To improve the efficiency of public services, the Democratic Republic of Congo plans to digitize the whole sector and end physical documents. However, its digitization efforts are hampered by a shortage of skilled employees. 

Africa Digital Academy (ADA), a subsidiary of Africa Development Solutions Group dedicated to the creation and management of digital training programs, and DRC’s digital development agency ADN signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday, November 21, on the sidelines of the Africa Digital Expo held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Under the agreement, ADA will train 100,000 Congolese civil servants in 2024 and 2025.

"The collaboration between ADA and ADN, two leading entities in the digital field, is a giant step forward in the effort to modernize the Congolese public administration. We thank ADA for their strategic support and look forward to this collaboration," said ADN coordinator Dominique Migisha (photo, left).

According to ADN, the training program will focus on the fundamentals of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and business solutions. The aim is to support and accelerate the DRC's digital transformation, with an emphasis on the acquisition of key skills and the implementation of technological solutions tailored to the country's specific needs.

The new partnership is part of the actions undertaken by the government and its partners to accelerate digitization in the country and equip the country's citizens with the digital skills needed to ensure said digitization and reduce the digital divide.

It is one of the numerous programs the ADA is involved in across Africa. Since October 16, the academy is training 1,000 young Ivorians in digital professions, including cybersecurity.

At the end of the collaboration with ADN, Congolese civil servants will be better equipped to use the public services being digitized in the country.

Samira Njoya