• The government plans to launch a national digital platform to improve access to public services.
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  The platform will integrate services from sectors including insurance, as part of wider public service digitalization.
  

The Mauritanian government is preparing to launch a national digital platform, an initiative aimed at bringing public services closer to citizens through digital means, officials announced on Wednesday.

The announcement was made during a consultative meeting on March 26 between government authorities and stakeholders in the insurance sector, whose services will be integrated into the upcoming platform, according to the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Administration Modernization.

This move is part of ongoing efforts to enhance public service delivery through digital tools. In this vein, the Mauritanian government launched a project last January called “Digital-Y.” The project, financed to the tune of 4 million euros and carried out in partnership with German development cooperation, aims to integrate digital tools into public management to modernize services, strengthen administrative transparency, and boost economic and social development.

Meanwhile, Mauritania ranked 165th globally in the United Nations’ 2024 E-Government Development Index. The country scored 0.3491 out of a possible 1, a figure well below the African average of 0.4247 and the global average of 0.6382. In terms of online service development, Mauritania remains at an early stage, with a score of 0.1688 out of 1, compared to an African average of 0.3862 and a global average of 0.5754.

However, the Mauritanian government's ambition to improve public service access through digital means may face challenges, including limited internet access. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), approximately 55.6% of Mauritania’s estimated 5 million citizens did not use the internet in 2023.

By Isaac K. Kassouwi,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji