The National Communications and Technology Institute (NTTI) of Somalia’s Ministry of Communications and Technology has launched a digital literacy training program for government employees, aimed at enhancing their capacity to use modern technology.
The program was inaugurated by the Institute’s Director, Mohamed Abdullahi, with an initial workshop focused on data protection, information security, privacy, and the prevention of digital threats.
The training is expected to help government employees improve their professional skills, protect sensitive data, and use digital systems efficiently and responsibly, as part of broader efforts to modernise government services.
Building Digital Capacity in the Public Sector
The Ministry of Communications and Technology is focusing on strengthening the Institute’s role in training government employees and building the capacity of state institutions to keep pace with modern technological changes. The initiative reflects a growing recognition that digital transformation requires not only infrastructure and systems but also the skills and awareness of the people who use them.
This training program is part of a broader push to strengthen Somalia’s digital governance. As reported in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the digital ID rollout, the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has launched the eAqoonsi mobile application, allowing citizens to carry their National ID digitally. NIRA has issued over one million National Identification Cards nationwide, and since March 2026, the National ID Card has been mandatory for all domestic travel.
The government has also partnered with international actors to accelerate digital transformation. As detailed in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the UNDP partnership, the Ministry of Telecommunications and Technology signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Development Programme to fast-track the rollout of electronic government services and promote inclusive access to digital tools.
A Focus on Data Protection and Cybersecurity
The emphasis on data protection and privacy reflects a critical gap in Somalia’s digital ecosystem. As government services move online and digital records replace paper files, the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks increases. Without adequate safeguards, the digitisation of government operations could expose sensitive personal information to misuse.
The Somali government has taken steps to address these risks. In March 2026, the National Payment System Law was enacted, providing a legal framework for the regulation of payment systems and payment service providers. As reported in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the national payment system, the system processed 337,788 transactions worth approximately $592.9 million in the first quarter of 2026 alone.
The Central Bank of Somalia has also obtained ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification for its Information Security Management System, confirming that its information security framework complies with global best practices. However, the broader public sector has yet to develop comparable standards.
Critical Note
Training government employees in digital literacy and data protection is a necessary investment, but it is not sufficient. The effectiveness of the program will depend on whether the skills acquired are applied in practice, and whether the institutions that employ these workers have the systems and protocols to support secure digital operations.
Somalia’s digital transformation is progressing on multiple fronts: digital IDs, payment systems, and e-government platforms. But the security and privacy infrastructure that should underpin these systems is lagging. A training workshop can raise awareness, but it cannot build the technical safeguards, the legal frameworks, or the institutional accountability mechanisms that protect citizens’ data.
The Ministry of Communications and Technology should be commended for recognising the importance of human capacity. But the next step must be to ensure that the training is part of a comprehensive strategy that includes technical infrastructure, legal enforcement, and independent oversight. Without these, digital literacy alone will not protect Somalia’s citizens from the risks of a rapidly digitising state.
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Dieser Artikel ist neu veröffentlicht von / This article is republished from: FTL Somalia, 18.10.2026
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