Team ESTDEV in Kenya – Welcome, Christopher and Victoria!

The on-the-ground project managers will enable a major step forward in achieving the objectives of Team Europe Kenya as well as increasing the visibility of Estonian development cooperation in Kenya.

“Kenya is one of the priority countries for Estonia’s development cooperation goals of using digitalisation to make a positive change in the society. With an increasing number of engagements with Kenya and a growing number of impactful projects, it was important to establish a more permanent presence on the ground. I wish Chris and Victoria a heartfelt welcome and I am truly grateful that we have found such motivated individuals to help us implement our projects and represent ESTDEV in Kenya,” said Katrin Winter, ESTDEV’s Regional Head of Africa.

“For the first time, ESTDEV has recruited a local team who are aware of the local context and can ensure the delivery of project activities. Christopher and Victoria impressed us with their wide network and extensive experience. Their role in the successful implementation of ESTDEV-Kenya projects is crucial. We will do everything we can to help them settle into their new roles as project managers, and wish them the strength to be, among other things, Estonia’s digital ambassadors in Kenya,” emphasised Andres Ääremaa, ESTDEV’s Programme Manager for Digital Transformation.

Christopher will mainly work on e-solution building issues, such as the development of a technical interoperability framework for e-government and the piloting of human-centred e-services. Victoria’s responsibilities include coordinating training programmes and strengthening dialogue between government stakeholders.

Why did you choose ESTDEV? How did we stand out?

Christopher: ESTDEV has a great reputation for innovation and expertise in digital issues. I had the pleasure of interacting with some of the ESTDEV team at different forums in Nairobi, and I was impressed by the organisational culture and by the teamwork they demonstrated. Being part of the ESTDEV team allows me to play an integral part in Kenya’s digital transformation story and I am excited to be embarking on this journey.

Victoria: I chose ESTDEV because of its remarkable reputation and the unique approach it takes in the field of digitalisation. What stood out to me was ESTDEV’s commitment to not only implementing technological solutions, but also focusing on capacity building, which is a key component to making sure that efforts are impactful and sustainable.

What kind of value does Estonia add to digitalisation in Kenya?

Christopher: Estonia is the most digitally advanced country in the world. With 99% of its government services being digitised, Kenya is well placed to benefit from Estonia’s wealth of experience and best practices in e-governance. The Silicon Savannah dream is on track to realisation thanks to the valued support of ESTDEV.

Victoria: ESTDEV, along with Estonia, brings significant value to digitalisation in Kenya. Estonia is renowned for its successful e-governance journey, and not only that, it is a leader in digitisation efforts globally. This experience can provide invaluable insights and lessons for Kenya’s own digitalisation efforts.

Why is this project important for Kenya and, more importantly, for its people?

Christopher: The project is aligned to Kenya’s digital transformation agenda, and its three focus areas – human-centric e-services, an interoperability framework, and capacity-building – are all geared towards improving public service delivery. Digitised services provide citizens with increased accessibility, improved efficiency, lower costs, and an enhanced overall public service user experience. This has a positive effect on economic development.

Victoria: The project spearheaded by ESTDEV holds immense importance for Kenya on multiple fronts. Firstly, it can streamline and enhance government services, making them more efficient and accessible to citizens. This can significantly reduce bureaucratic hurdles and enhance transparency. Secondly, it can boost economic growth by creating an environment conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship, driving up job creation. Moreover, digitalisation has the potential to improve access to essential services while limiting human error and excessive constraints. In a broader sense, this project aligns perfectly with Kenya’s vision for a digitally empowered society. By learning from Estonia’s success, we can avoid pitfalls and ensure that our digital transformation journey is smooth and effective. Ultimately, this project is about uplifting the lives of Kenyan citizens, enabling better access to services, fostering innovation, and contributing to the overall growth and development of the nation.

To support Kenya’s digital transition, ESTDEV and the German development cooperation agency GIZ signed a €2.4 million cooperation agreement in May. This project aims to strengthen open and inclusive digital governance in Kenya by supporting the Government in digitalising public service delivery. The project is part of the Team Europe Initiative (TEI) on Human Centered Digitalization, implemented by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) through the Digital Transformation Center (DTC), and co-financed by Germany and the European Union.