Tallinn-based Cybernetica has renewed its contract with Benin to strengthen the West African nation’s digital government infrastructure, the company reported. The deal expands on a partnership that has already helped Benin climb regional e-government rankings and process millions of online transactions monthly.
Six years of digital progress
Benin has one of the youngest populations in Africa, with about 60% under 25 years old, making digital transformation particularly impactful for its future. The deal with the country’s National Information Systems and Digital Agency (ASIN) builds on cooperation that began in 2018. Since then, Benin has risen to 13th place in Africa on the United Nations Online Service Index, surpassing regional averages.
“Their strong commitment to the country’s digital transformation is crucial to the success of such projects,” said Oliver Väärtnõu, CEO of Cybernetica, referring to the Beninese government’s approach.
The agreement covers maintenance and upgrades for three key systems:
- The national public services portal
- A citizen portal for service access
- An interoperability platform connecting government agencies
About 50 government institutions now use these systems to deliver 270 different services digitally. Estonia recently achieved a 100% digitalisation rate, adding divorce as the last piece of the puzzle and proclaiming the country “100% Digital & 0% Bureaucrazy.”
Moving away from paper
Benin’s systems now handle over 3 million monthly data exchanges online, cutting both paperwork and processing times. Digital services have become “an essential part of its citizens’ daily lives,” according to the announcement.
Väärtnõu believes this digital shift will continue driving national development: “Digital public services have become a cornerstone of Benin’s rapidly evolving economy and society, and the advancements in the coming years will further accelerate the country’s growth.”
As a result of these transformations, Benin continues to experience robust economic growth, with real GDP growth forecasted to remain above 6% in the medium term, making it one of the best performers in West Africa, says World Bank.
The Beninese system runs on Cybernetica’s Unified eXchange Platform—the technological successor to Estonia’s X-Road. The platform handles high-performance digital services while protecting data privacy and security. X-Road, first launched in Estonia in 2001, was revolutionary at the time. By 2008, the system had already processed over 1 billion transactions.
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