ICT Leaders | Apolitical

Welcome, trainers.

This guide equips you to develop ICT Leaders' skills to drive Kenya’s digital transformation within public service. It’s structured to equip you with insights, methodologies and practical tools to build core competencies among this group.

This guide is organised into 4 parts:

Part 1: Programme context
Part 2: User insights (Needs Analysis Report: Regional Centre of Competence for Digital and Artificial Intelligence Skilling )
Part 3: Training preparation
Part 4: Facilitation and preparation guide (Downloadable Training Agenda)

Part 1: Programme context

You’ve been identified as an integral part of driving Kenya’s digital transformation! As a trainer on this programme, you’ll facilitate three two-hour sessions with ICT leaders to help ensure the standardisation of digital skills across this group.

This guide contains all the relevant information you will need, beginning with the overarching objectives of this programme.

Expand the boxes below to familiarise yourself with these objectives and the key skills that need to be standardised across all ICT Leaders in Kenya.

Training programme objectives

Improve digital competencies within the public sector to accelerate the digital transformation of the public sector in Kenya.
Enhance access to advanced technologies and thus increase efficiency, inclusion, and service delivery within government.
Promote a culture of innovation and experimentation embedded within the public sector, resulting in a mindset and cultural shift among public servants to drive and lead inclusive transformation towards a digital government.

Key skills to be developed across ICT leaders

Digital Leadership, strategy and Design:
- Systems thinking
- Change management
- Public speaking
- Technical translation
Data use and governance:
- Digital literacy cloud computing management
- Privacy and security
Digital management and implementation:
- Programme/project management for digital initiatives
- Programme implementation, management and agile leadership
- Advanced technology and programming

Part 2: User Insights

This section includes a report by the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy (MiCDE), UNDP and Oxford Insights. The report was compiled based on a series of interviews with ICT Leaders to determine their current skill levels and challenges.

As a trainer, it’s crucial to identify the current skill levels and the unique challenges ICT leaders face to tailor content and discussions to address knowledge gaps and build capabilities.

Click to download and read the Needs Analysis Report: Regional Centre of Competence for Digital and Artificial Intelligence Skilling before you continue to Part 3.

Part 3: Training preparation

This section provides a comprehensive roadmap for immersing yourself in the training material, equipping you with the knowledge and confidence to lead engaging sessions for ICT leaders.

Before stepping into the role of a facilitator, you must build a thorough understanding of the training material. This involves not just reviewing the content but also contextualising it within real-world scenarios.

1. Engage with the resources

Dedicate time to review the curated courses, articles and videos at each skill level.

Familiarise yourself with the structure of the learner journey to understand the types of resources learners will engage with at the foundational, proficient and expert levels.

2. Prepare for content questions

Participants will arrive at the training with questions grounded in their roles and experiences. This section outlines likely questions for each knowledge area, practical steps you can take to prepare and example answers relevant to Kenya's ICT landscape. This approach ensures you are equipped to engage participants effectively.

a. Session 1: Digital Leadership, Strategy, and Design

Key Skills:
- Systems Thinking
- Change Management
- Public Speaking
- Technical Translation

Click through the expandable boxes to reveal anticipated participant questions, preparation guidance and example answers for each key skill:

Systems thinking

Possible Questions:
- How do I identify all stakeholders in a complex digital initiative?
- How can systems thinking improve collaboration between government agencies and private partners?
Trainer Preparation:
- Watch the 7-minute highlights video from "Masterclass on Systems Mapping Techniques" to understand tools for mapping interconnections.
- Consider examples from your own experience where multi-stakeholder collaboration was critical.
Example answer:
- “Start by mapping the ecosystem. For instance, a digital initiative can include stakeholders such as the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, civil society, data privacy advocates and citizens. Systems thinking helps you identify not only their roles but also their dependencies. You can use stakeholder mapping tools to visualise these relationships and plan for potential conflicts, such as data privacy concerns clashing with rapid deployment needs”.

Change management

Possible Questions:
- How do I overcome resistance to adopting a new government portal or system?
- What strategies work for managing change in an under-resourced department?
Trainer Preparation:
- Read the article "Explore the Benefits of a Change Agents Program for Public Sector Organisations".
- Prepare Kenyan examples, such as the National Transport and Safety Authority’s (NTSA) digital transformation journey.
Example answer:
- “Resistance often stems from fear of the unknown. In Kenya, NTSA tackled this by starting with pilot programmes for its TIMS portal and engaging users early through training workshops. For under-resourced departments, leveraging local champions — staff who can advocate for the change — can make a significant difference”.

Public Speaking

Possible Questions:
- How do I simplify technical language for policymakers who aren’t tech-savvy?
- What tools can help me keep audiences engaged during a presentation?
Trainer Preparation:
- Use techniques from "
- An Introduction to Public Speaking in Government
  ," like storytelling and visuals.
- Provide an example, such as explaining cybersecurity to county-level officials.
Example answer:
- “Start with an analogy: 'Imagine your office has a front door but no locks. That’s what happens without cybersecurity in digital systems.' For engagement, use visuals like flowcharts to explain how a breach could occur and its impact on citizen services”.

Technical translation

Possible Questions:
- How do I make complex technical ideas accessible without oversimplifying?
- How can I translate specialised data for use in decision-making at the executive level?
Trainer Preparation:
- Study resources on technical translation and communication techniques from expert-level materials like "Government Needs New Translators to Work with the Tech Sector".
- Identify practical examples where technical information was successfully translated for Kenyan policymakers, such as data-driven decision-making in agriculture.
Example answer:
- “Think of technical translation as bridging two worlds. For example, when explaining AI to non-technical policymakers in Kenya, start with an everyday analogy: 'AI in healthcare is like having a second opinion that learns from thousands of doctors’ experiences.' Use visuals, like pie charts, to simplify complex stats, and always tie back the information to policy implications, such as improving access to healthcare”.

b. Session 2: Data Use and Governance

Key Skills:
- Digital Literacy and Cloud Computing Management
- Privacy and Security

Click through the expandable boxes to reveal anticipated participant questions, preparation guidance and example answers for each key skill:

Digital literacy and cloud computing management

Possible Questions:
- What are the best practices for government adoption of cloud solutions?
- How do I evaluate my team’s digital literacy gaps?
Trainer Preparation:
- Review "How to Modernise Your Public Sector Security Operations Center" for insights on integrating cloud solutions.
- Use Kenyan examples, like the government’smigration of critical services to Azure.
Example answer:
- “The Kenyan government’s move to Azure shows the importance of aligning cloud adoption with local needs. Best practices include training staff on cloud tools, selecting scalable and secure solutions, and starting with non-sensitive workloads. To assess digital literacy gaps, conduct hands-on exercises to see where employees struggle — for example, uploading and sharing files securely."

Privacy and security

Possible Questions:
- How do we balance security with accessibility in digital systems?
- What frameworks should we follow to comply with Kenya’s Data Protection Act?
- Trainer Preparation:
  - Explore resources on Zero Trust and ethical AI frameworks.
  - Familiarise yourself with the Data Protection Act and its implications.
Example answer:
- “The Data Protection Act mandates that all citizen data collected digitally must be processed transparently and securely. Zero Trust principles can help ensure this by requiring authentication at every access point. For accessibility, use tiered permissions — grant users access only to the data they need while protecting sensitive information".

c. Session 3: Digital Management and Implementation:

Key Skills:
- Programme/Project Management for Digital Initiatives
- Programme implementation, management and agile leadership
- Advanced Technology and Programming

Click through the expandable boxes to reveal anticipated participant questions, preparation guidance and example answers for each key skill:

Programme/Project Management for Digital Initiatives

Possible Questions:
- What tools are most effective for tracking government IT projects?
- How can I ensure alignment with national priorities while managing limited resources?
Trainer Preparation:
- Review the "Introduction to Project Management in the Public Service" course for tracking tools like Gantt charts and Trello.
- Incorporate examples from your own experience where you managed or oversaw digital projects.
Example answer:
- "Project management tools can be used for task tracking and alignment. To align with national priorities, ensure your project plan reflects Vision 2030 goals. Start with clear milestones and include regular updates to stakeholders".

Programme implementation, management and agile leadership

Possible Questions:
- How do I implement agile practices in hierarchical ministries that favour traditional workflows?
- What strategies can help foster collaboration across departments during a project?
Trainer Preparation:
- Review the conversations in the Agile in Government Community of Practice for the latest on agile methodologies.
- Review African examples of agile adoption, such as Kenya’s Konza Smart City initiatives, which integrated cross-departmental efforts.
Example answer:
- Agile thrives on collaboration and adaptability. Start small by running a pilot project using sprints. For example, during Kenya's Konza City planning, departments used agile practices by defining deliverables for two-week cycles, holding regular review meetings and adapting quickly to emerging issues like regulatory changes. Cross-departmental collaboration can be strengthened through shared goals, clear communication and task management tools".

Advanced Technology and Programming

Possible Questions:
- What programming skills should public servants focus on to improve efficiency in service delivery?
- How do we assess the value of adopting AI in government services?
Trainer Preparation:
- Explore the resource, "Revolutionise the way you work with Copilot for Microsoft 365” for insights into assessing AI impact on government work.
- Share examples how you have used AI in your work to spark conversations about standardised integration into ICT leaders workflows.
Example answer:
- Consider doing a demonstration of how you use AI tools in your workflow to save time. Allow others to showcase their examples too.

Part 4: Facilitation and Preparation Guide

This section provides actionable guidance for facilitating effective sessions, focusing on practical strategies to engage participants and foster peer learning using real-world challenges.

Click to download your guide here.

Before you begin the session, review the facilitation tips and checklist:

Facilitation tips:

Number of sessions: We recommend running three sessions for ICT leaders, one for each knowledge area
Duration: 2 hours (can be adjusted based on participant needs)

Checklist for trainers:

Understand the learner's current skill levels and desired outcomes by reading the Report by UNDP in collaboration with Oxford Insights.
Recognise learner's challenges, such as limited resources, legacy systems and political dynamics.
Review the provided questions, preparation notes and example answers in Part 3 of this guide before the session.
Ensure tools (e.g. slides, videos, or activity templates) are ready to use.
Practice delivering case study instructions and hands-on demonstrations.
Be prepared to adapt discussions based on participants’ needs or experiences.

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ICT Leaders Training Guide

Part 1: Programme context

Part 2: User Insights

Part 3: Training preparation

Part 4: Facilitation and Preparation Guide