Public Management

Public Management (500)

Tourism, like almost every sector, is undergoing a major digital transformation in Africa. To successfully implement that transformation, some countries are teaming up with tech giants to support their strategies. 

Patricia de Lille (photo, right), South Africa's Minister of Tourism, and Alistair Mokoena (photo, left), Country Manager of Google South Africa signed an agreement in Cape Town on Monday, November 13. The aim is to promote South Africa as the choice tourist destination and provide training and support in the sector. 

"In an era of digital transformation, collaboration between technology giants and government entities has the potential to reshape industries and enhance public services. [...] This visionary partnership between Google and the Ministry of Tourism, focusing on non-monetary exchanges to leverage each parties’ strengths for mutual benefits," said Patricia de Lille.

This partnership is part of the Ministry's mission to improve the attractiveness of the sector, harness its technological power, and increase the number of tourist arrivals in the country to support economic growth and job creation. Google, the world's largest search engine, has several tools at its disposal, such as Google Arts & Culture, with which the Mountain View firm can highlight the country's tourist destinations, encouraging Internet users to develop a greater interest in South Africa. Startups operating in the sector can be supported by Google programs such as the Start-up Accelerator and the Black Founders Fund.

"As a company that prides itself in organizing the world’s information and making it universally accessible and useful, we look forward to rolling out various programs in conjunction with the department, to fast-track digital transformation in the sector, helping with digital skills and showcasing South African tourism through our Google Arts & Culture platform," said Alistair Mokoena.

Adoni Conrad Quenum

Posted On mardi, 14 novembre 2023 16:15 Written by

In 2018, Senegal launched a program to rehabilitate its airports. The aim is to improve the passenger experience and position itself as a leading air hub.

Cheikh Bakhoum, director general of Senegal Numerique (SENUM SA), the national agency overseeing public digital infrastructure, and Abdoulaye Dieye, CEO of Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD SA), signed a partnership agreement in Dakar on Monday, November 6.

The partnership aims to implement infrastructure solutions to improve connectivity and facilitate the digital transformation of 13 airports in Senegal.

Under the 3-year cooperation agreement, SENUM SA will provide AIBD with fiber optic connectivity, state-of-the-art data centers, and other services. SENUM SA will also contribute its expertise in auditing the information system, supporting AIBD's human resources in supervising installations, and guaranteeing system security in the event of attacks.

The signing of this partnership agreement is part of the program to rehabilitate Senegal's regional airports (PRAS) launched in 2018 by President Macky Sall. The program aims to make Senegal a leading air hub in Africa.

"I am pleased to welcome the director general of Senegal Numerique today, as state institutions must operate in seamless harmony. We are confident that this agreement is timely and will effectively address the imperative of upgrading our airports to meet industry standards, while simultaneously implementing robust IT systems, security protocols, and data backup measures," said Abdoulaye Dieye.

Samira Njoya

Posted On mercredi, 08 novembre 2023 13:22 Written by

To accelerate the realization of their digital ambitions, governments are teaming up with reliable and experienced partners to get technical support for some projects. 

On Wednesday, November 1, the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed a memorandum of understanding at the United Nations House in Mbabane.

According to a UNDP press release, the agreement aims, among other things, to improve universal access to affordable ICT services; provide digital services and other government functions; and support the effective implementation of the national digital strategy developed under ESCCOM's leadership.

"This agreement will play a pivotal role in accelerating our progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. These goals encompass vital indicators such as reducing youth unemployment, bolstering food security, broadening access to ICTs, digitizing services, and fostering financial inclusion throughout Eswatini," said Mvilawemphi Dlamini (photo, left), ESCCOM's Chief Executive Officer.

The agreement calls for the creation of iHubs (innovation hubs) and digital technology action centers to deepen digital inclusion and improve youth employability. These centers will be designed as one-stop shops for ICT training, business development, business relations, financial services, and business mentoring.

The agreement is part of ESCCOM's efforts to develop digital technology and reduce the digital divide in the country. In June, ESCCOM announced the signature of a telecoms agreement with the Mozambique Communications Regulatory Authority (INCM). Ultimately, the agreement with the UNDP will, among other things, help reduce the digital divide in Eswatini, with a focus on marginalized people, notably young people, women, and the disabled.

Samira Njoya

Posted On lundi, 06 novembre 2023 16:37 Written by

The coronavirus pandemic accelerated digital transformation initiatives across Africa but, some countries, like Senegal, were already embarked on that path long before the pandemic. They are still pushing ahead with numerous initiatives. 

Senegal's Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy, in partnership with the German international cooperation agency GIZ, unveiled GovStack, a platform that dematerializes administrative procedures, at a workshop organized by Sénégal Numérique (SENUM) on Thursday, October 26, and Friday, October 27. GovStack will enable the dematerialization of over 800 administrative procedures.

"Digitization means we can move faster and make things easier for the administration. It's a platform that's available and free to everyone. We are helping the Senegalese government to understand the tool, its scope, and its benefit for the administration," said Katharina Noussi, Program Manager at GIZ.

Senegal kickstarted the digitization of its administrative services in 2017. Since then, authorities have multiplied partnerships and initiatives in the health, justice, and administrative sectors. In 2022, SENUM signed an agreement with the mayors of the 19 communes in the Dakar department to digitize civil status records. Last July, XOF8 billion (around $13 million) was allocated to set up the 2023-2027 Digital Justice Strategy, to build a digital judicial public service that will benefit all players and users in the sector.

The digitization of various administrative procedures should, among other things, improve the accessibility of public services to users, the efficiency and management of these services thanks to the automation of various tasks, and the exchange of data between government departments.

Adoni Conrad Quenum

Posted On jeudi, 02 novembre 2023 13:38 Written by

African countries need reliable internet connections to achieve the objectives set out in their respective digital transformation agendas. Consequently, the need for these countries to collaborate with partners capable of bolstering their ambitions has become increasingly imperative.

On the sidelines of the China-Africa Digital Capacity Building Cooperation, Uganda signed an agreement with China to enhance connectivity nationwide. 

Commenting on the new collaboration, the country’s ICT Minister, Chris Baryomunsi, said that it would help build the infrastructure needed to ensure internet access for the whole country.  

"China is ahead of us in terms of technology and has been a key pillar in connecting internet cables to different parts of the country. Through this cooperation, we shall build new infrastructure, equipment, and training and provide services to all Ugandans," said Chris Baryomunsi.

This new initiative is part of the Ugandan government's ambition to accelerate digital transformation to support economic recovery, create unlimited opportunities for youth, and achieve "Vision 2040". Last March, the executive secured 1,800 billion shillings (477.4 million USD) in funding from the World Bank to expand Internet access in the country.

At the end of this partnership, which is already being implemented, Uganda will benefit from improved Internet connectivity coverage at affordable costs. The partnership will also enable people in remote areas to familiarize themselves with the public services set up by the government via digital platforms.

Samira Noya

Posted On mardi, 31 octobre 2023 16:44 Written by

In Africa, digital transformation is accelerating across all countries. However, some countries are more focused on quickly achieving their digital goals than others. In Rwanda for instance, the government is hard at work to complete some of its digital projects by 2024. 

The Rwandan government will soon launch a unique digital identification system (SDID) and deploy 5th generation (5G) technology in the country. Rwanda's Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, confirmed this recently in a podcast produced by the private Rwandan newspaper, The New Times.

"We’ll start very soon with what we call the pre-enrolment phase which is about enrolling citizens and getting their biometrics. The current ID that we have is given only to people who are 16 years and above, but we’ll provide the digital ID from birth. That’s one exciting aspect of the digital ID," she said.

The new system, which is currently being rolled out, is financed to the tune of $40 million by the World Bank. It will be based on a national population register containing the biographical and biometric data of all Rwandan citizens, including those from the diaspora and foreigners living in the country.

During the same broadcast, the Minister also mentioned that the first 5G tests were recently successfully carried out in the country from the stratosphere using a prototype unmanned aerial vehicle (HAPS). During the test, 5G connectivity was provided for around 73 minutes at a maximum altitude of 16.9 km, ts2.space reveals. These ongoing initiatives, among others, are part of the Rwandan government's commitment to enhancing public service delivery across diverse sectors. They aim to expand internet accessibility across the nation, encompassing even remote rural communities, and providing an identity to every citizen. 

Samira Njoya

Posted On mardi, 31 octobre 2023 14:16 Written by

With the exponential growth of global platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook, the number of digital content creators in Africa has significantly surged in recent years. Governments want to capitalize on this trend to boost their revenues.

Kenya will now collect taxes from content creators. President William Ruto (photo) has approved proposed amendments to the Finance Act, 2023, concerning taxes and levies from digital creators.  

Under the Act, payments made by taxpayers to content creators will now be subject to a 15% withholding tax. The tax is specifically applied to goods and services sold to content creators’ audiences.  The text also proposes a tax on creators' paid content subscriptions and revenues generated on free content.

Last May, the law was amended and submitted to the government for approval, which was quick to respond positively, creating a sense of frustration among the country's young content creators. In their view, the proposed tax is too high for a growing digital economy, given that they receive minimal state support for content creation. On the government side, the new tax aims to diversify revenue sources, tackle poverty, and grow the digital economy.

It is one of the numerous taxes introduced in the 2023 Finance Act. Some of them broaden the tax base to include the digital space. They are expected to generate up to $2 billion in additional revenue for the Kenyan government. 

Samira Njoya

Posted On lundi, 30 octobre 2023 15:33 Written by

The sector is digitalized after a pilot phase led by the Ministry of Tourism’s IT and startup development division.

Last Monday, October 23, Côte d’Ivoire presented SITD, its digital platform aggregating information about its tourism industry. Overall, the platform aggregates 22,641 operators, including 19,201 accommodation and catering establishments and 3,440 dedicated to leisure activities. 

The platform aims to showcase Côte d’Ivoire’s tourist destinations, provide reliable data for strategic decision-making, and information on market trends throughout the country. It bodes well for the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be held in the country between January and February 2024. 

For Tourism Minister Siandou Fofana, who presided over the presentation ceremony in Abidjan, it is a strategic tool unveiled at a time when the country is hosting an AFCON edition focused on innovation and hospitality.  “I would like to reassure you that we are fully aware of the challenges posed by such a platform, particularly in terms of cybersecurity and data protection. Strong technical and organizational measures have been taken to ensure that all your information remains secure and compartmentalized," he said.  

In recent years, Côte d'Ivoire has embarked on revitalizing its tourism sector. Authorities have taken several actions to promote the country as a leading tourist destination in West Africa. Last August, a three-year agreement was signed with French football club Olympique de Marseille to feature the "Sublime Côte d'Ivoire" brand at the club's stadium, and on their shorts, and training shirts.

During the AFCON Cup, the country will host over twenty football teams with their staff and supporters. In that context, the platform will help them geolocate travel agencies, restaurants, tourist sites, bars and nightclubs, hospitals, clinics, petrol stations, etc. 

Adoni Conrad Quenum

Posted On jeudi, 26 octobre 2023 13:22 Written by

Like almost every African country, Niger wants to leverage digital technologies as key drivers for development.  Projects are underway in the country to meet the needs of the population over the next ten years.

Niger is currently working towards the development of its 2023-2032 digital agenda and the improvement of the legal and institutional framework to account for new developments in the digital world. This was announced, last October 21, by Moustapha Tinao, the secretary general of the Nigerien Ministry of Digital Economy, on the sidelines of the Global Encryption Day, celebrated by the Internet Society Niger Chapter in Niamey. 

According to the secretary general, one of the government’s actions is to democratize digital technologies “by making them accessible to everyone, contributing to the achievement of the MDGs and ensuring access to services for all.” 

As part of the Nigerien government's vision, this initiative aims to foster the development of information and communication technologies, positioning digital innovation as a significant catalyst for social and economic progress. Acknowledging the imperative to embrace digital transformation, the leadership seeks to promote universal access to ICTs.

With a fast-growing population already exceeding 25 million, Niger's government aims to urgently meet the demand for digital public services. The country is focusing on digitizing various sectors, including fintech, smart mobility, education, agriculture, and health.

In August, the government announced plans to merge the telecommunications companies Niger Telecoms and Zamani Telecom. The initiative will create a large public company that will better position the State in the national telecoms market, currently dominated by the private sector.

Samira Njoya

Posted On mercredi, 25 octobre 2023 13:37 Written by

In Africa, the digital ecosystem still has enormous potential to stimulate economic recovery, promote opportunities, advance social equality, and create jobs. It is therefore urgent to develop this ecosystem through North-South partnerships.

On Tuesday, October 17, Léon Juste Ibombo (photo, right), Congo’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy, granted an audience to Eugene Stewart Young (photo, left), US Ambassador to the Republic of Congo.

The two officials discussed, among other things, strengthening cooperation between the United States and Congo in the digital economy and postal sectors.

According to Eugene S. Young, the purpose of the meeting was to define areas of digital cooperation and identify projects to be implemented shortly. "We also talked about our priorities, the Embassy's priorities, the Minister's priorities, and new developments in the telecommunications sector. I look forward to continuing the discussions with the Congolese side," he said.

This new initiative is fully in line with the strategy put in place by the Ministry of Telecommunications to kick-start the development of the digital economy in Congo. In recent years, the country has implemented initiatives to attract international partners. The aim is to multiply collaborations that could lead to the construction of new digital infrastructures, the development of digital skills in the public and private sectors, the modernization of services, and the provision of quality Internet connection.

The audience comes after the US government's decision, in December 2022, to devote $55 billion to Africa over three years for the development of several sectors, including digital, through the Digital Transformation in Africa (DTA) initiative.

Samira Njoya

Posted On vendredi, 20 octobre 2023 15:24 Written by
Page 17 sur 36

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.