eGov at TalTech highlights Africa–Estonia collaboration on digital governance at Africa Business Forum 2026
Date: 2026-05-29
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Researchers
and experts from e-Governance Academy’s Next Gen Digital State research group
have highlighted the importance of trust-based partnerships and institutional
collaboration in advancing sustainable digital public infrastructure during
discussions at the Africa Business Forum 2026.
The
session underscored that challenges in digital government transformation are
not driven solely by technology, but also by governance structures, local
context, shared ownership and long-term cooperation between stakeholders
involved in implementation and service delivery.
Representatives
from eGov at TalTech contributed to the discussions, emphasizing the need for
scalable and interoperable digital ecosystems that benefit both governments and
service providers.
Speaking
during the forum, Dr. Riina Palu noted that successful implementation of
frameworks such as GovStack depends on ensuring that digital systems are
functional not only for governments driving transformation but also for
ecosystem partners responsible for delivery and sustainability. Dr. Eric
Jackson also highlighted that effective digital ecosystems must be built on
collaboration models that generate value for all participating stakeholders.
The
panel featured contributions from experts including Josephine Lusi, Paul
Ndungutse of the World Bank, Riho Pihelpuu of ADM Interactive, and moderator
Chidi Afulezi, alongside researchers and alumni from the programme, including
Norbert Nahayo N. and Florian Marcus, as well as E-Governance Technologies and
Services alumni Haruna Muasang and Salum Mnuna.
Participants
emphasized the growing importance of Africa–Estonia cooperation in shaping
resilient, inclusive and scalable digital governance systems, particularly as
governments across Africa accelerate digital public infrastructure reforms.
The
discussions reaffirmed a shared commitment to strengthening international
partnerships that support sustainable digital transformation and improve public
service delivery through interoperable and citizen-centered digital systems.
