African governments are under increasing pressure to digitize and digitalize operations, secure citizen data, and enhance service delivery. Initiatives such as Rwanda’s Irembo, Kenya’s eCitizen, and South Africa’s e-Services Portal represent national milestones in the continent’s digital transformation journey. These platforms reflect a growing recognition of the importance of digital governance in enhancing service delivery.
These national efforts are also aligned with continental and global initiatives such as the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020–2030), which envisions a digitally empowered Africa, and the United Nations’ Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) initiative, which encourages the development of inclusive, interoperable digital systems to drive sustainable growth and support digital governance.
Despite the growing momentum around digital transformation, many African governments still face deep-rooted challenges in implementing and scaling e-governance platforms. Key obstacles include the lack of standardized frameworks for managing IT systems, inconsistent data governance and risk management approaches, and limited capacity to deliver efficient digital services. The United Nations E-Government Survey 2024 highlights that many African countries struggle to develop unified standards for integrating digital infrastructure and emerging technologies such as AI into public administration. As a result, they face difficulties in delivering effective, scalable, and secure digital services, ultimately affecting the quality of service delivery.
In contrast, private sector organizations across the continent have demonstrated far greater adaptability in adopting innovation and scaling digital systems. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) notes that while access to digital tools is increasingly widespread, the private sector, especially startups, is leading in maximizing these tools for operational efficiency and competitiveness. This is echoed in PwC’s Africa Business Agenda, which reports that over half of African CEOs expect technology to significantly transform how they create and deliver value. Private enterprises rapidly adopt digital infrastructure and tools to streamline processes and enhance customer experience, primarily due to their proactive use of standardized frameworks for IT governance, data privacy, and innovation management.
To overcome the challenges of scaling e-governance and improving service delivery, African governments can adopt ISO/IEC frameworks—internationally recognized standards that help governments securely, ethically, and efficiently manage IT systems. This call is especially urgent as Africa increasingly adopts emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and digital ID systems. ISO frameworks provide a critical foundation to ensure these advancements are implemented responsibly, securely, and with long-term sustainability in mind. These standards offer structured, practical blueprints to strengthen digital infrastructure, secure citizen data, and build trust in government platforms.
Success Stories
Governments have adopted ISO/IEC frameworks to drive digital governance and security globally. Estonia, a pioneer in e-governance, has integrated ISO/IEC 27001 into the national cybersecurity framework to safeguard its digital identity and e-services ecosystem. The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) has implemented ISO/IEC 20000 to manage IT services across its sprawling network, enhancing efficiency and service reliability. Meanwhile, Singapore has adopted ISO/IEC 27701 to strengthen its Smart Nation initiative, ensuring personal data protection is central to its digital services infrastructure. These global examples underscore the strategic value of ISO frameworks in building resilient, citizen-centric digital government platforms.
At the government level in Africa, Ghana’s National Information Technology Agency (NITA) has aligned its cybersecurity policies with ISO/IEC 27001 to strengthen digital trust across public services. In Nigeria, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has made strides in aligning its data protection practices with ISO/IEC 27001, particularly around digital identity systems. Similarly, South Africa’s State Information Technology Agency (SITA) has adopted ISO-aligned information security standards to enhance digital service delivery and secure national infrastructure.
The extensive positive impact of ISO/IEC standards is already evident in the private sector across Africa, offering valuable lessons for public sector institutions aiming to transform digitally. The Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS) has successfully adopted ISO/IEC 27001 to secure its IT infrastructure and enhance governance across its national payment switch. In South Africa, MTN Group, one of the continent’s largest telecom providers, has implemented ISO/IEC 27001 across its data centers, ensuring the secure handling of customer and corporate data. This strategic investment in information security has enabled MTN to maintain customer loyalty, comply with evolving data protection regulations, and confidently scale its services.
Similarly, Kenya’s Safaricom has embraced ISO standards to govern the security of its mobile money platform, M-Pesa, which serves millions of users across East Africa. The organization uses ISO/IEC 27001 to manage risks and secure digital transactions.
Recommendations for The Public Sector
Adopting ISO/IEC Frameworks to Guide Digital Operations.
More African governments should formally adopt internationally recognized frameworks such as ISO/IEC to promote consistency, accountability, and resilience in their digital operations. These standards provide structured approaches for managing information security, IT service delivery, data privacy, and the governance of emerging technologies. Public institutions often struggle to secure digital infrastructure, manage operational risks, or deliver seamless services to citizens without proper frameworks. According to ISACA, international standards such as ISO/IEC offer much-needed security baselines and reference models to guide public sector digitization efforts.
Utilizing Regulatory Sandboxes to Pilot Frameworks Before Scaling.
Sandboxes across Africa’s tech sector are emerging as valuable tools for testing regulatory and technical innovations. A report by Datasphere Initiative reveals that their potential is already being explored in Africa to support data governance innovation and value creation. Before widespread implementation, governments can test ISO/IEC frameworks, digital tools, and governance models. This allows for faster development, safer innovation, and better-informed regulatory decisions.
Collaboration with the Private Sector for Smoother Standard Adoption.
Public-private collaborations play a vital role in accelerating digital transformation. By engaging with private organizations that are already proficient in applying ISO/IEC standards, governments can access technical know-how, implementation strategies, and scalable models that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of digital systems. These partnerships foster innovation and help public institutions adapt quickly to evolving technological landscapes.
Capacity Building Initiatives Through Certified Training Programs.
For ISO frameworks to be effectively adopted and implemented, public officials and IT personnel must possess the necessary skills and knowledge. Building institutional and technical capacity will ensure that digital transformation efforts are initiated and sustained over time. UNESCO emphasizes the importance of digital competency frameworks in fostering the necessary skills to thrive in a digital society. Their Digital Competency Framework outlines key areas where public sector staff need upskilling, including data governance, cybersecurity awareness, and ethical use of emerging technologies. Developing these competencies creates a more agile and informed workforce, capable of navigating the complexities of modern digital governance and maximizing the benefits of international standards.