(Ecofin Agency) – Like many African countries, Algeria is relying on ICT to support its socio-economic development. One of the main drivers of this strategy is the modernization of the public administration.
Algeria is preparing to officially launch its national digital services platform. Named “Dzair Digital Services,” it is intended to become a one-stop shop, as part of the national ambitions for digital transformation.
At a press conference held on Monday, May 11, the High Commissioner for Digitalization, Meriem Benmouloud, indicated that the project has completed all the technical stages. This includes design, development, verification phases, and cybersecurity testing. Field trials have also been successfully conducted.
Ms. Benmouloud specified that two pilot phases were organized between March and April, covering seven ministerial sectors. The services were tested directly with citizens at dedicated sites, with the participation of over 1,700 people. According to her, user feedback was generally positive. Users particularly appreciated the ability to access administrative documents and various services via mobile phone or computer, without having to visit government offices.
The platform initially offers 52 digital services covering seven ministries, with a gradual rollout. New services will be added, such as family records and residency certificates, according to Ms. Benmouloud.
The development of this platform is part of the national digital transformation strategy for 2030, which aims to integrate information and communication technologies across all sectors to support socio-economic development. In the public sector, the objective is to make the administration more efficient, more transparent, and closer to the citizen through digital technology.
However, the effective adoption of these services will depend on several factors. Access to affordable internet, the availability of connected devices (smartphones and computers), network quality, and users’ basic digital skills are key factors. For example, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) estimates that internet penetration in Algeria will reach 77.4% by 2024. Meanwhile, the World Bank indicates that 84.34% of the population over the age of 15 owns a smartphone.
Currently, Algeria ranks 116th globally according to the United Nations’ E-Government Development Index (EGDI), with a score of 0.5956 out of 1 for 2024. The country is above the sub-regional (0.5276) and African (0.4247) averages, but remains below the global average (0.6382).
Isaac K. Kassouwi
Edited by Sèna D. B. de Sodji