faces challenges in cybersecurity. The ITU’s Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 placed the country in the fourth and second-to-last category (Tier 4), with an overall score of 39.86 out of 100. While the country achieved the maximum score of 20 in the legal measures pillar, significant progress is still required in the areas of technical, organizational, and cooperation measures.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
- Ghana, Cisco discuss partnership for digital skills training
- “One Million Coders” targets certified youth in tech fields
- Plan includes digital centers, global tech firm collaborations
The Ghanaian government is exploring a collaboration with U.S. technology giant Cisco Systems for its "One Million Coders" program, an initiative aimed at equipping the nation's youth with digital skills. A Cisco delegation presented a partnership proposal to Samuel Nartey George, the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation, during a meeting last week.
While specific details of the proposed partnership were not disclosed, Cisco operates its own global training platform, the Cisco Networking Academy (NetAcad), established in 1997. NetAcad offers free or subsidized courses, both online and in-person, covering areas such as computer networking, cybersecurity, programming, Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud computing. The academy works with governments, universities, and organizations to provide globally recognized certifications, including the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate).
During the meeting, Minister George reiterated that the "One Million Coders" program aims to train internationally certified professionals in high-demand fields such as AI, cybersecurity, forensic data science, and cloud computing. He also announced plans to establish digital centers in all 276 constituencies across the country, each equipped with approximately 50 computers, to ensure young people in rural areas have access to necessary equipment and internet connectivity for their training.
George stated that the government is actively seeking partnerships with major technology firms, including Google, Huawei, Microsoft, and AWS. The government had previously engaged with TikTok in June and, in September, initiated a collaboration with Code Racoon, a company backed by German partners, to train 350,000 young individuals. Discussions are also underway with local tech firm TECHAiDE to integrate its "Asanka" wireless device, an offline Local Learning Management System (LMS), into the training program.
Launched in April, the "One Million Coders" program is part of the government’s comprehensive plan to build a digitally competent workforce capable of supporting Ghana's transition to an innovation-driven economy. The GSM Association (GSMA) estimates that continued digital transformation across the agriculture, industry, trade, and transport sectors could create an additional 340,000 jobs by 2027, generating a total added value of 34.9 billion cedis ($3.24 billion).
The partnership is not yet finalized. Minister George invited Cisco to submit a formal proposal and a letter of intent to officially establish the collaboration, though no specific timeline was provided.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
- Twenty high-speed Internet sites launched under a $100 million digital project.
- The program aims to connect 76 rural sites nationwide by the end of 2025.
- Limited electricity access remains a major challenge in remote areas.
Congo’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and the Digital Economy, Léon Juste Ibombo, announced on Monday, October 13, the activation of 20 high-speed Internet access points in rural areas. The initiative, unveiled during a visit by a World Bank delegation for the Africa region in Brazzaville, aims to democratize Internet access nationwide and reduce the digital divide.
“As of today, 76 connectivity sites have been built and equipped across the country. Of these, 20 are already connected to high-speed Internet, allowing residents in remote areas to go online in real time,” said the minister.
The rollout is part of the Digital Transformation Acceleration Project (PATN) and the broader Digital Strategy 2030. Co-financed by the World Bank and the European Union for $100 million, the PATN represents one of the largest investments ever made in Congo’s digital sector. The government has also contributed an additional $3 million to upgrade infrastructure, prioritizing 4G technology to ensure stable and efficient connections.
The government’s goal is to connect all 76 sites to 4G by the end of the year, creating new economic and social opportunities for rural communities in e-commerce, e-learning, and e-government.
Beyond infrastructure, the initiative seeks to narrow the digital gap between urban and rural areas and strengthen the state’s capacity to deliver efficient online public services. However, persistent challenges remain, especially limited access to electricity. According to the World Bank, 67% of the urban population has electricity, compared with only 12.4% in rural areas.