This Wednesday November 1^st, a team from GIZ led by the Germany Ambassador to Rwanda Hon. Heike Uta Dettmann visited digital Ambassadors and trainees operating in Bugesera District, Ntarama Sector, Cyugaro Cell to witness how Digital Ambassadors operate and the impact they are making.

Digital Ambassadors program started in 2017 as a pilot project supported by various stakeholders including international organizations and Government Ministries and agencies with the aim of increasing citizens’ digital literacy rate aligned with the National Strategy for Transformation goals of attaining 60% digital literacy rate among adults and 100% digital literacy rate among the youth by 2024.

Among the involved stakeholders since the inception are the Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of ICT and innovation at the policy level and Rwanda Information Society Authority and the Ministry of Local Government at the implementation level. As for international organisations GIZ a Germany organization, World Bank, UNICEF among others. GIZ has been sponsoring Digital Ambassadors Program since its inception in 2017 and it is for the same purpose that they are visiting the projects to assess the impact.

The Team was received by the Mayor of Bugesera District who informed them about the impact that Digital Ambassadors are making in terms of service delivery. He highlighted that local citizens are now able to access online services almost 100% and do not queue at the offices in big numbers anymore as they are able to request services on their own. RISA representative took them through the entire program since its inception in 2017, the recruitment process, how they operate, performance and the reporting system.   

After the presentation, they joined local residents who were being trained at the playground about the types of electronic devices by a digital ambassador of the cell level. Citizens appreciated the visit and informed visitors that they are gaining a lot from the program. “I no longer need to leave my home to pay for health insurance, to buy water or electricity; because my phone can do it all as long as I have some cash loaded on my mobile phone” a trainee confessed.

Speaking at the occasion, the Germany Ambassador to Rwanda appreciated the work of Digital Ambassadors and encouraged citizens to keep the momentum in order to keep the development pace. Using an example of her experience back in Germany, she mentioned that she grew up when digitization was not at a high speed like nowadays and this made her work very hard on a daily basis to be on the same page with the young generation and access needed services.

The Mayor of Bugesera District appreciated GIZ support given   to digital ambassadors and called upon citizens to keep learning and practicing what they have learnt in their daily lives. He commended DA’s work as they are showing positive impact towards citizens as they are able to get online services timely.