The digital revolution in Africa signifies a transformative opportunity to harness the continent's abundant human resources. This marks a significant milestone in its technological progress and economic prosperity.

A group of more than 10 leading tech companies in Ethiopia united, on July 10, to establish the Ethiopian Outsourcing Association. The International Trade Centre (ITC), through the Netherlands Trust Fund V Ethiopia Tech project, supported the association's creation by providing international expertise.

Wondwesen Zewdie, president of the association and co-founder of R & D Ethiopia, expressed the members' passion for this initiative. R & D Ethiopia, with over 120 employees supporting global companies, is just the beginning of a vision to bring major changes through outsourcing. ‘We can see that it’s going to create an immense amount of jobs, and not just jobs but dignified jobs,’ he commented.

The association resolves a challenge faced by Ethiopian outsourcing companies, as each had to register based on specific work types. Tadios Tefera, Chief Technology Officer of MMCY Tech, emphasized that the association gives them more influence in shaping policies and addressing issues faced by the industry. Previously, individual efforts did not have the same impact as a collective voice.

The association's strategy focuses on creating a conducive environment for outsourcing within Ethiopia by collaborating with the government to develop favorable policies. They also aim to market Ethiopia as an outsourcing destination to attract international businesses.

Inspired by India's success, Ethiopian outsourcing companies see the potential to generate substantial job opportunities, particularly for the country's youth.

The formation of the association marks a pivotal moment in Ethiopia's technological advancement and economic growth. It empowers individuals, generates employment opportunities, and positions Ethiopia as a prominent player in the global tech industry.

Hikmatu Bilali

 

Posted On mercredi, 12 juillet 2023 20:44 Written by

As governments worldwide embrace digitalization to boost their economies, the lack of access to smartphones poses a significant barrier to achieving digital inclusion. The government's initiative enables every Kenyan to actively participate in the digital revolution, paving the way for an inclusive society.

Kenya will manufacture affordable smartphones for its citizens, ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo revealed last Wednesday, July 5. Speaking at the inauguration of digital laboratories at Maseno School, the government official announced that the feasibility studies of the project were completed.

The project aims to bridge the digital divide by providing equal access to digital services and opportunities, regardless of economic status. "We will soon release our first batch of locally assembled smartphones," said Secretary Owalo. The goal is to revolutionize access to digital platforms and government services, crucial in today's technology-driven society.

Recognizing that high smartphone costs hinder digital inclusion, the government is committed to producing affordable devices. Priced at approximately $40 (Sh. 5,516), the smartphones will enable even those with limited means to join the digital revolution and benefit from its services.

With extensive digital infrastructure already in place, Kenya is well-prepared for the widespread availability of low-cost smartphones. The Konza Technopolis in Machakos County will serve as the assembly hub, supporting local manufacturing and technological advancements.

To ensure seamless production and rollout, the government is collaborating with private stakeholders and manufacturers. By working together, they will drive innovation and efficiency, facilitating the rapid deployment of affordable smartphones.

The imminent availability of affordable smartphones in Kenya heralds a future of digital inclusion. As citizens gain access to digital services, opportunities for economic growth, education, and communication will be within reach for all. The government's initiative not only addresses affordability but also paves the way for a society where every Kenyan can fully participate in the digital revolution.

This timely development aligns with the government's recent launch of the e-Citizen digital portal, aimed at granting citizens access to a wide range of government services.

Hikmatu Bilali

Posted On mercredi, 12 juillet 2023 20:39 Written by

The digital revolution offers huge opportunities for Africa. To fully tap into these opportunities, African countries have decided to collaborate with one another.

The Tanzanian Minister for Information, Communication, and ICT, Nape Moses Nnauye, and Malawian Minister for Information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on digital communication and cooperation in Lilongwe, Malawi, on July 7. The deal should improve data accessibility in Malawi by connecting it to submarine cables through non-commercial routes.

Speaking after signing the agreement, the Malawian Minister of Information noted that cooperation with Tanzania in the digital sector will notably help Malawi have country-to-country connectivity, reducing data transmission costs.

"Currently, we are connected to Tanzania and other countries via provider cables, but by connecting directly via a state-to-state infrastructure, in this case, the Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi (ESCOM) and the Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited (TTCL), we will reduce the cost of operating bandwidth in the country, thereby lowering the overall cost of data for consumers in the country," he said.

The MoU is the fruit of bilateral talks held during a working visit in Malawi of Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania’s leader.

The deal, for Malawi, aligns with its 2021-2026 digital economy strategy aiming to extend affordable internet to 65% of the country. For Tanzania, it adds to a series of partnerships recently signed by the Tanzanian government for the development of the internet in the country. The goal is to connect nearly 80% of the population to the Internet and to increase the usage of broadband from 45% to 80% by 2025.

According to Nape Moses Nnauye, the agreement will enable both countries to effectively transform digital spaces, which are now a catalyst for development in all sectors globally.

Samira Njoya

Posted On mercredi, 12 juillet 2023 15:48 Written by

Earlier this year, the Republic of Congo launched a project to speed up its digital transformation. In support of the move, the country’s partners have launched the "Mangwele" application designed to enhance the health information system.

On Wednesday, July 5, Congolese and Japanese authorities launched the "Mangwele" application, an SMS-based vaccination reminder system, at the Tenrikyo Integrated Health Center in Makélékélé.

The new system aims, among other things, to remind parents, particularly mothers, of their children's vaccination appointments according to the schedule of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI).

"Through this project, health personnel will be able to follow the status of birth registrations and track each child's vaccinations by recording this information in a national database. This system will allow for individualized monitoring and ensure that all children receive all the necessary vaccines, even if they move regions," explained Satoko Morito, the First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy in Congo, representing the ambassador.

Mangwele’s launch is part of the UNICEF’s Digital Health System Support Project which fights infectious diseases in Africa. Japan spent $3.3 million on the launch.

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Benin are the two other beneficiary countries of Japan's financing for the implementation of the digital introduction project for the fight against infectious diseases in Africa.

In the long run, the project will help improve vaccination rates across the continent but also make it easier to analyze and use real-time data, thus enabling better estimation of actual vaccination rates, including routine and COVID-19 vaccination.

Samira Njoya

Posted On mercredi, 12 juillet 2023 14:08 Written by

Egypt has invested a lot of money in the digital industry in recent years. The massive investment underscores the importance of outsourcing in bolstering the country’s digital exports and economic growth.

Exports of digital services should generate $5.5 billion for Egypt in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, thus raising telecom’s share in the country’s GDP to over 5%. The forecast was disclosed last Saturday, July 8, by the Egyptian Minister of Telecom and IT, Amr Talaat. This was during an interview at Cairo’s Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC).

Talaat attributes the positive forecast to recent foreign investments, including the opening of local outsourcing centers by US and Indian tech giants. Indeed, last December, Egypt inked 29 agreements with international companies, including IBM, Amazon, Microsoft, and Dell Technology, to build outsourcing centers in the country.

The various investments fall under Cairo’s 2022-2026 digital strategy for the outsourcing industry 2022-2026. Launched in February 2022, the strategy has four pillars: IT services, business process services, knowledge services, and engineering and research and development.

The Egyptian government wants to leverage the strategy to triple its digital exports earnings, which should add $1 billion to the country's digital exports by 2025 and create more than 34,000 jobs.

In the 2021-222 fiscal year, digital exports earned Egypt $4.9 billion, against $3.6 billion in 2018-2019.

Samira Njoya

Posted On mercredi, 12 juillet 2023 12:18 Written by

Amid the global rise of giants like Amazon, Facebook, and Netflix, digital service imports have significantly increased in Africa in recent years. And African governments intend to surf that wave.

Last week, the Ugandan government revived a project for imposing a 5% tax on the revenues of non-resident digital companies that offer digital services in the country. Henri Musasizi, the Minister of Finance and Development, defended the project on July 4, in front of the Parliamentary Finance Commission.

"I recommend that you approve Article 16 of the Income Tax Amendment Bill, 2023, to allow the imposition of a tax on revenues earned by non-residents from the provision of digital services in Uganda," Minister Musasizi told the deputies.

"We propose that 5% of the revenues earned by these companies in Uganda be allocated as taxes. This tax is distinct from those levied on resident companies, and it is not a reintroduction of the Over the Top Tax [tax on the use of social media platforms] which was abolished by the government in 2021," he added.

Indeed, this initiative, described in Article 16 of the 2023 Income Tax Bill, resurfaced after President Yoweri Museveni decided to send the bill back. Reversing his decision, the President asked the Parliament to reconsider its previous rejection of the same proposal.

The tax targets companies like Facebook, Twitter, Google, Netflix, Amazon, and other platforms offering paid services in Uganda.

While the State believes this law will profit the country, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) and other parties fear that the law, once adopted, would increase digital taxes borne by consumers of digital services who are already heavily taxed in Uganda.

It is worth noting that the proposed tax is part of a set of fiscal laws aimed at guiding the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) in defining and collecting taxes during the 2023/2024 fiscal year, which began in July.

Samira Njoya

Posted On mercredi, 12 juillet 2023 12:12 Written by

To ensure internet access for all schoolchildren in Rwanda, the government has set up the "School Connectivity Program". Launched in March, the pilot phase of the project takes into account 500 schools throughout the country.

As part of this program, US firm Starlink recently deployed the internet in 50 schools across the country’s rural zones. The news was disclosed by the Rwandan Ministry of ICT and Innovation on July 5.

According to the source, the first stage of the project marks an important step towards reducing the digital divide and ensuring that all Rwandan schools have internet, especially in remote areas.

Announced a few months ago, the project falls under the government’s School Connectivity Program launched in March 2023. It is the product of a collaboration between the Rwandan government, Starlink, and a contribution from Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Through his foundation, Blair has committed to connecting 10% of the 500 schools in the pilot phase of the project.

With the Internet, the more than 18,000 students enrolled in the schools covered by the project will have access to online courses and be able to improve their academic results. 

In Rwanda, 44% of the schools do not have access to the Internet. Last February, the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, stated that about 3,000 of the 6,756 schools in Rwanda were not yet connected to the Internet.

Samira Njoya

Posted On lundi, 10 juillet 2023 17:51 Written by

Amidst the digital revolution, an increasing number of African countries are embracing technology to drive development, with the continent's sizable youth population presenting a significant advantage.

The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), Liberia’s telecom watchdog, plans to launch a project that will revolutionize the sector and accelerate digital advancements nationwide. Known as the Liberia Digital Transformation Project, the initiative will be launched in collaboration with the government.

The project was unveiled by LTA’s Chairperson, Edwina Crump Zackpah. According to her, it will enable Liberians to embrace e-business solutions and smart technologies. This project will “unlock our digital economy,” she said.

The focus of the transformation project, Zackpah stressed, is to enhance technical skills in areas such as eCommerce, software utilization, and tech entrepreneurship. Seed funding will support sustainable tech solutions addressing local challenges.

The Liberia Digital Transformation Project is a huge step in Liberia's path to economic prosperity and digital advancement. Using technology, the West African country wants to shape its future and transform lives.

Digital transformation will unlock new opportunities, drive economic growth, and empower citizens in Liberia. The government's commitment to technological advancements underscores its vision for a prosperous and digitally-enabled future.

Hikmatu Bilali

Posted On lundi, 10 juillet 2023 17:35 Written by

Given the centrality of digitization in development, it is now crucial for the population to possess digital skills to adapt to forthcoming changes. Consequently, numerous governments are taking steps to empower their citizens, ensuring the achievement of developmental objectives.

The Kenyan Ministry of Information, Communications, and The Digital Economy has introduced a nationwide digital literacy program. To drive economic transformation, the initiative will establish laboratories across the country to enhance digital skills and literacy. Over 23,000 devices will be installed in educational institutions and ICT hubs.

During the inauguration of a digital laboratory at Maseno School in Kisumu County on July 5, Eliud Owalo, Cabinet Secretary (CS) of the Ministry, emphasized that the initiative is in line with the government's objective of digitizing services. “We want our youth and the public at large to uptake digital skills so that they are relevant in the current operating environment,” he said.

The program aims to benefit youth and the public, aligning with the government's digitization efforts. The government is also facilitating e-commerce through free public Wi-Fi, a national addressing system, digital identification cards, and affordable smartphones. Discussions with global tech giants are underway to create online work opportunities for Kenyan youth.

Additionally, to maximize the utilization of the government's digital infrastructure, affordable smart mobile phones that are locally assembled will be launched in August, aiming to cater to a wide range of Kenyans.

Hikmatu Bilali

Posted On lundi, 10 juillet 2023 17:05 Written by

As Africa experiences a rapid digital transformation, countries on the continent grapple with digital security issues, and governments double down on efforts to protect various platforms that may be subject to cybercriminal attacks.

South Africa's Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJCD) has been fined 5 million rands ($268,000) by the Information Regulator (IR), according to the South African government's official press agency.

The fine was levied following the DOJCD's non-compliance with the Personal Information Protection Act (POPIA) and a previous antivirus software license renewal order issued by the regulator.

"The enforcement notice required [the department] to provide proof within 31 days of receipt of the notice that the Trend antivirus license, the SIEM [Security Information and Event Management] license, and the intrusion detection system license had been renewed," said the regulatory body.

The notice sent to the department specified that if it failed to comply with this requirement by June 9, 2023, it could face a fine of up to 10 million rand.

As the Department of Justice failed to comply, "[...] the regulatory body concluded that it did not comply with the enforcement notice served on it under POPIA. As a result, the regulatory authority fined the department an administrative penalty of 5 million rand for non-compliance with the enforcement notice," added the regulator.

In September 2021, the ministry suffered a major ransomware attack. Documents containing personal information were compromised and many files were lost. This attack disrupted courts’ operations and all electronic services provided by the ministry for several months.

Since then, the country's authorities have undertaken to secure the ministry's digital infrastructure.

Samira Njoya

Posted On vendredi, 07 juillet 2023 12:11 Written by
Page 84 sur 128

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.