Digital qualification and building a smart republic and an interactive digital society

Digital rehabilitation and building a smart republic and an interactive digital society

Egypt is taking steady steps towards building a new, smart republic, keeping pace with the escalating technological developments, with the opportunities it provides and the challenges it imposes, which requires digitally qualified workers and citizens. Therefore, the state – represented by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and in cooperation with all government agencies and the private sector, including local and international companies and civil society – sought to build a digital Egypt and reach an Egyptian society that deals digitally in all aspects of life, in an interactive, safe, productive and sustainable manner. To achieve development and digital goals, in line with the 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to implement the goals of “Egypt Vision 2030” and Egypt’s digital strategy; To improve the quality of life of citizens and increase the competitive capabilities of the Egyptian state.

This is through a digital methodology that focuses on the citizen as the focus of its attention (Citizen Centric), and as the target and beneficiary. Hence, the basis for the success of any digital system, and the guarantee of its sustainability. The Ministry’s efforts also aim to prepare society, institutions and citizens to absorb modern digital technologies and deal with them safely. This is through spreading digital culture, digital qualification to deal with information technology data, concepts, and tools, and enhancing the use of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, big data, block chain, the Internet of things, cybersecurity systems, and others. In implementation of the commitment contained in Article (25) of the Egyptian Constitution.

Technological and digital developments have become rapid, and any institution/state that aspires to achieve, develop, and achieve its goals can no longer keep pace with these developments. Various digital technologies may play a supportive and enhancing role in the strength and performance of institutions if they are used well.

Here comes the importance and role of digital institutional development in creating strong participatory digital government institutions, capable of adapting to local and international changes, and achieving a smart new republic. It is a development that saves cost and effort, enhances operational excellence, improves quality, and simplifies procedures. For citizens and customers to obtain services.

Digital institutional development also creates promising opportunities to provide innovative, creative and proactive services, in addition to spreading the concepts of digital transformation and digital empowerment, and maximizing the use of information and data in a way that reflects the country’s digital strategic vision, which is not limited to digitizing government services, but rather includes governance of government activities, developing its performance, and managing information policies while providing all the pillars supporting digital transformation processes.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology is working to implement the state’s digital institutional development plan, to ensure the absorption and sustainability of digital transformation work, in addition to providing technical support to information systems departments and digital transformation of ministries, governorates, and public bodies through evaluation and selection of human resources. To work in these units and provide specialized training for them, as well as training and qualifying workers in the state’s administrative apparatus, those moving to the new administrative capital, and workers in public bodies and governorates, as well as digital education and developing the digital capabilities of citizens from various societal groups.

In this context, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology completed raising digital awareness and developing the digital capabilities of about 1,219,000 workers and citizens. The percentage of female beneficiaries reached 46% and the percentage of male beneficiaries reached 54%. With regard to workers in the state’s administrative apparatus in ministries, public bodies, and governorates, the Ministry has completed spreading digital culture and developing capabilities for workers and leaders who are specialists and non-specialists in the field of information technology, with a total of (138,508) employees.

Within the framework of the Ministry’s projects to support digital and financial inclusion for citizens, the Ministry succeeded in raising digital awareness and enhancing digital skills for (104,608) citizens, with a percentage of females of 45.7% and a percentage of males of 54.3%.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology implemented programs to develop knowledge, culture, behaviors, and digital skills for workers in ministries and agencies moving to the New Administrative Capital, with a total of (78,448) training certificates, with a percentage of females of 42.6% and a percentage of males of 57.4%; This is to ensure the sustainability of digital transformation work, and the continuity of the work system in the New Administrative Capital, to reach a smart, participatory government.

A group of general and specialized programs were implemented for leaders and workers in information systems and digital transformation departments, with (9,579) training certificates. The digital capabilities of workers in governorates, affiliated directorates, public bodies, and non-transfers were also developed, with (52,401) training certificates, with a percentage of females of 50.2% and a percentage of males of 49.8%. This is to improve the quality of services provided to citizens, prepare all governorates to accommodate digital transformation work, and ensure business sustainability in Port Said as it is the first digital governorate. In addition to implementing a plan for digital institutional development of unified government services complexes in the governorates; To ensure the sustainability of its business, to provide distinguished services to citizens through an integrated program to develop the digital capabilities of its employees.

The state – through the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and in partnership with civil society institutions – also implemented the “Decent Life” initiative, to raise citizens’ digital awareness and empower them digitally. The number of beneficiaries of the initiative reached (82,761) citizens in the villages of the first phase of the initiative in 20 governorates, with a percentage of females of 56.2% and a percentage of males of 43.8%. The initiative aimed to bridge the digital gap between rural and urban areas, empower the people of the targeted villages with modern technology tools, and make them aware of the digital services available on the platforms of various government agencies, including: health, education, catering, and utilities, as well as the services available on the “Digital Egypt” platform, post offices, and digital financial services provided by banks, electronic payment companies, and telecommunications companies, and developing their abilities to use and benefit from them.

The Ministry also completed building and qualifying (2801) citizens of the “digital knowledge cadres” including female commissioners, knowledge pioneers, imams and preachers from the Ministry of Endowments, nuns from the Egyptian Church, and facilitators from the National Council for Women; To implement the initiative within the targeted villages after building their capabilities and qualifying them digitally.

To ensure the sustainability of digital efforts, a digital Decent Life platform has been designed and is being launched, as an interactive platform for citizens. In continuation of the state’s efforts to implement the goals of the national project to develop the villages of the Egyptian countryside in the presidential initiative “A Decent Life.”

The Ministry, in cooperation with many local and international partners, was keen to establish Digital Egypt Innovation Centers and launch a number of academies specialized in information and communications technology in the governorates, as specialized digital training centers to nurture and develop the skills of workers and citizens on digital technologies and emerging technologies. The Ministry is also keen to measure the social and economic development impact – of providing communications and Internet services and digital human development – on citizens. To achieve digital economic empowerment.

The Ministry’s efforts and initiatives to eradicate digital literacy, spread digital culture, and enhance digital and financial inclusion for citizens from various societal groups across the Republic – have contributed to integrating citizens into the digital environment in a safe, effective, productive and sustainable manner, and raising citizens’ awareness of available digital services, especially with regard to the services of the Digital Egypt Platform, where interaction and usage rates have increased, bringing the number of users of the platform’s services – as of April 2024 – to more than 8 million. Users, with a total number of requests for services reaching 45 million. All previous efforts resulted in improving Egypt’s position in regional and international digital indicators.