E-Government Development in Comoros

Since the second half of the 2010s, the Comorian Government has intensified its efforts in providing citizens with easily accessible public e-services. In the digital transformation of public administration in Comoros much focus is placed on developing regulatory frameworks and ensuring cybersecurity.

Apart from a number of public entities managing ICT sector in the country (such as the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy, ANRTIC), in 2019 the National Digital Development Agency (ANADEN, Agence Nationale de Développement du Numérique), overseeing digitalisation in the country, was established. Among other objectives, it is responsible for implementing the first national digital strategy adopted by the Council of Ministers in 2019 – Digital Comoros 2028 (Comores Numérique 2028). The World Bank assists the implementation of the initiative.

The lack of vision and strategy for the e-Government development was criticised and pointed as one of the main obstacles for further development. The establishment of the ANADEN, as well as the adoption of Digital Comoros Strategy boosted the digital transformation of the country.

The Strategy covers 6 strategic areas focusing on the digitalisation of public services, elaboration of regulatory and institutional frameworks, cybersecurity, promotion of ICT, and human resources development (including improvement of IT education). It also aims at increasing the IT sector contribution to GDP to 5% and foreign direct investment to 30 billion Comorian Francs by 2028 (an equivalent of $67 mln).

Whilst as of today the lack of infrastructure remains a notable constraint to the digitalisation of the country, and the level of Internet penetration in Comoros stood at some 8% of the population in 2017, according to the latest available data presented by the World Bank. The Strategy envisions an increase of this indicator by up to 54%. 

Regarding the e-administration development, the Strategy provides for implementation of 14 public platforms (“e-gouwshg”). The budget for e-Government development was estimated at 7.89 billion KMF ($17.5 mln USD, 15% of the total programme budget). 3.03 billion KMF (5.7%) are to be allocated for human capital development, 2.28 billion KMF (4%) – for elaborating regulatory frameworks, and 0.94 billion KMF (1.7%) for cybersecurity.

International organisations (such as the UN, the World Bank, the ITU) provide tangible assistance in the development of e-Government in the Union of Comoros. In 2006, the International Telecommunications Union suggested the government Intranet project. In 2021, the United Nations Framework for Cooperation for Sustainable Development (UNSCDF) for Comoros for the period 2022-2026 was adopted in Moroni covering digital development of the country. The Comorian Government puts much effort in the development of financial services and logistics to make the Union of Comoros a regional IT hub.

Private Comorian companies, like Comores Numérique and Comores En Ligne, also invest consistently in the digitalisation of the country. In March 2023, in close cooperation with Telma Comores En Ligne launched an e-wallet “Mbango”. 

Most of the recently developed websites of public entities are designed in the general colour scheme and style. Still, each one of them has its own design, and many sites do not use the same template and colour palette. Moreover, there are noticeable bugs on some websites (e.g. site of the Ministry of Tourism) and some websites are not available (for instance, the one of the General Administration of Taxes).

In 2022, in compliance with the objectives of the Digital Comoros Strategy, three public platforms were announced to be at the final stages of development and soon ready to be launched.

Rankings

As of 2022, the Union of Comoros ranked 182th in the UN E-Government Development Survey with an EGDI (e-Government Development Index) amounting to 0.28 (for comparison the regional EGDI equals 0.41).

Integration of Public Services

The Portal of Comoros is to be a one-stop shop platform for accessing digital public services, including requesting a copy of a birth certificate (via e-mail, online download or in person), a Residence Certificate, applying for a Visa, passport, Comorian national identity card or their renewal.

Source: ANADEN website (e-Gouv announcement)

e-Registry

The e-Registre platform is to allow for declaring business and carrying out the necessary procedures online. The project is led by the Ministry of Economy, Industry, Investments through the National Agency for the Promotion of Investments (ANPI) and supported by the World Bank through the Fourth Phase of the Regional Communication Infrastructure Programme (RCIP-4).

Public Procurement

The Online Public Procurement portal (Portail “Marchés Publics en Ligne”) is designed to manage public procurement in Comoros at all stages of the process, from the preparation of tender documents to the awarding of contracts. The project is also supported by the World Bank.

Source: ANADEN Youtube Channel (Portail Marché Publics En Ligne announcement)

G2B Services

The eRegulations Platform allows for establishing a business, registering as a merchant and provides reference information on taxes to be paid, possibilities for investment, etc.

Source:  eRegulations Platform

e-Agriculture

Among other services to mention is DIMAKOM, the first digital agriculture platform in the Union of the Comoros that was launched in March 2022. The platform was initiated and funded by the Comorian Government through the ANADEN in cooperation with the DIMAKOM-FERME. The project is aimed to support digital innovations in the country. The platform is to allow for easy purchase of agricultural products as it is aimed at bringing together the entire Comorian agricultural market (Anjouan, Mohéli, Ngazidja islands) on the website. It provides reference information, contacts of registered farmers. As of April 2023, a total of 16 farmers have registered on the Dimakom Platform.

Source: DIMAKOM (Producers page)

Author:
Olesya Kalashnik