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Coat of Arms of Rwanda featuring a traditional basket, rising sun, coffee and sorghum, cogwheel, shields, and national motto: Unity, Work, PatriotismMINICT

Digital Ambassadors Programme

Project Name: Digital Ambassadors Program (DAP) 

Partners: GIZ                  

Funded by: Government of Rwanda

About

The Digital Ambassadors Programme (DAP) is a national programme led by MINICT that aims to increase the digital literacy of five million Rwandan citizens, resulting in increased access to and use of online systems and services. It is a component of the government’s Digital Talent Policy within the umbrella ICT strategic plan – the Smart Rwanda Master Plan. DAP also aligns with the World Economic Forum’s Internet for All initiative.

DAP’s delivery model rests on the recruitment of entrepreneurial young men and women to provide digital literacy training and act as catalysts of change in their communities. Digital Ambassadors (DAs) are recruited from among young social innovators and are deployed in communities throughout the country to directly train citizens in accessing e-Government and other digital and mobile services through Irembo Platform.

By providing digital literacy training to members of their own communities, in local languages and focusing on locally relevant digital content and services, DAP is expected to demonstrate the full value of the Internet. By extension, it will also enable citizens and business owners to benefit from broadband connections in their areas and catalyse mass adoption of e-Government, e-Business, e-Agriculture, mobile financial services, and more. 

Objectives

  • Transform rural communities into digitally literate and skilled ones through digital literacy trainings;
  • Increase access to information, internet services, ICT infrastructure and different applications for provision of online services (Irembo, E-health, e-Agriculture, e-Business, e-Commerce and digital financial inclusion services);
  • Support the efforts of increasing device penetration through stimulating demand and empowering citizens with the capacity to use those devices;
  • Provide digital literacy trainings to women, youths and persons with special needs/disabilities;
  • Mobilize partners and involve the private sector to support digital literacy trainings for Rwandans;
  • Stimulate job creation and increase citizens’ productivity through use of ICT.  Digital ambassadors are linked with private ICT companies and can gain commissions based on services provided to citizens. 

Main activities

  • Involve different key partners that offers services through ICT (telecom companies, banks, irembo, government institutions that offers online services etc.) to actively participate in citizen sensitisation and training efforts;
  • Develop a clear partnership framework with clear responsibilities of each stakeholder;
  • Recruit Digital Ambassadors with an entrepreneurial mindset, who can manage Service Access Points (SAPs) efficiently, generate own revenues for sustainability, and train citizens;
  • Combine efforts with other public institutions that need access to citizens for sensitisation on their e-services and other ICT services;
  • Provide funds to support each Digital Ambassador to acquire necessary materials, repair devices and subscribe as an agent to different companies;
  • Provide a transport allowance to each Digital Ambassador;
  • After 12 months, each Digital Ambassador deployed in SAP continues to train citizens free of charge and deliver e-services upon receiving commissions;
  • The minimum service for a Digital Ambassador deployed in SAP is three years. If their engagement in the programme stops before one year, a balance of investment fund provided must be repaid back;
  • A separate category of Digital Ambassadors trains citizens at the cell levels (which do not meet full SAP requirements). These DAs also receive their monthly transport allowance. 

Main achievements

  • DAP was launched in September 2017 in Rulindo District and started with 50 Digital Ambassadors;
  • 41,025 citizens were trained during the Proof-of-Concept stage (from September 2017 to June 2019);
  • A new DAP model was designed and implemented since November 2019.  This new model is based on training cost optimization through a strong partnership between the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT), Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC), Ministry of Youth and Arts (MoYA), development partners, and the private sector;
  • The new model was run using 110 digital ambassadors deployed across 110 cells across 30 districts. Since November 2019 (5 months), 27,602 citizens have been trained, and this make a total of 67,627 citizens trained under Digital Ambassadors Program (DAP);
  • Currently, 262 Service Access Points (SAPs) are operational in Rwanda; among them 200 are at sector level, each equipped with four (4) laptops, one (1) all-in-one printer and one agent. The other 62 SAPs are operating at District level each having 15 desktop computers, one all-in-one printer and one agent.

 

Timeline and Coverage

Timeline:  September 2017 to June 2024

Coverage: Countrywide

Contact Information:  

Chairman (Ai): Lambert Ntagwabira, Senior Technologist - Capacity and Skills Development  

Telephone: +250 784 616 446 

Affiliated Agencies

MINICT has a vision to foster ICT development and diffusion in the Rwandan Society and Economy. To achieve its mission, the Ministry works closely with the following affiliated agencies in the implementation of its policies and programs.