The government, through the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, has secured technical assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in piloting the digital transformation journey.
The development includes digital literacy in the public service, digital readiness assessment, and experiment and map solutions through the Rural Information Communication Technology Centres.
“With support from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, the Ministry is developing the National Digital Strategy and its implementation action plan, which will guide Namibia’s digital transformation journey. This will further be undertaken along with the Estonian government who pledged to assist Namibia on the development of digital skills,” the ICT Minister Peya Mushelenga revealed.
This comes on the backdrop of the recent approval of the Government Communication Strategy (GCS), which has resulted in the Ministry proactively drafting its 2-year Strategic Plan for the period 2023 to 2025.
“This plan is largely aligned with the provisions of the GCS, pending projects from the Harambee Prosperity Plan II and general ICT sector demands and expectations. The Ministry is looking into aligning its current structure with the new Strategic Plan,” said Mushelenga in his Cabinet Committee briefing on the ministry’s activities and programmes.
“The development and implementation of the GCS, has transformed government communication, providing for a clear and concise road map for all communications activities within Government. The GCS was developed in August 2022 and approved by the Cabinet in September 2022. It is currently being implemented across all OMAS, Regional Councils and Local Authorities,” he reiterated.
Other programmes include the awareness of the National Cybersecurity Strategy, in addition to continued efforts of the 5G Strategy implementation.
“This includes the establishment of the National Cybersecurity Incident Response Team (NCSIRT) to serve as the focal point for cybersecurity matters. The NCSIRT will serve as the focal point for coordinating responses to cyber incidents as well as the primary contact point to liaise with international, regional and national bodies dealing with cybersecurity,” he said.
As a designated Competent Authority in the Environmental Management Act, Mushelenga said the Ministry has developed the guidelines with respect to applications for Environmental Clearance Certificates for the construction of communication networks including towers, telecommunication and marine telecommunication lines and cables.
“This aims to provide guidance and ensure consistency in dealing with the applications,” he said.
In addition, the establishment of the Electronic Information Systems Management Advisory Council (EISMAC) is also said to be at an advanced stage.
The EISMAC will exercise the powers and perform the functions conferred on and assigned to it by or under the Electronic Transactions Act 4 of 2019.
“In the same vein, the Cybercrime Bill is being redrafted as directed by the Cabinet Committee on Legislation (CCL). The Cybersecurity Policy and Legislative Framework has been drafted to accompany the Bill. The Bill will be subject to public consultations before its re-submission to CCL which will then direct on the next course of action,” Mushelenga said.
The Data Protection Bill is being redrafted following regional consultations, succeeded by a validation workshop with technical and financial support sourced via the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board.
The Data Protection Policy and Legislative Framework is drafted to accompany the Bill.
“The Bill is ready for submission to CCL which will then direct on the next course of action,” Mushelenga said.
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