National Digital Skills Workshop - Accelerating the Digital Uganda Vision through Skills Assessment and Development in Uganda
Date: Tuesday, 20 August 2024
Time: 8:30 - 17:00 EAT
The Technical Assistance and Training to Uganda on the National ICT Development Strategy project aims to contribute to a strengthened ICT policy and regulatory environment to enable Uganda to continue the transformation into a digitally enabled society that is innovative and competitive. The project falls under the Digital Uganda Vision framework and is structured in accordance with Uganda's Digital Transformation Programme outlined in the Third National Development Plan (NDPIII) and Digital Transformation roadmap and stream on digital capacity.
In line with the NDPIII and Digital Uganda Vision (DUV) framework, the project lays a foundation for ICT policy and planning with a focus on promoting the integration of ICT with other vertical industries in Uganda and driving the digital transformation of trade, government, education, health and other areas, and promoting employment and sustainable development. This will be delivered under the capacity development component of the entire project. The capacity development component of the project aims to improve the policymaking and implementation capacity of government and affiliated agencies, strengthen skills for local ICT industry and the population at large to drive the country's digital transformation agenda.
As part of the capacity development component of the project, a capacity building needs assessment in ICT skills is being carried out by Genesis Analytics, a consulting firm contracted by ITU. The intended use of the assessment is to facilitate the co-design of digital skills development initiatives with stakeholders including the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, ITU, and Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT) and other stakeholders. This requires an analysis of the most significant gaps in ICT skills acquisition in key priority sectors in Uganda and the development of training initiatives to reduce these gaps.
The specific aims of the capacity building needs assessment in ICT skills are to: Assess current and emerging ICT skills supply and demand in priority sectors with the view to identify gaps, opportunities and detect specific needs that, if addressed, can spur the digital economy in Uganda, and Develop a capacity-building action plan for the priority sectors.
In this regard, the workshop aims to:
- Enhance stakeholders' awareness and understanding of the Digital Uganda Vision (DUV) 2040 and the digital transformation components of the Third National Development Plan (NDPIII).
- Foster discussions on the capacity building needs assessment in ICT skills across the public and private sector
- To validate the draft capacity building needs assessment in ICT skills. This includes a validation of the assessment methodology, findings, gaps identified, and the training initiatives that have been identified to address these gaps. This also involves ensuring the assessment aligns with the capacity development component of the Technical Assistance and Training to Uganda on the National ICT Development Strategy project, the NDPIII, Digital Transformation Roadmap 2023/2024 - 2027/2028 and DUV framework.
- With the input received from stakeholder discussions, determine how to concretely drive the DUV and Digital Transformation pillar on digital skills/literacy forward by addressing the gaps identified in the study and the insights brought forward in the technical discussions that will take place during the event.
- To co-create the roadmap for implementing the training initiatives. Whilst the necessary training initiatives have been identified, the practical questions around implementation require stakeholder input. This includes issues of prioritization, resources required, responsible stakeholders, and monitoring and evaluation procedures.
