- Kenya School of Government explores partnership with Huawei to accelerate public sector digital transformation efforts.
- Talks focus on boosting digital skills, leadership development, innovation, and the capacity of senior officials.
- Initiative aligns with Kenya’s Digital Master Plan and global guidance from OECD and UNESCO.
The Kenya School of Government (KSG) has identified the local Kenya subsidiary of the global technology firm, Huawei, as the next partner in ensuring the country’s digital transformation takes the next step.
KSG, an organization identified to improve the skills and capacities of Kenyans, noted the new partnership would be aimed at enhancing digital skills in the public sector.
The KSG stated that talks at Huawei have been revolved around how new digital technologies can be harnessed in order to improve leadership development and innovation in government systems. The talks have also involved discussions on how a memorandum of understanding document can be developed, defining future cooperation terms between KSG and Huawei.
Some of the critical areas that have been involved include building the capacity of top government officials in terms of new digital technologies.
This initiative is very much in line with the digital transformation of Kenya’s vision as a whole, which considers information and communication technologies as one of the most important drivers of socio-economic development.
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According to the Digital Master Plan 2022-2032, the vision of the government of Kenya is to develop a total of 1,450 community digital centers and digitally deliver all public services.
International bodies have emphasized the role of developing skills in this regard. For example, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has reported: "Investments in civil service skills have become increasingly necessary, as new digital technologies have the potential to fundamentally change public administration."
UNESCO has also underlined the fact that civil servants would not need to be technical specialists. In fact, civil servants need to build up an awareness of the trends in new technologies and their broader implications in society in order to lead the transformation in the most effective way possible in the public domain.
Digital planning and design, data and use governance, and digital management and delivery are the skill fields in which civil servants need to be proficient, as indicated by UNESCO.
Through partnerships such as the one being explored with Huawei, KSG aims to strengthen public sector readiness for Kenya’s digital future.