What You Need to Know
UNICEF, in partnership with the Government of Lesotho, has initiated a two-day workshop in Maseru focused on enhancing Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to improve access to essential services for children. The workshop aims to ensure children’s safety in the digital environment while promoting innovation and coordination across sectors like health and education.
Africa-Press – Lesotho. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Government of Lesotho and development partners, on Wednesday commenced a two-day workshop in Maseru aimed at strengthening Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to improve access to essential services for children while ensuring their safety in the digital environment.
Speaking at the event, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr. Kanono Ramashamole, said the workshop is crucial as the government seeks to enhance digital service delivery and safeguard children in the digital space.
Mr. Ramashamole explained that DPI enables the creation of “digital highways” that promote innovation and improve coordination across key sectors such as identity, health and education. He noted that digital systems should support children throughout their lifecycle, starting even before birth.
He said government institutions should leverage health records of expectant mothers to anticipate births and initiate early registration processes.
“We know when mothers visit clinics during pregnancy that a child is coming. Instead of waiting until birth, systems can anticipate the arrival of the child and ensure that registration processes are ready,” he said.
He added that such an approach could help increase the number of children registered within their first year of life.
Mr. Ramashamole further emphasized the need for interoperability among government systems, noting that identity, civil registration, education and health databases should be able to exchange information seamlessly. He said integrated systems would enable effective resource allocation and support informed decision-making based on reliable data.
The collaboration between UNICEF and the Government of Lesotho reflects a growing recognition of the importance of digital infrastructure in enhancing public services. As digital technology becomes increasingly integral to service delivery, initiatives like this workshop aim to ensure that children benefit from improved access to essential services while being safeguarded in the digital realm. This approach aligns with global trends emphasizing the need for robust digital systems to support vulnerable populations, particularly children, throughout their lives.
