Expertise France and Digital Technology

Published on 22/04/2024

BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND REGIONAL INTEGRATION

Digital technology accelerates development trajectories towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Expertise France works with is partners to disseminate new technologies, in line with the French vision which aims to support a free, open and safe digital world, organised around common goods. The agency’s digital objectives are consistent with the climate agenda, as these two issues are inextricably linked and contribute together to sustainable development.

Opportunity and strategy of the digital transformation

The crosscutting nature of digital technology makes it a major issue for developing countries. This central role has been clearly identified in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as it has been included in all the goals.

Expertise France works to support digital entrepreneurship, which contributes to the creation of innovative, high-impact companies that support development. The digitalisation of numerous public services improves access for a broad population. The agency also works towards public transformation and innovation, and accompanies these changes by providing support to ensure the security of cyberspace.

Our lines of action

Expertise France has developed an approach that aims to mainstream digital technology into all the agency’s fields of action, while remaining vigilant over the potential dangers that may stem from it. To this end, the agency’s action aims to support responsible digital technology with a social impact, and strengthen local capacities for cybersecurity, as well as the fight against cybercrime. Supporting local innovation is an important aspect of the action of Expertise France, which also works to strengthen the digital sovereignty of States.

In a crosscutting manner, the approach draws on technologies capable of scaling up the impacts of actions, such as geospatial data, data science, and artificial intelligence.

E-governance

Expertise France assists partner countries with the modernisation and digital transformation of both national and local public services. The agency uses technological building blocks and tried-and-tested solutions in the public sphere in France and worldwide to strengthen the institutional and administrative capacities of partner countries.

Digital education and digital training

Expertise France very actively supports the digital transition and the development of digital skills. In 2023, six projects are being developed on digital education. Their objectives include the creation of digital spaces for online in-service training for teachers, and the development of websites listing all the theses in a country. Digital inclusion is a crosscutting priority area for Expertise France.

Cybersecurity

Expertise France helps national and regional institutions develop, improve and implement strategic institutional and legal frameworks for cybersecurity and the protection of critical public infrastructure. The agency promotes international cooperation on cybersecurity, with the objective of fostering the convergence of European Union policies and practices with its partner countries.

Geospatial sector

Expertise France promotes the use of geospatial data among public and private actors, by facilitating its use by start-ups, contributing to the creation of geospatial hubs, and assisting the implementation of national and regional geospatial strategies.

Digital innovation

Expertise France is involved in innovation and access to digital technology for public and private actors in its partner countries. To this end, the agency supports local ecosystems of digital innovation and start-ups, contributes to the development of policy frameworks conducive to innovation, strengthens the capacities of groups that do not have access to digital technology, and develops the digital skills of companies.

E-health

Expertise France assists its partners with the development of health prevention measures by helping them improve their health and social protection systems. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the agency has stepped up its activities to improve its partners’ response to health crises. Digital technology is a key tool for this approach. For example, the activities include establishing national data-based epidemiological surveillance mechanisms and deploying e-health solutions.

Some examples of projects

Project to support the digital reform in Greece

2021-2024 / €1.7 M / European Union

The project aims to implement cooperation with the Greek administration for its reform and digital transformation. It is in particular helping to implement strategies to simplify processes, develop digital skills, use artificial

Consult the project sheet

Supporting the digital transition –RAQAMEYON in Libya

2023-2024 / €0.7 M / Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs

The project aims to promote the diversification of Libya’s job market by building on the digital economy. It is developing digital training for public officials in basic skills (Excel, e-mails...) and advanced skills (artificial intelligence, cyber). The project is enabling the deployment of a digital curriculum in the public service.

Consult the project sheet

ESIWA – Strengthening security cooperation in ASIA Indo-Pacific

2020-2024 | €15 M | European Union, Germany, France

The project aims to foster a more intensive and operational security dialogue with partner countries. It also encourages convergence between the policies and practices of the European Union and those of partner countries in several fields, including cybersecurity. It is contributing to international outreach and the perception of the European Union as a geopolitical actor.

Consult the project sheet