March 25th, 2015

E-Governance stakeholders meet in Rwanda to discuss how ICTs can be used as an enabler to transform citizen-state relationships

Kigali, 25 March 2015 – Over 170 participants from 14 countries are meeting this week in Kigali, Rwanda as part of the Commonwealth E-Governance Forum Africa 2015 taking place on 24 – 25 March. Delegates include the ICT Ministers for Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi, Uganda and Zambia, as well as ICT policy advisers, regulators, academics, implementing agencies, private sector and application providers who are meeting to discuss the pivotal role ICTs will play transforming government-to-citizen relations.

This two-day event is focusing on promoting ICT as a means through which there can be greater transparency and better delivery of government services across the Commonwealth, and especially in Africa. Key topics addressed includes:

• e-Governance at work and how open data can transform service delivery
• Cost effective and secure cloud services for governance
• Adopting m-Governance solutions
• Improving electoral participation through e-voting
• Developing effective security measures for e-Governance

Professor Tim Unwin, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation said “E-governance is more complex than many stakeholders think. The ways in which ICTs are used to transform relationships between the state and its citizens must be addressed through the sensitive use of digital technologies that enhance democracy. Unless there is a wider commitment to good governance, no amount of technology will automatically change existing government practices”

“The Commonwealth e-Governance Forum Africa 2015 is examining new technologies, showcasing innovative e-Government services, facilitating knowledge exchange, and assisting relationship building. Technological advances such as Open Data and Cloud services have added new dimensions to e-governance,” he added.

Rwanda’s Minister of Youth and ICT, Honourable Jean Philbert Nsengimana, said that “e-Governance in Rwanda forms a pivotal part of the national development agenda. A number of initiatives, policies, legislations and investments have been put in place to enable and promote the Government’s digital transformation, whose target is to turn the previous agrarian economy into a knowledge-based economy.”

“Rwanda is working to leverage the latest ICT capabilities such as big data, analytics, social media, mobility, Internet of Things among others to deliver a transparent, efficient, citizen-centric and accountable governance,” he added.