RwandaOnline creating an exciting channel for access to e-government services RwandaOnline Platform Limited (ROPL) was started in September 2014, with an initial task of developing an e-Government services platform in Rwanda. Barely a year later, the company launched its first product, Irembo which today provides access to over 12 government services to Rwandan citizens.Hope Magazine last month met with Alistair Muhire, the Communication Manager at ROPL who gave the following insights on the remarkable steps ROPL is taking in enabling the transformation of Rwanda through technology and more. Below are the excerpts;
Qn: Briefly describe RwandaOnline
Muhire: RwandaOnline Platform Limited (ROPL) is a private technology company with the vision to become the catalyst for transformation in Rwanda through technology. The company was conceived in September 2014 through a 25 Year public-private concession model which was designed to “Build Operate and Transfer” the project within that time limit.
RwandaOnline is excited to be a key technology enabler as a technology driven and community focused company during the country’s current digital transformation phase looking ahead to 2020. With a diverse group of staff members, we have created a unique atmosphere of creativity and problem solvers.
QN: How would you describe your first product, Irembo and how it came about?
Muhire: The Kinyarwanda Word Irembo loosely translates for Gate or Gateway, and in regards to the platform it symbolises openness, and access to government services in Rwanda. The platform, our first product under RwandaOnline was launched in July 2015, providing access to five government services to Rwandans at the start. Today, there are so far 12 government services accessible on the platform.
The fact that Irembo was launched within the first year of conception is something we are really proud of at ROPL. It goes to show how committed all parties were in making this happen, right from the government institutions, partnering organizations, and ourselves at RwandaOnline. It also shows the need for an eGovernment platform in Rwanda, and the focus towards good governance and service delivery. It’s essentially a one-stop shop designed to provide government services to businesses and citizens in the country. The aim of this platform is to improve the citizens’ lives as well as create an efficient government service delivery system
QN: How is Irembo meant to enhance the provision of government services?
Muhire: The platform is designed to reduce citizens waiting in long lines at all district, sector, or cell level offices. Save money on trips from government offices to banks and vice versa. The idea is to make it a one step process not only for the application of services, but also the payment of the services. Irembo will ensure that government officers aren’t dealing with an enormous amount of paperwork (paperless) on a regular basis. It will reduce chances of corruption, present transparency, and the ability for government officers to easily access/track all necessary files.
QN: Which services are currently available on the portal and what are the plans to increase or improve them in the coming months?
Muhire: Services from the Rwanda National Police institution such as driver’s license registration (provisional,definitive, supplementary) and birth certificates from the Ministry of Local government are amongst the most commonly used on the platform today. We’ve also kept the Diaspora and foreigners to the country in mind with the new Visa services (single entry, conference single entry) which were launched this month, land transfer which will cater to the Diaspora without the need for them to be in the country physically or even visit their respective embassies.
QN: How user friendly is it for Rwandans to use?
Muhire: Irembo is designed to accommodate all Rwandan citizens, including those who reside up country in areas where it is difficult to access internet.” In such cases, we have partnered with different organisations such as the Business Development Fund (BDF), Rwanda Telecenters Network (RTN) and Bank of Kigali (BK) in order to expand our network of access points closer to citizens. The services are also accessible in all three languages used in Rwanda; English, French and Kinyarwanda for easier usability of the platform. Payment methods are also an integral piece to the puzzle in which we’ve integrated with the platform. We began with Visa and now we have partnered with the popular mobile money platforms in the country including MTN Mobile Money and Tigo Cash to enable people to pay for services
QN: Are there any planned trainings for Rwandans to be able to use the platform better?
Muhire: Our Capacity building team have conducted several trainings dating back to before the launch of the platform. Training of Civil registration officers (CROs), Training of Trainers – District executives from all over the country are trained on how to use the platform (back end) to be able to provide government services to the citizens (end users). RwandaOnline has also developed the Nihugure platform (www.nihugure.rw) which is an online training platform on which the government of Rwanda back-end officers will learn how to navigate and use the e-Government platform.
The platform contains intuitive training materials in form of video, PowerPoint and PDF. It is dynamic in the sense that content is added and updated on a regular basis based on new services developed. We have also carried out a series of awareness campaigns throughout the country in every district, engaged in Town Hall meetings/ pop-up hubs to carry out live registration and application of services for the people to learn how to use it.
QN: What challenges are you currently facing in implementing Irembo and how are you solving them?
Muhire: I would say due to the novelty of this initiative, it has caused minor challenges with some government institutions especially in relation to the access and provision of service delivery. They just need more knowledge of the platform and its benefits. We are also facing connectivity and infrastructure issues but we continue to seek resources to build a network of organizations and partner with companies to increase our reach throughout the country. Our ultimate goal is to have all government institutions have their services accessible on Irembo. We haven’t changed the services, just the channel in which they are delivered to the citizens.
QN: As we begin the year, what are your plans as Rwanda Online for 2016?
Muhire: This year, we are more focused on engaging in leadership meetings at district level. Public and private organizations, Schools, in order to have more services on the platform and get suggestions from the public on how to improve the ecosystem of the entire platform, right from its awareness, accessibility to payment
