E-Government Development in Guinea

The Guinean Government has set the ambitious goals for digitalization of public administration in order to facilitate access to the public services. The e-Government platforms are at various stages of development and implementation. Most of the services are not designed for general use and are aimed at authorities and government organizations. Some of these digital services and platforms are being developed with the assistance of foreign companies and international organizations.

Within the framework of UNDP work in Guinea, a priority is given to digitalization of public administration and education, as stated in 2021 at the meeting between the UNDP Resident Representative in Guinea and the Prime Minister.

In 2022, under the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy the National State Digitalization Agency (ANDE) was established responsible for implementing the policy, strategies, programmes and projects of the Guinean Government, aimed at digitalisation of the Guinean public administration. Agency of Electronic Governance and State Informatization (l’Agence Nationale de gouvernance électronique et de l’informatique de l’État, ANGEIE) also oversees the development of digital infrastructure and public digital platforms in Guinea. The Agency is authorized to coordinate the IT departments of all government agencies. Nevertheless, there is no website available for the Agency itself.  

In 2015, the Ministry of Post, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy of the Republic of Guinea adopted the 2016-2020 programme which was aimed at the elaboration of a strategy for the development of telecommunications and the digital economy as an independent sector. This document was developed with material support from the West African Communal Initiative Project (WARCIP). The 2016-2020 programme is not likely to be fully implemented. As of April 2023, there is no information on the Ministry’s website under "Achievements", some news and current projects are presented.

The Digital Road map document, aimed to provide a digital strategy for the Government of Republic of Guinea, was drafted in 2020, supported by the League of Arab States. This digital strategy is built on the work done by the European Union, namely Guinea 2040 Vision, the paper stated. The European Union and the Republic of Guinea maintain relations governed by an agreement signed in 2021 with the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) to which Guinea is a party.

The government agencies’ website design is inconsistent, many of them are non-functional, incomplete, with the links to empty pages. Most platforms require adjustments to implement the stated functionality.

With the UN subsidiaries and the World Bank playing major roles in e-Governance development there is still a lack of working solutions in such critical areas as health, education, etc., with obvious need and articulated demand.

As of April 2023, the Guinean Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Entrepreneurship (AGUIPE-E), the passport control system (supported by the World Bank) and the veterinary service EMA-I (Event Mobile Application, supported by FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN) are operational. With EMA-I mobile application veterinarians from the field are able to register the real-time data on the spread of animal diseases. The service is integrated into the Global Animal Disease Information System (EMPRES-i).

There is a lack of electronic signature service, registry of legal entities, integrated platforms for surveys, feedback and complaints. No information on their development is available in open sources.

Rankings

In 2022, according to the United Nations E-Government Development Survey 2022, the Republic of Guinea entered the list of African countries with middle EGDI (E-Government Development Index), leaving the list of underdeveloped. Its index reached 0.36. In the World Bank’s GovTech Maturity Index (GTMI) Ranking Guinea was among the countries with minimal focus on GovTech, its GTMI equaled 0.15.

Integration of Public Services

Whilst the official website of the Guinean Government was designed to serve as a one-stop shop to all public services for citizens and provide links to them, the sections ‘Services for Citizens’ (Services aux Citoyens) and ‘Visit Guinea’ (Visiter la Guinée) do not function. Only the link to the Investment Portal works.

Source: Official Portal of the Guinean Government GouvGn (main page)

Identification and Biometrics

A facial recognition system (Biometric Identification System) was partially implemented with the support of the World Bank. It was tested during the census of civil servants. An electronic system of interdepartmental cooperation, as well as portals of public services and unified authorization are at the pilot stages of implementation.

Healthcare

Within the programme MEASURE Evaluation, supported by the United States Global Development Lab, a health information system (HIS) was developed. The programme is implemented under the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene.

The National Compulsory Health Insurance (Inamo), established by the government provides insurance for the civil servants. 

Public Procurement

The Unified System in the field of procurement was developed under the authority of the Minister of Economy and Finance of Guinea. However, the section ‘Marché Public’ (Public Procurement) does not function and redirects users to the main page.

Source: Ministry of Economy and Finance (main page)

Payment System

The Sudpay National Payment System (TownPay) was launched in 2014. Sudpay aims at the development of ‘mobility solutions, multichannel payment programmes and particularly platforms of services and collection of financial resources adapted to African realities’.

Employment

The website of the Guinean Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Entrepreneurship (AGUIPE-E) allows user registration for employers and employees, however, it does not provide any functioning e-services, only reference information.

Source: Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Entrepreneurship (Services page)

Legislation

Digital legal systems are not yet developed. On the National Assembly’s website bills and laws are published irregularly, yet not fully.

Author:

Varvara Savinkova