SMART Zambia Institute Leverages Librarians for Widespread Digital Transformation
This collaboration highlights the SMART Zambia Institute's dedication to inclusive digital capacity development and acknowledges the vital role information professionals play in advancing the digital economy.
In a significant move to advance digital transformation and improve public service delivery, the SMART Zambia Institute (SZI) has teamed up with the Library and Information Association of Zambia (LIAZ) and Astria Learning Zambia . Their joint effort is focused on providing a specialized digital skills and capabilities training program for librarians.
This initiative launched as a pre-conference activity, leading up to the LIAZ Annual General Meeting (AGM), which is scheduled from July 23rd to 25th at Avani Resort in Livingstone.
The training session took place at David Livingstone College of Education (DALICE) and was led by a team from the SMART Zambia Institute, including Mr. Brian Nawa Nawa, Head of Digital Skills and Capabilities; Mr. Charles Mwanza, Principal Officer for Service Support; and Ms. Chunga Manzi, Senior Officer for Digital Skills and Capabilities.
The program concentrated on three crucial areas:
- Digital Skills and Capabilities: Equipping librarians with practical knowledge to navigate and benefit from Zambia’s expanding digital public infrastructure.
- Zamportal Platform (Government Service Bus): Facilitating seamless service delivery across various government departments.
- SMART Office with eRegistry System: Enhancing digital literacy and improving public service delivery.
“This programme is part of our ongoing efforts to build a digitally literate citizenry capable of accessing, using, and contributing to e-government services. Librarians are key partners in this transformation. Their unique position in communities makes them critical in spreading awareness and facilitating access to digital government services.”
–Mr. Brian Nawa Nawa, Head of Digital Skills and Capabilities, Smart Zambia.
This collaboration highlights the SMART Zambia Institute’s dedication to inclusive digital capacity development and acknowledges the vital role information professionals play in advancing the digital economy. By enhancing librarians’ digital competencies, the partnership aims to create a ripple effect across libraries, schools, and communities nationwide.
The successful launch of this program marks another significant achievement in Zambia’s digital transformation agenda, spearheaded by the SMART Zambia Institute under the Office of the President.
