Technologies and Big Data in Shaping African Public Services

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Technologies and Big Data in Shaping African Public Services

April 13, 2021

Technologies and Big Data in Shaping African Public Services: Towards Efficient Digital Solutions for Africa Social Good Can technology and digitalization improve and enhance the value we get from public services? Data can change the experience that individuals get from a public service across all its characteristics (e.g., policy design, implementation, customization and so on). The Covid-19 pandemic has proven that technology has the potential to solve some of the most pressing challenges that impact Africa and drive growth and development in core sectors (health, agriculture, education and financial services). The purpose of this joint panel is to shed the light on the opportunities and the challenges of using technology and data in shaping public services. To this end, the discussion will be structured around following points: How governments are delivering better public services to citizens using cloud-based technology? Digital technology is now an integrated part of government modernization strategies to create public value. The potential and the challenges of digital transformation in Africa and its impact on governance Does digital transformation represent a leapfrog opportunity for Africa? 14:00 – 14:05 Introduction to the panel Akram Zaoui, International Relations Specialist, Policy Center for the New South 14:10 – 14:45 Debate: Digital Transformation from a Northern Perspective Alex Holmes, Senior Manager Government Transformation, Amazon Web Services Digital Transformation from a Southern Perspective Amir Abdul Reda, Assistant Professor in Computational Political Science, Mohammed 6 Polytechnic University 14:00 – 15:10 Q&A

Speakers

Akram Zaoui

Manager – Research Support & Public Policy Lab

Akram Zaoui is an International Relations Specialist at the Policy Center for the New South, where he works on the geopolitics of the Middle East and North Africa. After several experiences that led him to work for public and private entities in Jordan, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates, he devoted himself for almost 2 years to the issue of Islam in France. In this context, he has contributed to academic productions and field missions and has been in charge of the coordination, preparation and evaluation of the action of different actors involved in the issue (public institutions, private operators, civil society organizations and personalities, media, and academic institutions and researches,). He holds a Dual Degree in Corporate and Public Management from HEC Paris (“Prog ...