IfG.CC - The Institute for eGovernment

Rwanda was ranked first worldwide in government success to promote Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

According to the Global Information Technology report 2015, Rwanda scored 6.2 points out of a possible seven.

The GIT report is compiled by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum. Overall, Rwanda was ranked 83 out of 143 countries surveyed covering all categories, but first in East Africa and 5th in sub-Saharan Africa.

According to the company, the plans for systems integration and to combine data from the current ID card, passport and driver’s licence, are already underway. The first eID documents are expected to be distributed in around six months, following completion of the pilot phase.

According to local media reports, Monique Mukaruliza – the country’s East African Community (EAC) Affairs minister – has requested that states in the region that already use national IDs as travel documents formalise their arrangements.

It is widely regarded that free movement of people – aided by improved travel document procedures – will help boost economic development in the EAC area. However, while Rwanda is keen for national ID cards to be used for cross-border travel in the region, Tanzania has called for border control documents to be restricted to passports and other internationally recognised travel papers.

E-procurement system - Umucyo

AOS Ltd, a Rwandan Information Technology Systems Integrator, has developed an electronic procurement system for the Government of Rwanda. Dubbed ‘Umucyo’ (transparency). The system was developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economic planning and the Rwanda Public Procurement Authority (RPPA} to automate the public procurement process and enable the interactions of Government to Business entities (G2B).

The government is now working with the private sector to identify innovative, information-driven and ICT enabled solutions to boost economic growth.

The solutions referred to as 'SMART' are expected to be a citizen-centric and business-friendly, accessible and sustainable Information and Service Delivery ecosystem through public and private investments.

Rwanda’s Minister of Youth and ICT, Jean Philbert Nsengimana, addressing experts during the Rwanda Open Data Policy Consultative Workshop held in Rubavu District has advised experts to be innovative to make data job related.

Open data is information made available by governments, businesses and other groups for anyone to read, use and share. In an information and knowledge-based economy that Rwanda is increasingly turning into, Open Data is a precious national resource and a strategic asset of the Government of Rwanda.

The Global Information Technology Report (GITR) 2015 has ranked Rwanda first globally for Government Success in ICT promotion to drive social and economic transformation. According to the report, which was compiled by World Economic Forum (WEF), Rwanda scored 6.2 points out of 7.

The Report was released on Wednesday, 15 April 2015 in Geneva, Switzerland. It features the latest iteration of the Networked Readiness Index which assesses the factors, policies and institutions that enable countries to leverage ICTs for increased competitiveness and well-being. Government Success in ICT promotion is one of several sub-indexes of the GITR index overall, where Rwanda is ranked number one.

The 2013 Networked Readiness Index, released on Wednesday by the World Economic Forum (Wef) and European Institute of Business Administration (INSEAD), considers several aspects, including a country's market and regulatory framework in advancing ICT for inclusive development.

Parliament on April 20 ratified the Smart Africa Alliance agreement, which aims to transform Africa into a digital single market and promote the use of technology and innovation across the African continent by 2030.

The move was presented by the Minister of ICT and Innovation Paula Ingabire, and was highly welcomed by the plenary sitting of the Chamber of Deputies, after 20 member countries ratified the agreement during the 10th Smart Africa Board Meeting on November 10, 2021.

Rwanda has announced plans to digitize education system to further innovation, social inclusion, job creation, education quality and national competitiveness, the education minister said Wednesday.

Musafiri Papias Malimba told reporters that the country entered an agreement with Microsoft Corporation to digitize Rwanda education through a "smart-classroom" project.

Rwanda is targeting to see 70 percent of the households connected to internet by 2017, says Philbert Nsengimana, Rwandan minister of youth and ICT. internet He made the remarks on Monday while addressing local reporters ahead of the Commonwealth Electronic Governance forum which kicks off Tuesday.

About 200 information and telecommunication policymakers, members of academia and private sector players from Commonwealth nations will meet in the Rwandan Capital, Kigali to explore contributions of e-Government on socioeconomic transformation of the people.

“Rwanda embraced the power technology to change the lives of citizens from an agriculture-driven into a knowledge-based economy where all government services are accessed via internet,” said Nsengimana.

The republic of Rwanda, reputed to be East Africa’s hub for technology, has been recently selected to be the regions center of excellence in e-health, biomedical engineering, health vaccines and immunization logistics. The appointment was made by health experts from the East African Community (EAC) who recently met in Uganda for the fifth annual EAC Health and Scientific Conference.

E-health is an evolving innovative practice involving the use of electronic processes and communication to promote healthcare. First appearing on the scene in 1999, it is closely related to health informatics, cyber medicine and m-health (mobile health). Being a low cost and easily accessible service, it continues to gather momentum and popularity across the globe.

Today many companies are increasingly showing interest in providing various web-based solutions for their clients.

In line with this, starting today, November 8 to10, 2010, the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), which is responsible for advancing the U.S commercial interests in emerging markets, will host a technical workshop at the Serena Hotel, Kigali Rwanda.

The conference dubbed “Smart Rwanda Day” aims at bringing together various stakeholders in ICT sector and international groups in a move to share experience in each country’s effort to bridge the digital divide across all socio-economic sectors.

At least 200 information and telecommunication policymakers, members of academia and private sector players from Commonwealth nations will, next week, meet in Kigali for an Electronic Governance forum organised by the Ministry of Youth and ICT and Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation.

The two-day conference, scheduled to open on March 24, comes at a time when Rwanda is entering the last five years of its Vision 2020, whose target is to transform the country from an agriculture-driven into a knowledge-based economy with convenient service provision through electronic governance.

HumanIPO reported last month the ICT conference would be hosted in Rwanda, bringing together local and international participants.

Chief executive officer (CEO) of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) Valentine Rugwabiza said: “Once infrastructure is in place, it is paramount that we all play our part in driving investments in content development and service delivery.”

The network aims to improve access to diagnostic services for vulnerable populations in cross border areas and enhance contribution of laboratories to disease surveillance using the Internet and mobile communications technology.

The World Bank approved $63.66 million in May last year to support the project which will benefit Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda by creating a regional network of 26 public health laboratories.

The Ministry of Youth, and Information Communications and Technology (ICT), together with industry players, recently took part in an ICT Backward Joint Sector Review 2014/15.

"When I reflect on what we've achieved over the last one year or so, putting it in broad categories it is access, capacity and services. "I think we have moved quite a bit," Jean Philbert Nsengimana, the Minister of Youth and ICT said.

The Rwanda project is part of the World Bank’s $424m Regional Communication Infrastructure Program which is designed to improve the regional communications infrastructure and increase the deployment of e-government in Southern and Eastern Africa.

Smart cards are electronic gadgets that will link different services provided by different institutions like banks, super-markets, hospitals (e-health) and medical insurances among others.

According to Pascal Nyamulinda, the coordinator of the National ID project which has the mandate to process the smart cards, the cards will integrate many services using its multi purpose chip.