Frequently Asked Questions
eGov Africa is a Norwegian NGO (Org.nr: 923 307 001) that builds and deploys digital governance systems in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We focus on three areas: digital birth registration, transparent tax collection, and gender-based violence documentation.
We operate in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, primarily in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri provinces. Our birth registration system is currently operational at Panzi Hospital in Bukavu and other health facilities. Our headquarters are in Bergen, Norway.
When a child is born in a hospital using our system, a health worker registers the birth on an offline-capable tablet. The data is stored securely on the device and syncs to the central system when connectivity is available. A legal birth certificate is generated, giving the child a legal identity. The entire process takes minutes instead of days or weeks.
Our digital tax system replaces cash-based collection with mobile money payments. Every transaction generates an SMS receipt for the taxpayer and deposits funds directly into government bank accounts. Tax collectors never handle cash, eliminating the opportunity for skimming. Every transaction is traceable from taxpayer to treasury. In North Kivu, this approach increased monthly revenue from $300,000 to $12 million.
The M23 rebellion has disrupted operations in parts of eastern Congo. Our digital tax systems in North Kivu and South Kivu are currently suspended due to the conflict. However, our birth registration and GBV documentation systems remain operational. We continue to operate through crisis — when other organisations pulled out, our systems kept running.
100% of donated funds go directly to programming and field operations in DRC. All Norway-based work is voluntary — board members and technical contributors donate their time. Donations fund system deployment, tablet hardware, frontline worker training, connectivity costs, and field operations.
Yes. eGov Africa is a registered Norwegian non-governmental organisation with organisation number 923 307 001. We are governed by a board of directors based in Norway and operate field teams in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Yes, we welcome volunteers, especially those with skills in software development, project management, fundraising, communications, and data analysis. All Norway-based work is volunteer-driven. Contact us at karlsen@egov-africa.org to learn about current opportunities.
We welcome partnerships with technology companies, development organisations, research institutions, and government agencies. Partnership opportunities include technical collaboration, funding, research partnerships, and field deployment support. Contact our chairman Bjarte Karlsen at svellingen@egov-africa.org to discuss partnership possibilities.
MeGov is our citizen-facing mobile platform currently in development. It will allow citizens to access government services from their phones — including verifying birth certificates, checking tax payment history, and receiving government notifications. MeGov is designed to work on both smartphones and feature phones via USSD, ensuring accessibility in areas with limited smartphone penetration.