• Côte d’Ivoire’s Economy Ministry adopted a 2026–2030 IT master plan to modernize public administration systems.
• The plan allocates CFA10.156 billion ($18 million) across 44 projects and six programs.
• The strategy aligns with a broader national digital push backed by a 37% budget increase for digital transition in 2026.

The Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development adopted the 2026–2030 Information System Master Plan. The strategic framework aims to modernize digital tools, strengthen data security, and optimize public service management. Officials presented the document during an official ceremony in Abidjan.

“The Master Plan now constitutes a strategic tool to strengthen digital governance and improve public action efficiency. This presentation, which brought together around forty participants, opens the way for the implementation of planned actions to provide the Ministry with a more modern, secure, and high-performing digital environment,” said Yéo Nahoua, Chief of Staff to Economy Minister Kaba Nialé.

The National Information Technology Development Company conducted an in-depth diagnostic review to support the update. The assessment identified structural gaps, including weak IT governance, multiple non-interconnected platforms, aging infrastructure, and insufficient security mechanisms.

To address these challenges, the plan relies on four key orientations. The strategy targets IT function professionalization, integrated network deployment, rollout of shared and secure applications, and modernization of technical infrastructure. The plan includes six programs and 44 concrete projects. The framework allocates a total budget of CFA10.156 billion, equivalent to about $18 million.

The initiative aligns with national priorities that position digital technology as a development driver. For 2026, the Ministry of Digital Transition and Digitalization secured a budget exceeding CFA83.2 billion. The allocation represents an increase of about 37% compared with 2025. The funding aims to improve digital performance and nationwide connectivity access.

These allocations add to prior investments that delivered tangible results in 2024. Authorities deployed more than 33,000 kilometers of fiber-optic infrastructure. The government launched digital administrative service platforms. The state expanded 4G coverage across multiple rural areas.

The implementation of the new master plan should support more structured digital governance and stronger system interconnection. The framework should also accelerate public service digitalization. The reforms should reduce processing costs and timelines. The upgrades should strengthen infrastructure resilience against cyber threats.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• Hazem Afify founded Sumet in 2021 to modernize FMCG supply chains for African retailers.
• Sumet targets local and informal markets that traditional distribution networks serve inefficiently.
• The platform enables rapid deliveries, sometimes within 24 hours in major urban areas.

Hazem Afify is an Egyptian-born entrepreneur based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He founded and currently leads Sumet as chief executive officer. The technology company redesigns fast-moving consumer goods supply chains for neighborhood retail stores.

Sumet launched operations in 2021. The company positions itself as a dedicated platform for fast-moving consumer goods. The platform aims to facilitate market entry and brand growth across Africa. The company focuses on local and often informal markets, where traditional distribution networks struggle to serve small retailers efficiently.

The platform allows merchants to order a wide range of branded products with a few clicks. The system provides fast delivery, sometimes within 24 hours in selected urban areas. This model reduces travel time, lowers logistics costs, and limits stock-out risks.

For brands and distributors, Sumet provides detailed visibility into product performance at individual retail outlets. The platform enables order tracking and merchandise flow monitoring. These features allow manufacturers to optimize delivery planning, adjust field presence, and better understand retailers’ operational needs.

Alongside Sumet, Hazem Afify co-founded and leads Global Business as chief executive officer. The export, import, and distribution company operates from Turkey. The company launched in 2015. It focuses primarily on fast-moving consumer goods and cosmetics. The company maintains branches in Tanzania, including Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.

Hazem Afify graduated from Cairo University in Egypt. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electronic and communications engineering in 2007. He began his professional career in 2008 at Mentor Graphics. The electronic design automation company employed him as a technical marketing engineer and later as an integrated circuit design consultant until 2015.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• Vuba Vuba launched in 2020 to fill the gap left by Jumia Food’s exit from Rwanda in 2019.
• The app connects users to restaurants, supermarkets, and local merchants with deliveries in under an hour.
• The platform has surpassed 100,000 downloads on Android and relies on motorcycle-based local logistics.

Vuba Vuba is a mobile application developed by a Rwandan startup. Albert Munyabugingo launched the platform in 2020. The application connects users to a wide range of restaurants, supermarkets, and merchants. The service offers fast deliveries, often in less than one hour.

The application operates on iOS and Android platforms. Google Play Store data show more than 100,000 downloads. The company relies on a strong local logistics network. The platform uses motorcycle couriers to distribute orders efficiently.

Beyond delivery services, Vuba Vuba creates economic opportunities for local stakeholders. The platform allows food outlets and small retailers to digitize sales channels. The solution helps merchants expand customer reach and increase order volumes without heavy investment in proprietary digital infrastructure.

The application integrates a tracking system that alerts customers when couriers collect orders. The system allows users to follow deliveries in real time and receive notifications when couriers approach. “Our team works diligently to ensure fast processing and delivery of orders. The estimated delivery time depends on your location. In general, you can expect your order to arrive within 45 minutes,” the startup said.

As e-commerce and digital services continue to expand across East Africa, Vuba Vuba demonstrates how locally adapted solutions can drive digital inclusion. The model supports entrepreneurship and responds to rising demand for efficient delivery services.

This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• Madagascar launched the process to draft its national cybersecurity strategy.
• Authorities aim to finalize the framework within three months.
• The strategy will update a cybersecurity law adopted in 2014.

Madagascar continues to structure its digital ecosystem after creating a national cybersecurity body in 2023. Authorities now focus on establishing a legal and strategic framework to protect systems and data amid rising cybercrime.

The Malagasy government formally launched the process to develop its national cybersecurity strategy last week following a kickoff workshop held in Antananarivo.

The event brought together public authorities, digital experts and technical partners. Officials presented the initiative as a key step toward securing the country’s digital space as digital usage expands across public administration, financial services and the broader economy.

“The stakeholders committed to finalizing this national cybersecurity strategy within three months,” said Eric Nirina Rakotomaniraka, head of the digital incident response team at the Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT).

He said the strategy will address key areas, including online child protection, combating gender-based cyber violence, digital justice, and international cooperation in cases of cyberattacks or data breaches.

On an operational level, the future strategy aims to structure cyber incident prevention, detection and response.

The document plans to strengthen national digital forensic capabilities, improve coordination between public institutions and private-sector actors, and support local skills development. Authorities also intend to use the strategy as a foundation to update the regulatory framework, as the 2014 cybersecurity law increasingly fails to reflect evolving technologies and threats.

The initiative comes as digital usage expands but information systems remain fragile. According to the Digital 2025 report, Madagascar counted approximately 6.6 million internet users in 2025, representing just over 20% of the population, a level that remains modest but continues to rise steadily.

At the same time, Madagascar faces limited cybersecurity capacity. The International Telecommunication Union’s Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 ranks the country in Tier 4 out of five.

This classification reflects significant gaps, particularly in technical infrastructure, institutional coordination, skills development and international cooperation.

Authorities expect the national cybersecurity strategy to strengthen protection of digital infrastructure, increase citizen and investor confidence in digital services, and support Madagascar’s broader digital transformation.

By laying the foundations for stronger digital sovereignty, the government aims to create a safer environment for innovation, online public services and the country’s integration into regional and global digital ecosystems.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum