Rwanda is set to host the Africa e-Governance Conference from March 12 to 14 at Kigali Convention Center (KCC). The conference will gather prominent leaders in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, coming from various corners of the African continent to explore the positive impact of digital transformation on the quality of services delivered to citizens. ALSO READ: Inside Rwanda's plan to move all government services online In an interview with Adeyinka Adeyemi, the CEO and Convenor of AFREGOV, key insights about the upcoming conference were unveiled. Excerpts: What exactly is the Africa e-Governance Conference, and why is it significant? The Africa e-Governance Conference serves as an annual platform focusing on the government’s use of technology to drive governance. The conference seeks to emphasise the importance of incorporating technology to improve governance, moving beyond the traditional focus on trade and economic integration. It is our firm belief that it is now imperative for the continent to shift its focus to civic tech. This entails exploring how citizens throughout Africa can experience the advantages of social inclusion through innovative government operations. The question arises: How does the government truly impact the lives of individuals across the African continent? Unlike more digitally advanced continents, many government processes in Africa remain manual. Embracing digitalisation offers a unique opportunity for citizens to fully reap the benefits of governmental initiatives. Termed “access to the government”, this transition to a technological platform aims to be all-encompassing, ensuring universal accessibility simultaneously. This is the primary objective of e-Government conferencing. Which key figures and topics will be featured at the conference? The conference anticipates the attendance of six presidents and 15 ministers responsible for ICT from various African countries. Global technology players, including Google, Microsoft, and Oracle, are expected to participate, showcasing the latest technologies available for governments to enhance transparency and integrity in service delivery. In addition to technology stakeholders, government representatives from different ministries, departments, and agencies across Africa will be present as the conference aims to facilitate discussions on better administration and government practices to improve the overall well-being of citizens. The primary focus of the Africa e-Governance Conference is to promote social inclusion and sustainable development. By providing a platform for technology and government sectors to converge, the conference aims to address challenges in agriculture, healthcare, education, finance, and transportation, among others. How can individuals participate in or gain value from the conference? The conference is open to participants from all walks of life, we’re encouraging individuals interested in sustainable development to attend. Two tracks of challenges will also be featured during the conference, including the Startup Innovation Challenge. This challenge allows innovators to pitch their solutions, with potential sponsorship opportunities from technology partners like Google. There’s also the AfreGov SmartCity Challenge, which is a digital governance contest for governments at all levels, focusing on providing digital platforms for enhanced efficiency, increased participation, and the promotion of an inclusive economy. Participating governments will showcase their solutions in pitch sessions, following a challenge-driven innovation approach to address local issues faced by citizens in African cities. Interested participants can find more information and details about the conference on the official website https://afregov.africa/
