Nestled at the crossroads of three continents, e-Djibouti may be small in size, but its strategic location has cemented its status as a vital transport and logistics hub for the Horn of Africa and the Middle East. As the gateway between continents, Djibouti’s significance extends far beyond its borders, playing a pivotal role in facilitating trade and commerce across vast regions.
Now, what’s got my attention is their ambitious plan to become a digital hotspot for the region. I think that’s a smart move, considering the way the world’s going. They’ve been putting in the work too – setting up two landing stations for undersea cables that link them up with nine submarine cables. That’s some serious connectivity right there, reaching out to East Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia. Plus, they’ve got two more landing stations in the works.
But…despite being so well-connected internationally, their local digital scene is kind of lacking. I’d say that’s a bit of a paradox, don’t you think?
What I believe is that this situation presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Low mobile coverage and limited digital services? That’s definitely a gap that needs filling.
Digital Customs Administration for e-Djibouti
So, let’s dive into Djibouti’s recent move to upgrade its customs administration system…. a significant step given the role international trade plays in the country’s development ambitions. Back in 2006, they got the ball rolling with an online customs system, but it wasn’t exactly paperless at first (a factor that posed challenges and hindered efficiency.)
Now, fast forward to today (2024), and we’ve got ASYCUDAWorld. Developed by UNCTAD and implemented by over 100 countries and territories worldwide, ASYCUDAWorld has ushered in a new era of efficiency and transparency in Djibouti’s customs operations.
I think what’s particularly impressive is how this upgrade isn’t just about making things easier at the border. It’s about creating a more inviting investment climate for e-Djibouti. Well, now, with these improvements, it’s looking a lot more attractive.
Crucially, the upgrade to ASYCUDAWorld was made possible through financing from the World Bank under the Djibouti Public Administration Modernisation Project (P162904). And I think it’s important to note that this project isn’t just about customs… it’s about modernizing the whole government setup, making services more accessible online and tightening up revenue systems.
It’s a solid step towards the government’s goal of comprehensive online service delivery, and I’d say it’s a move in the right direction for Djibouti’s development journey.
“Vision 2035” strategy
In the grand scheme of Djibouti’s development trajectory, the “Vision 2035” strategy stands as the beacon. What I like most about this strategy is its emphasis on service delivery improvement and structural reforms, playing to Djibouti’s strengths internationally.
Their national development plan, “Djibouti Inclusion – Connectivity – Institutions,” for 2020-2024, seems pretty ambitious too. I’d say focusing on digital transformation within the public sector is a smart move in today’s tech-driven world. And now, with the government gearing up for a more detailed strategy on this front, it shows they’re serious about harnessing the power of technology for progress.
e-Djibouti already has a solid GovTech infrastructure in place, including a data centre, fibre optic network, and high-speed internet access in most government offices. That’s a good foundation to build upon.
What I’d like to add is the mention of the government’s efforts to integrate all its services onto a single platform using the X-ROAD system (from Estonia), which is a smart move for efficiency and accessibility.
Also, e-Djibouti is benefitting from a World Bank-supported project involving Ethiopia, which aims to extend digital services to the communities bordering the two neighbouring countries.
However, there’s a significant gap that needs addressing. e-Djibouti lacks a comprehensive strategic, legal, policy, and regulatory framework for digital service delivery. I think this is crucial because, without the right framework in place, they can’t fully utilise the infrastructure they’ve already invested in (like the X-ROAD data exchange platform mentioned before). They may have a powerful engine but no steering wheel.
Final thoughts
e-Djibouti is slowly but surely moving forward in terms of goverenance and delivery of public services. However, the government needs to establish a comprehensive strategy for digital transformation and clarify institutional arrangements (as the roles of different government entities regarding digital transformation are somewhat overlapping).
Also, I believe that by strengthening all its enabling factors, the government will be able to fully leverage the benefits of any present and new digital architecture.
Sources:
https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/en-us/Data/Country-Information/id/49-Djibouti
