SMART Zambia - E-Goverment Division

STAY TUNED: Exploring the Future of Identity Verification with e-KYC Next week, we will dive into the world of electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) and explore its potential to revolutionize identity verification in Zambia. #eKYC #IdentityVerification #DigitalTransformation #Zambia #Innovation #Technology #FutureOfIdentity #KnowYourCustomer #StayTuned

REVOLUTIONIZING ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT SERVICES: SMART Zambia's Digital Transformation Centres Did you know that SMART Zambia deployed satellite kits to 109 Post Offices, transforming them into Digital Transformation Centres (DTCs)? This means you can now access various government services via ZamPortal right at your local post office! Thanks to this innovative partnership between SMART Zambia and ZAMPOST, citizens can now enjoy easier access to essential services, promoting digital inclusion and convenience. With these DTCs, you can: ✅ACCESS GOVERNMENT SERVICES: Get various government services online through ZamPortal ✅ ENJOY DIGITAL CONVENIENCE: Experience the ease of digital services at your local post office ✅BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE: Help promote digital inclusion in your community #DigitalTransformation #SMARTZambia #ZamPortal #DigitalInclusion #Innovation #Zambia

DIGITAL STRATEGY TO REVOLUTIONIZE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES LUSAKA, Jan 17, 2024--- In an exclusive interview, Mrs JUDITH CHILOMBO BEENE, ICT Director in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, revealed the government's ambitious plans to digitalize local government services. The digital strategy, a first of its kind, aims to guide local authorities in automating their manual processes, offering services online, and enhancing the overall citizen experience. According to Mrs BEENE, the strategy will enable citizens to access services from anywhere, eliminating the need for physical visits to civic centres. This move is expected to increase efficiency, reduce wait times, and promote ease of doing business. The digital strategy also empowers ICT staff in local authorities, providing them with a policy guideline for the first time. This tool will enable local authorities to partner with cooperating organizations and transform their services. Key Highlights of the Digital Strategy: ✅Automation of Manual Processes: Local authorities will transition from manual systems to integrated digital systems. ✅Online Services: Citizens will be able to access services online, reducing the need for physical visits. ✅ Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERPS): Local authorities will be encouraged to adopt ERPS to automate all departments. ✅Government Service Bus (GSB): Local Government Services will be integrated into the GSB, enabling seamless transactions. The digital strategy is a significant step towards transforming local government services in Zambia. With its implementation, citizens can expect a more efficient, convenient, and citizen-centric experience. #DigitalTransformation #LocalGovernment #Zambia #Egov #DigitalStrategy #CitizenExperience #PublicServiceInnovation

SECURITY HINTS & TIPS - Social Engineering Red Flags Links and Attachments The prevalence of phishing scams is at an all-time high. Because you are the key to preventing a cyberattack within your organization, it is important to question the legitimacy of every email you receive. Below is a list of questions to ask yourself about any links or attachments in the email that may help you realize that you are being phished. Are There Hyperlinks in the Email? ✅Hover over any links and check the link address. Do they match the sender’s website exactly? ✅Did you receive a blank email with long hyperlinks and no further information or context? ✅Does the email contain a hyperlink that has a misspelling of a well-known website, such as Microsoft? ✅Is the sender’s email from a suspicious external domain, like micorsoft-support[dot]com rather than microsoft[dot]com? What about attachments? ✅Did the sender include an email attachment that you were not expecting or that makes no sense in relation to the email’s context? ✅Does the sender ordinarily send you these types of attachments? ✅Did the sender send an email with a possibly dangerous file type? Files with a TXT extension are typically safe, but beware, files can be disguised with a different type of file extension. If you notice anything about the email that alarms you, do not click links, open attachments, or reply. You are the last line of defence to prevent cybercriminals from succeeding and making you or your organization susceptible. SMART Zambia Institute Security Team

ZAMBIA TAKES LEAP FORWARD IN DIGITAL IDENTITY MANAGEMENT LUSAKA, Jan 17th, 2025--- In a significant step towards strengthening its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), some officers from SMART Zambia- e-government Division have completed a crucial training on the MOSIP architecture. The training, supported by IHM's software development team, aimed to integrate the MOSIP platform with the SmartCarePro Electronic Health Record (EHR) System. This integration is expected to revolutionize eKYC processes in Zambia, creating a "central source of truth" for digital identification. The platform will enable identity verification using National Registration Card (NRC) data, improving data accuracy, eliminating duplicate records, and enhancing client profile management. The training focused on building local capacity for managing the platform and reducing reliance on external support. This collaborative effort between SMART Zambia and IHM is set to transform identity management for public health systems like SmartCarePro, where accurate identification is crucial to delivering quality care. #Zambia #DigitalIdentity #eKYC #MOSIP #SmartCarePro #DigitalPublicInfrastructure #DPI #Healthcare #IdentityManagement #Innovation #Technology #Africa

CONNECTING THE UNCONNECTED: Free Public WiFi at Chisokone Market Earlier this week, we caught up with Agness Nambela and Emmanuel Simazuwo, traders at Chisokone Market in Kitwe accessing the Internet on the Government's Free Public WiFi, courtesy of SMART Zambia in collaboration with the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU), the Ministry of Technology and Science (MOTS), the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), with support from the government's digital partner, inq.Digital. This initiative aims to promote digital inclusion and connectivity by empowering citizens to access government services, communicate, and connect with opportunities online, driving socio-economic development and growth in Zambia. #DigitalInclusion #SMARTZambia #FreePublicWiFi

THROWBACK THURSDAY! MCDSS Commenced ZISPIS Handover Preparations! On October 15th, 2024, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS) held crucial discussions to ensure a seamless transition of the Zambia Integrated Social Protection Information System (ZISPIS) from the World Bank to the Zambian Government. ZISPIS, an innovative system is a collaborative effort between the E-Goverment Division (Smart Zambia Institute) and the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS), aims to ensure transparency, effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability in the implementation of social protection programs. Chaired by Permanent Secretary Ms ANGELA KAWANDAMI, the meeting emphasized the need for a smooth transition to maintain uninterrupted social protection services. Ms KAWANDAMI urged the ICT department to boost their preparedness, building on their recent training in South Africa. The Permanent Secretary stressed the importance of finalizing a transition roadmap, assigning roles and responsibilities, and addressing operational barriers. The director of ICT, Dr DAVID PHIRI, assured the team's commitment to sustaining ZISPIS operations post-handover. #ZISPIS #MCDSS #Zambia #SocialProtection #DigitalTransformation #HandoverPreparations #ThrowbackThursday

ANSWER ALERT! THE ANSWER IS... C) Improved targeting of beneficiaries and reduced inclusion errors Congratulations to those who got it right! The Zambia Integrated Social Protection System (ZISPIS) indeed improves the targeting of beneficiaries and reduces inclusion errors, making social protection services more efficient and effective! Thanks for participating in our Thursday Quiz! Stay tuned for more questions and challenges! #ThursdayQuiz #SocialProtection #DigitalTransformation #Zambia #ZISPIS

ANSWER ALERT! THE ANSWER IS... C) Improved targeting of beneficiaries and reduced inclusion errors Congratulations to those who got it right! The Zambia Integrated Social Protection System (ZISPIS) indeed improves the targeting of beneficiaries and reduces inclusion errors, making social protection services more efficient and effective! Thanks for participating in our Thursday Quiz! Stay tuned for more questions and challenges! #ThursdayQuiz #SocialProtection #DigitalTransformation #Zambia #ZISPIS

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Landmark Moment in Social Welfare History On 28th June 2023, the Department of Social Welfare in Mwansabombwe District made history by commencing payments to social cash transfer beneficiaries using the innovative Zambia Integrated Social Protection Information System (ZISPIS). This groundbreaking system was developed and deployed by the Electronic Government Division (SMART Zambia Institute). Assistant Social Welfare Officer, Ms. NOREEN KALUBA, revealed that the new payment system required capturing the face of the beneficiary using a mobile phone before they could collect their money. This added layer of security was designed to ensure that payments reached the intended recipients. Ms. KALUBA emphasized that the new payment method would greatly enhance transparency, as everyone connected to the system would be able to monitor payments in real-time. This marked a significant improvement in the efficiency and accountability of the social welfare system. The introduction of ZISPIS was a major milestone in the country's efforts to leverage technology for social good. By streamlining payments and reducing the risk of fraud, the system helped to ensure that vital support reached those who needed it most. #ThrowbackThursday #SocialWelfare #ZISPIS #SMARTZambiaInstitute #InnovationForGood #TransparencyInAction