Sudanese expatriate experts to launch digital transformation initiative for post-war reconstruction
May 20, Khartoum — The Secretariat for Sudanese Working Abroad (SSWA) has announced final preparations for the inaugural forum of Sudanese expatriate experts and scientists, aimed at spearheading the nation’s digital transformation and supporting post-war reconstruction efforts.
The upcoming forum, to be held in the capital, Khartoum, is organized by the SSWA’s Knowledge Transfer Program in coordination with the Council of Sudanese Experts and Scientists Abroad and the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Telecommunications. The event will take place under the patronage of the Prime Minister and the supervision of the SSWA Secretary-General.
Hundreds of Sudanese experts and scientists are currently deployed across various global destinations, international organizations, and UN bodies, specializing in telecommunications, digital transformation, and advanced technologies.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune on Wednesday, Osman Hassan Osman, Director of the Knowledge Transfer Program at the SSWA, described the forum as a milestone in the country’s transition toward digitizing public services. He revealed that over the past 18 months, the program has successfully registered and organized a vast database of expatriate professionals under the umbrella of the Council of Sudanese Experts and Scientists Abroad.
“The forum comes as part of broader post-war reconstruction efforts,” Osman told Sudan Tribune. “Expatriate experts have put forward seven major national projects, chief among them being digital transformation.”
He explained that the initiative aims to leverage the advanced skills of Sudanese professionals abroad to aid the Ministry of Digital Transformation in drafting national strategies, identifying technical knowledge gaps, and implementing effective solutions.
The forum will adopt a hybrid format, combining physical attendance in Khartoum with virtual participation via video conferencing. More than twenty prominent Sudanese scientists and experts from both inside the country and abroad will present, alongside representatives from relevant ministries and state institutions.
According to Osman, the scientific and technical content for the sessions was developed entirely by the Council of Sudanese Experts and Scientists Abroad. The council operates under the SSWA’s Knowledge Transfer Program, which serves as a strategic bridge linking the diaspora’s intellectual capital with domestic institutions.
The initiative comes at a critical juncture as Sudan seeks to accelerate its digital transition to rebuild state institutions and modernize government services, particularly following the extensive destruction of infrastructure caused by the conflict.
In recent months, the government has intensified efforts in this sector, expanding electronic payment systems and digital collection platforms for government fees to overhaul the public sector’s digital infrastructure.
Central to these efforts is the “Eisali” system, a flagship electronic collection and payment project. The system aims to automate government financial transactions and drastically reduce cash handling, thereby enhancing transparency, boosting public revenue efficiency, and streamlining service delivery for citizens.