NAIROBI: In a bid to make its citizens more ICT versatile, the Rwanda's Ministry of Disaster and Refugee Management have launched an ICT driven approach where they are giving sectors interned based cell phones to be used to communicate better upon the strike of a disaster. Darla Rudakubana, the ministry's communications specialist commented that the cost of the entire project amounted to $164,000. She further explained that the scheme would seek to distribute handsets at sector level and smart phones at district level and this action will lead to better reporting and response from the authorities. With support from World Food Programme and the UN Agency for Refugees (UNCHR), the Rwandan Ministry hopes to develop a system that will store the data collected via text messages or voice calls from selected people at the related levels and this will be used for disaster preparedness. Rwanda is stepping up the use of ICT in all forms. The government is also aiming at getting people to access ICT infrastructure in the country. Recently, Ignace Gatare, Director General for the Commission for Science and Technology in the President's office handed over the ICT portfolio to Jean Nsengimana.
