• Senegal’s Ministry of Education launched PLANETE 3, a digital platform to modernize school management.

• The system offers real-time monitoring of attendance, grades, and student performance, with UNICEF’s support.

• The initiative is part of a CFA130 billion ($233 million) national digital education strategy for 2025–2029.

Senegal’s Ministry of Education officially launched “PLANETE 3” on Friday, October 3, a digital platform designed to modernize the management of schools and educational institutions. Developed by local engineers, the system aims to end the fragmentation and isolation of the country’s education network.

“PLANETE 3 is not just a technological upgrade. It represents a fundamental shift and marks the irreversible transition toward a more connected, participatory, and dynamic educational community,” said Education Minister Moustapha Guirassy during the launch ceremony in Dakar.

The platform provides each education stakeholder with a personalized interface. It includes features for real-time tracking of attendance, grades, and report cards, as well as remote learning tools for struggling students, developed with UNICEF’s support. Intelligent dashboards will also allow education officials, including the minister, to monitor the entire system nationwide.

The initiative is part of the National Digital Strategy for Education 2025–2029, unveiled in January with an estimated budget of CFA130 billion (about $233 million). The strategy seeks to modernize Senegal’s schools and improve their appeal. It also follows the launch of a large-scale program to train 105,000 teachers in digital tools and artificial intelligence to support the country’s educational transformation.

For teachers, PLANETE 3 is expected to reduce administrative burdens, freeing more time for innovation in the classroom. Parents will gain real-time visibility through instant notifications, while students will receive more personalized support, especially those facing academic challenges. For administrators, the tool provides a powerful decision-making and management instrument, helping to build a more efficient and inclusive education system.

However, several challenges remain to ensure the platform’s success. Connectivity issues, limited computer access in some schools, and potential overload during peak usage periods will need to be addressed to guarantee smooth and equitable implementation across the country.

• Moroccan entrepreneur Mohammed El Beltagy leads Optomatica, an AI-first consultancy.

• He has founded or co-founded multiple startups in fintech, sports tech, and digital health.

• His career spans senior roles in innovation and AI-driven platforms across industries.

Mohammed El Beltagy, a Moroccan entrepreneur and expert in advanced optimization and modeling, is the founder and CEO of Optomatica, a deep tech consulting firm specialized in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and optimization.

Created in 2003, Optomatica develops custom systems designed to accelerate the path from concept to finished product. Positioned as an “AI-First” company, it delivers optimization software and applies its technologies across diverse operational contexts.

The firm works in several sectors, including fintech, sports technology, digital health, conversational AI, logistics, and process optimization. Its mission is to deliver practical AI applications and unlock new technical opportunities for clients and their markets.

Beyond Optomatica, El Beltagy has launched several ventures. In 2014, he co-founded Racefox, a digital coach for running and cross-country skiing. In 2018, he helped create ConsultingPad, a platform connecting consultants and businesses, and joined AIM Technologies, an AI company, as a board member. In 2021, he was involved in launching Optofolio, a wealth management platform; Jilatee, focused on circular fashion; and DFin Holding, a fintech.

Since 2022, he has been co-founder and chief technology officer of Flend, a financing platform that uses data and technology to support small and medium-sized enterprises. The same year, he founded Racemate, a sports-focused technology company, where he serves as chairman and CTO.

El Beltagy earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering in 1994 from the American University in Cairo, followed by a master’s in mechatronics in 1996 from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. He later obtained a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Southampton in 2000.

His career also includes leadership roles in tech companies. From 2007 to 2017, he worked at Hive Streaming, a company specialized in live video streaming for organizations, where he served first as chief scientist and later as chief innovation officer. Between 2013 and 2017, he was chief innovation officer at Novelari, an innovation accelerator. More recently, from 2020 to 2021, he was chief technology officer at Elves, an Egypt-based travel application.

• Zambia and Ethiopia signed a cooperation deal to develop national digital ID systems.

• Ethiopia shares experience from its Fayda program, with 25 million citizens already enrolled.

• UNECA estimates digital ID could add 3–7% of GDP by cutting costs and boosting inclusion.

Zambia and Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding on October 2 to work together on developing national digital identity systems. The agreement, reached under the Permanent Joint Commission of Cooperation, aims to improve citizens’ access to essential services while strengthening transparency and public accountability.

The partnership will involve a transfer of expertise from Ethiopia to Zambia, particularly in biometric enrollment, open standards, and interoperable systems. Zambia expects to draw on Ethiopia’s experience to accelerate its identification infrastructure.

Ethiopia has moved ahead with its Fayda national digital ID program, launched in 2023, which seeks to provide secure digital identities to the entire population. More than 25 million people have already registered, with a target of 90 million by 2027.

In Zambia, progress is more recent but notable. In 2024, the country digitized 81% of its old paper identity cards within just three months. However, challenges remain, including a low birth registration rate of 14% in 2024, which limits overall coverage.

Beyond improving public services, the initiative is expected to support financial and social inclusion. According to the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), a well-designed digital ID system could generate value equivalent to 3–7% of GDP in African countries by reducing administrative costs and better integrating citizens into the formal economy.

For both Zambia and Ethiopia, the project is seen as a driver of development and aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which promotes local digital solutions to foster regional integration and sustainable growth. By adopting interoperable digital identities, the two countries are laying the groundwork for inclusive ecosystems that can stimulate economic activity and strengthen trust between citizens and institutions.

If fully implemented, the initiative could place Zambia and Ethiopia at the forefront of Africa’s digital transformation. Still, challenges remain, including ensuring data protection, achieving cross-platform interoperability, preventing the exclusion of rural and low-connectivity populations, and securing sustainable financing for large-scale deployment and maintenance.