During a working meeting to review two strategic projects, the World Bank has committed to supporting Madagascar's digital transformation through financing the implementation of two strategic initiatives. These include the DECIM project, or Digital and Energy Connectivity for Inclusion in Madagascar, and the PRODIGY project, or Digital Governance and Malagasy Identity Management project, which were reviewed during a workshop bringing together all stakeholders. On this occasion, stakeholders examined the progress of work while defining priorities and adjusting necessary coordination to strengthen the effectiveness of these two programs' execution. By way of illustration, the ministry responsible for Digital Development, Posts and Telecommunications, positioning itself as the strategic lead, issued a recommendation on rigor in ensuring that field work complies with Madagascar's national digital transformation performance indicators. This work includes, among other things, fiber optic deployment and the establishment of digital infrastructure and platforms.
Two Data Centers
Regarding the first project, DECIM, financed by the World Bank at 400 million, aims to double access to energy while connecting 3.4 million people to the internet to unlock rural areas and develop local entrepreneurship. It is currently in full operational phase. Among its recent achievements are the distribution of 664,000 digital terminals connected to the internet, in addition to fiber optic deployment aimed at reducing the digital divide. Furthermore, public services such as health centers and schools are also connected to the internet. As for the second project, PRODIGY, it is also financed by the World Bank at 143 million USD. It aims notably to host and secure the national digital identity system by establishing two data centers located in Tsimbazaza and Iavoloha, which will benefit from renewable energy and connectivity keeping them operational even during JIRAMA outages. Construction work on these infrastructures is underway. The objective is to store and secure data for all Malagasy citizens holding a biometric identity card while promoting modernization of public administration.
Synergy of Actions
It should be noted that the PRODIGY project is currently entering its closing phase. Efforts continue to consolidate governance, coordinate government action, and finalize administrative aspects. During this technical meeting to review these two strategic projects financed by the World Bank, the ministry responsible for Digital Development, Posts and Telecommunications emphasized sustaining achievements by initiating a transition phase to avoid halting the modernization momentum within this digital transformation framework. It also commits to ensuring administrative and technical handover so that public service platforms remain operational in a sustainable manner. On the World Bank's side, this technical and financial partner requires compliance with project execution and disbursement schedules. Synergy of actions between the supervising ministry and other key ministries is also necessary, given that these two strategic projects have a cross-cutting aspect affecting multiple sectors including, among others, energy, digital, civil status and finance. This will help remove administrative bottlenecks, it was noted.