The Malagasy government is determined to achieve its digital transformation ambitions and deploy e-governance nationwide.  It also wants to give digital training to its citizens. 

Last Tuesday, the IFC and the Malagasy Digital Ministry announced a partnership aimed at improving access to advanced and specialized computer training courses in the country. 

The program aims to train, within two years, 6,000 people, including public and private sector employees and youth, in IT occupations such as software development, cloud architecture, data engineering, and cybersecurity.

“The project aligns with the government's commitment to better prepare for the digital economy by developing the needed digital skills and modernizing its administration to improve service delivery, boost economic growth and create much needed jobs,” said Digital Minister Tahina Razafindramalo (photo, right).

Indeed, for several years now, digital transformation has been the core of the Malagasy government’s actions. The country defined four main axes for its development programs. They are notably the digitization of public education, health and land services, the use of new technologies in agriculture, the development of technical infrastructures, and financial inclusion.

To achieve these four objectives within a short period, the government secured support from the World Bank, which pledged more than US$140 million for the various projects.  According to the international financial institution, an acceleration of the digital transformation could allow the Malagasy government to create “about 140,000 new jobs linked to digital skills across nine sectors by 2027, including apparel, agri-processing, and tourism.” 

Samira Njoya