The Gambian government aims to accelerate the country’s digital transformation. In May 2024, the executive already established a partnership with the Emirati technology company Presight.

The Gambian Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy has partnered with the Kalp Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing blockchain-based digital public infrastructure (DPI). This collaboration will lead to the creation of a decentralized platform called “Gambia One,” designed to secure data exchanges, streamline government operations, and digitize critical services.

“Together, we will harness the power of blockchain-enabled DPI to deliver innovative, citizen-centric solutions that align with global standards of trust, transparency, and accountability,” said Lamin Jabbi, Gambian Minister of Communications and Digital Economy. The partnership also includes capacity-building initiatives for government leaders and training programs focused on blockchain ecosystems and related technologies for young Gambians.

This initiative aligns with the Gambian government’s ambition to “leverage technology, digital solutions, and services to ensure digital inclusion by connecting the unconnected and under-connected, create jobs, and develop the economy.” It builds on earlier efforts, including a partnership established with the Emirati tech company Presight in May 2024. Additionally, in 2023, Gambia joined the Smart Africa Alliance, which promotes the use of ICT to accelerate economic and social development across Africa.

Currently, Gambia ranks 164th out of 193 countries in the 2024 E-Government Development Index measured by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). The country scored 0.2552 out of 1, significantly below the averages for West Africa (0.3957), Africa (0.4247), and the global average (0.6382).

The timeline for launching the Gambia One platform remains unknown, as do the precise details of the agreement between the parties involved. However, the success of the initiative will depend on the population’s access to the internet and compatible devices. According to DataReportal, Gambia had 1.5 million internet users at the start of 2024, representing an internet penetration rate of 54.2%.

By Isaac K. Kassouwi,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji