Casablanca, Morocco, 19 February 2019 – As technology transforms industries and organisations across Africa, government agencies in Morocco are increasingly taking advantage of ICT to reach national development goals. Local technology company, ALGO Consulting Group, has developed a solution to promote eGovernance – and Microsoft has thrown its full support behind its development.
Known as Wraqi, this online administration solution uses machine learning, the Internet of Things and blockchain to improve citizen-government relations. Powered by the Microsoft cloud, Wraqi allows users to create an account with a signature repository, which government entities can use to identify, authenticate and authorize citizens. Any government service that used to require the physical presence of a citizen can now be carried out remotely using electronic signatures and multi-factor authentication, which is likely to accelerate but also facilitate access to services.
Microsoft’s partnership with ALGO began in 2006, and, in 2016, ALGO received a grant through the 4Afrika Initiative to develop Wraqi. 4Afrika’s support of the project has included technical guidance, business mentorship and capacity development, through programmes including MySkills4Afrika and Interns4Afrika. International Microsoft volunteers have supported ALGO in developing Wraqi on Azure, while interns have played a critical role in expanding Algo’s digital talent pipeline
“We have dared innovation and disruption in the government space, sharing the dream of a socially responsible and technologically-advanced Morocco. With the support of Microsoft 4Afrika, we have benefited from access to technological tools, services in various fields such as training, communication, marketing and even the development of the business model. We encourage Moroccan and African startups to explore and take advantage of this programme,” says Tarik Fadli, Managing Director of ALGO Consulting Group.
Across Africa, Microsoft is promoting innovation in the eGovernment space, through a series of hackathons, AppFactory academies for developers, and startup / partner support. In December 2018, the company also hosted a Digital Government Summit in Rabat, showcasing solutions that enable governments to deliver new and improved citizen services at scale and make more data-driven decisions, while maintaining the highest levels of trust and compliance.
“Armed with intelligent cloud technology, governments can do more and achieve more for the citizens they serve,” says Hicham Iraqi Houssaini, Country Manager for Microsoft French-Speaking Countries in Africa. “Wraqi is a fantastic solution that promotes both efficiency, accessibility and inclusivity. We believe in its ability to make life easier for citizens and enable governments to step away from outdated processes and costly paper-based methods. We look forward to continue supporting ALGO as they aim to scale Wraqi across Africa.”