Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 34 | Page 22

LATEST REGIONAL PROJECT UPDATE IVORY COAST Global payment services company, Visa, has entered into a formal agreement with the government of the Ivory Coast to digitise government services and extend financial services in the country. The deal sees the Ivorian government working with Visa to review financial services programmes in the country and create informed action plans to aid adoption of electronic payments. Visa is said to have made six commitments, including to roll out Visa Mobile push payments for over 1.1 million cocoa, coffee and cashew nuts farmers whose work amounts to 20% of Ivory Coast’s GDP. ZAMBIA As part of its strategy to help reduce the digital divide and empower local communities with computer skills and access to information, Paratus Zambia has agreed to refurbish the computer lab at Musonda Community School in Kitwe. This project will be done in partnership with Partners for Life Advancement and Education Promotion (PLAEP). Paratus is helping these children harness the many opportunities with the provision of a fully connected computer lab. Besides a permanent 2Mbps Internet link, Paratus will be donating a printer and an additional 10 computers that will ensure increased user time per student. Currently there are only 20 computers that cater for 700 students. 22 INTELLIGENTCIO www.intelligentcio.com