In line with government’s strategic plan towards a digital economy, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) donated a number of Information Technology (IT) equipment to the department of Foreign Affairs.
The equipment comprising fifty laptop computers, a server, scanners and tablets for the executive officers form part of the ‘Facilitating Recovery through Digital Solutions (Covid 2.0)’ UNDP programme.
UNDP representative for Seychelles, Amanda Serumaga, officially handed over the equipment to Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Sylvestre Radegonde at Maison Quéau de Quinssy, on Tuesday morning.
Ms Serumaga commended government for the vision towards digitalisation, to improve in terms of efficiency and efficacy.
“Our contribution from UNDP is predicated on the foresight of the government of Seychelles to institute on the calling of a digitalisation programme. In the context of Covid-19, we have all learned that we need to transcend and work in a new normal that we are going to find new ways of working which includes a paperless economy, and a paperless office,” she said.
“The aim of our support is really to help engender the new way of working that government has prioritised, but also to become more efficient and effective as countries now have to compete even more greatly in terms of their ability to serve their people, and the communities that visit them,” Ms Serumaga said.
For his part, Minister Radegonde said the donation will enable the team to continue with delivery of service when working remotely, and that government is looking forward to the implementation of the other components of the project such as training to our local statisticians, promoting digital mobile payment in partnership with government and the private sector among others.
The minister went on to express gratitude to UNDP for accompanying the country in terms of development since 1977.
He also took the opportunity to call out to international partners and agencies to take into account the vulnerabilities of small island developing states (Sids) as more susceptible to economic, climate and public health shocks.
“I recognise with much appreciation the roles which partners such as UNDP are playing in supplementing our efforts. The intention of UNDP to diversify its support and move in to assist in a wide array of sectors beyond the environment portfolio is very much welcome. Let me assure you that Seychelles remains committed to enhancing its cooperation with UNDP,” Minister Radegonde stated.
Also present during the ceremony were principal secretary at the Foreign Affairs department Ambassador Vivienne Fock-Tave and other officials from both the ministry and the UNDP.
Source: Seychelles Nation
