The “Strengthening Digital Communities” (SDC) project in Mandera County is a focused effort to bridge the digital divide and empower residents through enhanced digital literacy and access.
Led by KICTANet, and funded by the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme through the British High Commission in Nairobi, this project, in collaboration with the Government of Kenya and the County Governments of Busia and Mandera, aims to improve digital skills and access nationwide, with specific emphasis on Busia and Mandera Counties.
Initial monitoring and evaluation efforts in Mandera Township Ward, involving 41 participants, including trained Community Digital Champions (CDCs) and community members, revealed significant progress. Discussions during these sessions emphasized the importance of free computer access, the potential of online opportunities, and the critical role of digital literacy programs.
Citizens reported tangible benefits, including increased confidence in using M-PESA independently, managing emails effectively, engaging in online sales, and conducting video conferences.
Furthermore, digital platforms streamlined access to essential government services, such as obtaining birth certificates, KRA PINs, and good conduct certificates.
Present were Mustafa Mohd, ICT Officer from ICTA, and Abdiaziz Kurow, alongside Abdiwahab Ibrahim, Assistant Director of ICT, and Hassannor Adan, DCS, all representing the Mandera County Government (MCG). Adana Ali, Director of Youth for CGM, also participated, highlighting the project’s focus on youth development. From Gencad, Ibrahim Rashid contributed local expertise. Representing KICTANet were Harriet Ratemo and David Indeje, while Prof Jimmy Macharia, a consultant, provided expert insights. Michael Kahindi from the British High Commission Nairobi (BHC) and William Habwe, Assistant Director of Communications.
The team also toured Mandera East iHub Center which received 78 computers from the 150 donated to the county in January.
The project is part of a broader effort to transform digital communities in Kenya, aligning with the UK Digital Development Strategy (DDS) 2024-2030 and Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). It aims to train 10,000 community digital champions who will cascade training to 500,000 citizens, contributing to Kenya’s goal of achieving 20 million digitally literate citizens by 2027.
This initiative targets youth, women, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), equipping them with crucial digital skills necessary for navigating the modern technological landscape.
The 4-day monitoring and evaluation exercise is currently underway to assess the progress and impact of the CDC program across Mandera’s six sub-counties. This exercise aims to gather direct feedback from project beneficiaries regarding the project’s effectiveness, solicit insights from County and National Government officials, and engage with beneficiaries across all six sub-counties.
The evaluation also involves interaction with implementing partners, including KICTANet, to assess their performance. The overarching goals of the assessment are to identify key successes, pinpoint areas for improvement, and explore opportunities for future growth, while also collecting valuable data to inform the planning and implementation of future projects.
