Public Management (537)
Digital technologies are quite useful, and many of their advantages emerged during the Covid-19 crisis. Seduced by them, many African governments decided to make the digital sector a pillar of their development strategy.
The Ugandan Ministry of ICT and National Orientation launched a new plan for digital transformation on August 17. The plan revolves around seven (7) key axes: digital infrastructure and connectivity; digital services; cybersecurity, data protection and privacy; digital skills; innovation and entrepreneurship; systematic experimentation and preservation of the national environment.
"The Digital Transformation Plan represents a bold vision of our nation's future, one that is not driven by technology alone, but in which technology serves as a catalyst for sustainable development, economic growth and improved living conditions for all Ugandans," said the ICT Minister, Chris Baryomunsi.
The five-year strategy (2023-2027) was drawn with the help of several partners, including the UN Development Program (UNDP). It is set to foster an administrative, economic, and social environment that will benefit both Ugandans and foreign investors.
According to a government survey on ICT conducted nationwide, only 5% of government ministries, departments, and agencies had internal IT interoperability frameworks in 2022. Furthermore, only 61% of local governments had access to the Internet, while only 5.6% of their staff regularly used a computer for business purposes.
Around one in two businesses (55%) had Internet access in the year reviewed, and only one in three had a professional website; 94% of the population still had no Internet access at home. 74% of the population had a cell phone, 49% of the population had a Mobile Money account, versus 10% with a personal bank account. The broadband Internet penetration rate was 55%. Currently, the contribution of ICT to gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated at 9%.
Uganda’s new Digital Transformation Plan falls under its 2040 Digital Uganda Vision launched in 2013.
Muriel Edjo
As a new legal battle looms for the leader of the Patriotic Senegalese for Work, Ethics and Fraternity Party (Pastef), the government, fearing an outbreak like last June, has once again taken several security measures. These aim to limit the public mobilization in support of the politician.
The Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy has decided to again suspend mobile internet in the country. The Ministry explained that the measure is "due to the spreading of hateful and subversive messages relayed on social media in a context of disturbance to public order." It added that the suspension is "temporary during certain time slots." The suspension started on July 31, 2023.
Back on July 28, Ousmane Sonko, the head of the Pastef party, was arrested at his home in the evening on charges of "violent theft."
According to the Prosecutor of the Republic, the opposition politician "violently stole the mobile phone of a female gendarme whose vehicle had broken down near his home and immediately called on the people, through a subversive message disseminated on social networks, to stand ready."
Sonko, however, claimed he snatched the phone of one of the general intelligence officers who was posted outside his home since his trial in May 2023. According to him, the officer was filming him. The politician said he took the phone after asking the officer to unlock it and delete the pictures.
In Dakar, where Ousmane Sonko began a hunger strike on Sunday, July 30, violent protests have again erupted in some districts of the capital. The government fears these demonstrations will be more violent than those of June, which followed the Pastef leader's conviction on June 1 for "corruption of youth."
At a press briefing on July 29, the Prosecutor of the Republic at the high court of Dakar, Abdou Karim Diop, revealed that Ousmane Sonko's arrest for theft only triggered action that was already imminent. He asserted that the opposition politician will be prosecuted on six other charges: calling for insurrection; undermining state security; criminal association; conspiracy against state authority; acts and maneuvers to compromise public security and create serious political disturbances, and criminal association linked to a terrorist enterprise.
Muriel Edjo
On its path to digital sovereignty, Senegal’s government wants to address the country's priorities relative to sustainable development, innovation, and value creation.
Senegal will soon have a National Data Strategy. Earlier this week, Moussa Bocar Thiam, the minister of telecom and digital economy, unveiled progress made in the strategy’s development, ahead of its implementation.
"We all know that data is essential in today's digital economy. It is important that Senegal, as one of the pioneering countries in this field, establishes a strategy for data governance and data valorization, to see how this data can be processed in the country, and how its use should be regulated," said Thiam.
Back on March 23rd, 2023, the same official kicked off works to draw the National Data Strategy. The project is supported by Germany, the European Union (EU), and Smart Africa. It meets a need to provide users with a document governing the security and integrity of data during their use. The goal is to make data a driver of socio-economic growth, inclusivity, innovation, and international openness in Senegal by 2028.
The upcoming strategy is based on fundamental principles such as privacy protection, transparency, and fairness. It also takes into account the regulatory framework, data collection infrastructures (like data centers), and data preservation and exploitation.
According to Moussa Thiam, implementing the strategy will foster responsible data use, better privacy protection, and promote innovation - all things which should, ultimately, contribute to a flourishing digital future for Senegal.
Samira Njoya
Seven years ago, Cape Verde started building a technological center with research and high-level training centers, but also cutting-edge industries. The country expects the project to be completed next year.
Cape Verde just received a second loan, of €14 million, from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for its TechPark project. The Bank and the country recently signed the related agreement in Praia, Cape Verde's capital. The AfDB disclosed the signing on July 26.
Carlos Monteiro, who heads TechPark's board of directors, said the money will be used to equip the park's two data centers and other areas. Parts will also be used to get furniture, set up renewable energy parks, develop green spaces, and train people who will work at the park.
"The next generation of African talent doesn't need to look for opportunities abroad; Cape Verde has the necessary infrastructure and a favorable political system to nourish their dreams and ambitions in their own country," said Abdu Mukhtar, the AfDB's director for industrial and trade development.
The AfDB's financing falls under its support strategy for major digital projects in Africa. The facility is the second loan provided for building the TechPark site. The project benefited from a first loan of €31.59 million. The funds support Cape Verde's ambitions to become a digital hub, with a dynamic economy.
The new loan will speed up the park's construction. At full capacity, the park, which should be operational in 2024, will create 1,014 new jobs directly linked to its activities. Another 1,217 indirect jobs will also be created. It is expected to generate an average of €7.5 million per year in its first five years of operation.
Samira Njoya
The Angolan government has been taking many steps to reform its administration through digitalization. To speed up this process, the country is now teaming up with major tech actors.
The Administrative Modernization Institute (IMA), an auxiliary body of the Angolan Republic's presidency responsible for public administration modernization, and Dell Technologies, an American company providing tech solutions, services, and support, signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Dubai on Friday, July 14. The partnership aims to promote digital governance in Angola.
"The memorandum of understanding between the IMA and Dell Technologies establishes comprehensive cooperation in the field of digital governance. It anticipates the exchange of experiences, knowledge, and best practices, with a focus on the quality of public services, digitization of the economy, improvement of the business environment, support for entrepreneurship, training, and creation of human capital skills," the IMA wrote in a statement.
Last May, IMA took part in the "Dell Technologies World" conference. Organized by Dell, the conference aimed to accelerate digital growth and technological development in the world. The new deal aligns with the Angolan government's ambition to speed up digital growth as well, locally, and with the Angolan people, with various online government services.
Last February, Luanda announced an investment of $89 million to build its national cloud infrastructure by 2024. The digital infrastructure, built across the government’s centers, is expected to provide over 80 public services.
The partnership with Dell will support the ongoing digitization process of public administration in Angola. It should also allow the country to boost its e-government development score. On the UN’s 2022 e-Government Development Index, Angola ranked 157th out of 193 countries, placing it among countries with a medium level of electronic administration development.
Most African countries are dematerializing their administrative services to make their people's daily lives easier. Governments in these countries are now taking further steps to speed up this process.
The government of Senegal has just validated its 2023-2027 digitalization plan for the judiciary sector. The authorities did so during a workshop held on July 13.
The project should cost $13.7 million and result in the establishment of a digital public service of justice that will benefit all of the sector’s actors and users.
"The ownership and implementation of the digital plan for justice by all actors will bring about a revolution in the functioning of justice by allowing faster decisions, simplifying procedures and steps with a more transparent dimension of the procedures. In addition, it will enable users to reduce travel, and magistrates and ministry staff to improve daily work," said Ismaïla Madior Fall, Senegalese Minister of Justice.
In 2016, Senegal adopted its National Digital strategy which aims to digitize approximately 700 administrative procedures. Many investments have been made to ensure this digital transformation in various sectors of activity. Last June, Dakar released $49.8 million as part of the National Program for the Digitalization of the Health System.
For the second half of this year, Ismaïla Madior Fall explained that the project will focus among other things "on the digitization of the process for issuing legal documents and criminal records, the collection of fines, electronic archiving, naturalization, electronic mail management".
Furthermore, the project aims to adapt the texts to dematerialization, to make the working environment suitable; to give citizens remote access to judicial services by dematerializing all judicial procedures; to operationalize alternative justice; to protect children, or to have management tools for the judicial sector.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Despite having made significant progress in various areas in the past years, Rwanda still faces several issues, such as youth unemployment. Kigali, however, is taking many steps to tackle this specific challenge and help the youth to actively, and productively, contribute to the economy, via the digital sector.
The Rwandan government recently teamed up with the International Labor Organization (ILO) to start a development cooperation project. In a statement dated July 12, 2023, the ILO announced the partnership.
According to the statement, the project will promote youth employment, through digital technologies.
📢Good news for young Rwandans.@ILOAfrica and #Rwanda have announced a new development cooperation project designed to promote #youthemployment in the #digitaleconomy.
— ILO Africa (@ILOAfrica) July 12, 2023
More infos 👇👇https://t.co/0LD9jsA70f via @ILO pic.twitter.com/a8eRuj8s1T
"This project is an exciting milestone in our ongoing efforts to increase investment in the digital economy and uplift Africa's young workforce. It will serve as a new model to generate practical and effective results that will inspire other countries. I am delighted with the potential of this project to serve as a global best practice," said Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, ILO Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Africa.
Precisely, the project targets young people aged between 16 and 30, in Kigali and secondary towns. It will support job creation and entrepreneurial ventures in the digital economy; help boost youth’s digital skills; and improve public and private employment services provided to the youth.
With a €4 million budget, the project aligns with the Rwanda 2050 Vision, the Rwandan Transformation Strategy 1, the National Skills Development and Employment Promotion Strategy (NSDEPS) 2019-2024, and the Decent Work Country Program for Rwanda.
Once launched, the project will introduce new digital labor market interventions to create new jobs, reinforce existing programs to promote digital skills and stimulate demand for digital services among micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
Samira Njoya
ICT plays a central role in the digital transformation that is a priority for many governments worldwide. To accelerate the realization of their digital ambitions, countries are exploring avenues for collaboration.
The Angolan government announced on June 27 the start of tests on a fiber optic connection with Zambia. The Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technology, and Social Communication, Mário Oliveira (pictured), told the press about the tests during the visit of a parliamentary delegation from the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
According to the minister, the tests align with Angola's objective of becoming a telecom hub. A few days before the tests began, the two nations signed a memorandum of understanding to boost their cooperation in the field of fiber optics and space technology.
In this context, the minister stated that the country will provide satellite services to Zambia and South Africa in the coming months, specifically in the areas of agriculture, migration control, infrastructure, and the environment.
To achieve these goals, the minister called on financial partners who could support the strengthening of cooperation. "Without money, nothing can be done, but with the support of all, we can create robust systems for the continent and the world," said Mário Oliveira.
The new fiber optic connection will promote digital inclusion by improving traffic in the region and reducing the costs of accessing high-speed Internet in both countries. These efforts reflect the gradual progress the country is making in achieving its telecommunications objectives and promoting regional connectivity.
Samira Njoya
In May, Algeria inaugurated six digital platforms to enhance the skills of students and teachers, as well as digitize university services. In the same vein, 11 platforms have just been launched.
Last Saturday, Algeria inaugurated eleven new digital platforms dedicated to teaching, research, and university services. This brings the number of digital platforms dedicated to the higher education sector to 46.
According to Minister of Higher Education Kamel Baddari who inaugurated the eleven platforms, the platforms will be developed based on identified needs. In early May, he launched six platforms. One platform is an electronic one-stop-shop, another for documentation, while others are created to authenticate graduates’ documents, public medical research, and manage university incubators.
They are launched in line with the main digital plan for the scientific research sector under the 42+4 electronic platforms program. This program involves the launch of 42 platforms for teaching and research, and 4 others for the management of university services such as transport, accommodation, and catering.
For Minister Kamel Baddari, the sectoral plan aimed at addressing 12 challenges has seven strategic programs, which are 80% completed. The program runs from November 2022 to December 2024.
Samira Njoya
Senegal is working hard to fully digitize its healthcare system. To achieve its objectives quickly, the government has turned to the World Bank for financial support.
The Senegalese government has allocated CFAF30 billion ($49.8 million) of World Bank financing to its national health digitization system PDSS. The information was disclosed by Dr. Ibrahima Khaliloulah Dia, coordinator of the Health and Welfare Map and Digital Health Unit CSSDOS, at a recent information workshop in Thiès.
The digital system is a user-focused platform. “...it will host your online medical data, scans, MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging), and check-ups. So it's an important tool. These data can be stored on secure servers to help patients coordinate their care. A patient can have their medical file following them, which circulates securely in a national database and this is a great added value for the patient because there will be savings, such as x-rays that need not be repeated but also, it will have better support,” said Dr. Dia.
Since 2017, Senegal has been digitizing its healthcare system. Several actions have been taken to completely transform the sector. Recently, a draft orientation law on digital health was finalized and sent to the government's general secretariat for implementation. Among other things, the bill covers telemedicine, patient records, data hosting, and management.
The CFAF30 billion dedicated will be used to build, equip, connect, and interconnect the country's hospitals. According to Dr. Ibrahima Khaliloulah Dia, the funding will only cover part of the vast project. Senegal has 1,500 health posts, 110 health centers, and 40 hospitals that will have to be digitized. In its initial phase, 20 health centers will be involved, and 1.5 million patients, 50% of them women, will benefit from the shared patient record (DPP).
The PDSS is part of the Senegal Digital Economy Acceleration Project (PAENS) financed by the World Bank to the tune of $150 million.
Samira Njoya
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Gabon's digital transformation policy provides for the construction and creation of several digital entities and infrastructures. The plan has attracted several players that are already making proposals to support the country in its implementation.
On Thursday, June 22, Gabon's digital minister Jean Pierre Doukaga Kassa granted an audience to representatives of Chinese company China Investment Holding. The team, led by Donghu Liu, the company's General Manager for Africa, expressed interest in working with the Gabonese government on a number of digital projects.
The Chinese business leader offered his company’s support in segments like "smart forest management (reforestation, remote sensing, and satellite management), the creation of an intelligent forest industry park (digital management)," the ministry in charge of the digital economy reported on social networks.
The group also expressed its interest in establishing a win-win partnership for the launch of a satellite and the construction of a precise proprietary-based ground station that would be so precise that the whole territory will be covered with radio, television, Internet, and electronic communications networks.
The Chinese company's interest comes in the wake of Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba's visit to China, during which he called on members of the government to strengthen business relations between Libreville and Beijing. It also comes at a time when Gabon is working to further develop its digital sector to greatly facilitate the transformation of its economy. Since 2009, through the Plan Stratégique Gabon Emergent (PSGE), the government is working to make Gabon a reference in the African digital sector by 2025.
Responding to requests from his visitors, the Minister for the Digital Economy announced that the "smart forest" projects are already being carried out by Gabon’s space agency AGEOS. He then instructed officials to pursue technical exchanges with the partner.
China Investment Holding is active in two main digital fields: satellite communications and drone analytics solutions for natural resource management.
Samira Njoya
The burgeoning youth population in Africa offers a promising market for startups to seize. However, these startups are faced with bottlenecks, including racial inequality, that hinder their progress. Several initiatives are being put in place to level the playing field.
Google for Startups has selected 25 African startups for its Black Founders Fund (BFF), addressing racial inequality in venture capital funding. The chosen startups, representing diverse entrepreneurship across the continent, will receive $4 million in funding and support to fuel their growth. This is the third cohort of the Founders Fund.
Each startup will receive up to $150,000 in cash awards, $200,000 in Google Cloud credits, advertising support, mentoring, and access to Google's network. Leveraging technology, these innovative startups aim to tackle Africa's challenges in healthcare, logistics, and fintech. For example, Tushop, a Kenyan startup, is revolutionizing retail through a group purchasing platform, while Herconomy -Nigeria’s first Fintech company for women -aims to establish Africa's first women-focused bank.
With Nigeria leading with 10 grantees, Kenya with 5, and South Africa with 3, the selected startups highlight the importance of women in Africa's startup ecosystem, as 72% of the chosen ventures are led or co-founded by women. Google has launched additional initiatives to empower women in technology, including the Hustle Academy and the Women Founders Cohort.
Through the Black Founders Fund and associated initiatives, Google for Startups aims to bridge the venture capital funding gap, nurture diverse entrepreneurship, and unlock Africa's immense potential. By supporting these visionary founders, Google seeks to stimulate economic growth, create job opportunities, and foster innovation that addresses the continent's unique challenges.
“In 2020, with less than 0.5% of global venture capital (VC) funding going to Black-led startups, Google announced the Black Founders Fund and has since deployed $20M in funding to founders across the US, Europe, Africa, and Brazil,” Google wrote in a statement issued on its website.
Hikmatu Bilali
Here are the chosen startups:
- Akoma Health (Nigeria): Tech platform for accessible, culturally conscious mental health services in Africa.
- BezoMoney (Ghana):Digital banking for Africa's underbanked via mobile/web platforms.
- Chargel (Senegal):Digital trucking platform connecting shippers/carriers in Francophone West Africa.
- Charis UAS (Rwanda):Provides 3D geospatial data via drone technology.
- Evolve Credit (Nigeria):SaaS for digitizing and managing banking services.
- Excel At Uni (South Africa):Supports student funders via digital services.
- EzyAgric (Uganda):AI-powered mobile technology to enhance Africa's farming sector.
- Fez Delivery (Nigeria):Last-mile logistics platform for various industries.
- Fleetsimplify (Kenya):Monetization platform connecting gig drivers & vehicle owners.
- HealthDart (South Africa):Digital HMO providing end-to-end health services with insurance.
- Herconomy (Nigeria):Female-focused fintech aiming to be Africa's first women's bank.
- Jumba (Kenya):Improving Kenya's construction sector supply chain via B2B platform.
- MDaaS Global (Nigeria):Tech-powered diagnostic centers for affordable healthcare.
- My Pocket Counsel (Nigeria):Legal tech platform for contract generation and management.
- Orda (Nigeria):Pan-African neobank for restaurants, offering cloud-based software.
- Periculum (Nigeria):Data company aiding in credit assessment, fraud/churn risk.
- Raenest (Nigeria):Fintech offering global financial services to freelancers/startups in Africa.
- Ridelink (Uganda):E-logistics platform providing shipping and real-time tracking.
- Susu (Côte d'Ivoire):Health platform providing healthcare services/insurance funded by the African diaspora.
- Talamus Health (Ghana):Tech solutions targeting healthcare inefficiencies in Africa.
- TruQ (Nigeria):Streamlining mid-mile logistics across Africa with third-party vehicle connectivity.
- Tushop (Kenya):Tech platform for group buying of daily essentials in Kenya.
- Uzapoint (Kenya):Mobile/web POS for digitizing bookkeeping in Africa's informal sector.
- Zinacare (South Africa):Online platform for accessible, affordable healthcare services.
- Zydii (Kenya):Localised digital training solutions for African SMEs.
Africa has many assets, including its young population, to become a leader in the field of artificial intelligence. While some countries are slow to adopt it, others are stepping up their efforts to take full advantage of it in the coming years.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is to support Morocco in promoting digital transformation and artificial intelligence. The Director of UNESCO's Maghreb office, Eric Falt (photo, right), discussed the subject on Friday, June 16 in Rabat with Ghita Mezzour (photo, left), Morocco's Minister for Digital Transition and Administrative Reform.
"This meeting was an opportunity to study ways of strengthening cooperation with UNESCO in fields linked to digital transformation and artificial intelligence. I also stressed, in passing, the importance our country attaches to digitization and enhanced adoption of modern technologies in various fields,” Ghita Mezzour wrote on Twitter.
The global AI market is growing by leaps and bounds. Like several countries around the world, Morocco has accelerated the deployment of this new technology in several sectors. By mimicking human cognitive activity, artificial intelligence is able to assist in a great number of tasks. As such, it has a promising future and represents a huge opportunity for the country. However, it is essential to prepare the ground for the use of this technology in all fields, and even to participate in its development in both the public and private sectors.
Together with UNESCO, Morocco will work to promote digital transformation and harness the potential of artificial intelligence in the country. The UN organization has also pledged to support the Kingdom in its efforts to promote research, innovation, and the responsible use of digital technologies.
According to data from Tratica, a US market intelligence firm focused on human interaction with technology, AI is expected to generate nearly $90 billion in profits worldwide as early as 2025.
Samira Njoya
The digital revolution underway on the African continent presents huge opportunities. However, the ecosystem needs to be developed for countries to be able to leverage it for socioeconomic development. Hence the partnership between countries for a stronger and more resilient ecosystem.
Egypt and Algeria want to intensify their cooperation to develop their respective digital sectors. On Monday, June 19, Algeria's Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Karim Bibi Triki (photo, left), and his Egyptian counterpart, Amr Talaat (photo, right), held talks to this effect in Cairo.
According to a press release issued by the Egyptian Ministry of ICT, the two officials discussed avenues to boost cooperation in the field of communications and information technology.
"In-depth discussions were also held on ways to advance cooperation and the exchange of experiences in a number of areas related to postal services, digital infrastructure, telecommunications regulation, the data center industry, the development of the information technology industry, and support for technological innovation and entrepreneurship," the release informs.
At the same time, the two countries announced plans for the installation of two new submarine cables, which would establish a stronger link between Egypt and Algeria. The cables are expected to become operational by 2025. The aim is to increase the number of direct submarine cable connections to four, providing optimum access to the broadband network.
The new network will enable operators in both countries to develop a range of broadband-based services. According to Mr. Karim Bibi Triki, the new collaboration also aims to encourage the younger generation to set up their own businesses.
Samira Njoya