On 24th October 2024, the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), in collaboration with AOS, hosted a one-day workshop designed to showcase the latest version of the Government Smart Administration System (GSAS). This event gathered various Chief Digital Officers (CDOs) from across public institutions to explore the system’s new features, discuss potential improvements, and strategise on how to increase awareness and encourage adoption of the system within the public sector institutions.

The GSAS, which is a key component of Rwanda's ongoing digital transformation efforts, is designed to optimise administrative processes within public institutions. By automating routine tasks, the system reduces the manual administrative burden, offering a more efficient, transparent, and effective approach to governance. The GSAS promotes a paperless workflow, contributing to environmental sustainability and minimising the need for physical movement between institutions to seek manual approvals. This streamlined process helps to reduce bottlenecks, enables quicker decision-making, and ultimately improves the delivery of public services.

During the workshop, representatives from AOS provided a comprehensive demonstration of the system’s current functionalities. They showcased the new features introduced in the latest update, highlighting improvements that make the system more intuitive, secure, and scalable. A key focus of the presentation was how GSAS can be further enhanced to better meet the evolving needs of public institutions, ensuring it remains a vital tool in Rwanda’s digital transformation journey.

In his opening remarks, Antoine Sebera, the Chief Innovation Officer at RISA, spoke about the impact of GSAS on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of government operations. He emphasised the importance of streamlining internal processes and eliminating unnecessary administrative barriers that hinder progress and better service delivery. Mr. Sebera encouraged CDOs to collaborate across institutions, sharing best practices and innovations that can drive the system's successful implementation.

He further called for full adoption of a paperless workflow across all public institutions. He urged CDOs to take ownership of the GSAS implementation, ensuring that it is embraced not just as a technological tool, but as an integral part of the wider digital strategy for public sector reform. He also thanked AOS Rwanda for their ongoing partnership and contribution to the successful rollout of the GSAS, acknowledging the important role their expertise and collaboration have played in the project’s success.

The workshop concluded with a lively discussion among participants, where CDOs shared their insights, challenges, and suggestions for improving the system. Several ideas emerged on how GSAS could be tailored to address specific needs within various public institutions, with a shared commitment to ensuring the system’s full potential is realised.