The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has organized 226 educational sessions in collaboration with governorates’ general bureaus and Decent Life Foundation. The aim was to promote digital literacy and raise awareness of digital transformation and financial inclusion for 5,532 citizens of different groups in 216 villages, as part of the Decent Life initiative for developing the Egyptian countryside. The sessions were organized in 25 districts in nine governorates: Beheira, Beni Suef, Menoufia, Sohag, Sharqia, Qalyubia, Qena, Luxor, and Fayoum.
The sessions were organized in light of the objectives of the initiative and as part of MCIT efforts in building Digital Egypt and creating safe and productive interactive digital rural communities. The sessions target promoting digital literacy, enhancing financial inclusion, and raising awareness of the digital services available through different government channels in areas including health, education, food subsidy and utilities; services available through the Digital Egypt platform and post offices; and digital financial services available by service providers such as banks, e-payment companies and telecommunications companies. In addition, the sessions were aimed at qualifying people to have access to and utilize those services.
So far, MCIT sessions have been attended by around 24,090 citizens in 43 districts in 16 governorates. In the field of basic digital skills development, 87 female public service representatives at the Ministry of Social Solidarity and 226 persons with disabilities (PwDs) in Assiut, Minya, Sohag and Menoufia have been trained and qualified through a pilot operation model to use computer applications, social media platforms, and on online safety. Training was conducted in cooperation with various international companies and institutions specializing in technical training.
In governorates including Sharqia, Menoufia, and Minya, 378 citizens of different groups, 462 students, youngsters, housewives and breadwinners in Luxor, Qalyubia, Aswan, Alexandria, Damietta, and Sharqia received beginner level training on computer and Internet basics. In addition, 2,375 employees responsible for implementing Decent Life projects, from governorates’ general bureaus and their service directorates, have been qualified and trained in digital project management. Executives, senior officials, and imams and women preachers at the Ministry of Awqaf (Endowments) as well as facilitators at the National Council for Women (NCW) have been trained and upskilled as well.
In the digital economic empowerment field, a pilot operation model has been implemented where graduates, job seekers and female breadwinners in Luxor were trained in digital marketing. The training was carried out in coordination with various entities, including the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA) to digitally qualify small-scale businessowners; the Ministry of Manpower to qualify graduates and job seekers to use freelancing platforms; and NCW to digitally qualify female breadwinners and housewives.
Decent Life is a national initiative launched by President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to improve the quality of life, especially for citizens in unprivileged areas, through rendering a wide range of health, social and living services. The initiative is implemented in collaboration between several entities and ministries, including MCIT.
MCIT role in Decent Life involves upgrading the telecommunications infrastructure, installing fiber optics cables, and building mobile towers in villages to improve the quality of telecommunications services. This is in addition to developing post offices, building capacity, qualifying young people for freelance work, supporting owners of small businesses and training them on digital marketing skills to transform rural communities into safe and productive interactive digital societies.
