Lourino Alberto Chemane was born in 1966 in the Matola District, Maputo Province, Mozambique. He obtained a degree in Electrical Engineering from Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) in 1993, where he also began his professional career as a researcher in Electronics Engineering and Information and Communication Technologies.
In 2011, he earned a PhD in Computer and Systems Sciences from Stockholm University, Sweden, specialising in the integration of ICT platforms for the development of value networks.
Since April 2021, he has been Chairman of the Board of the National Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (INTIC), Mozambique’s ICT regulatory authority. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the UbuntuNet Alliance, the regional research and education network for Eastern and Southern Africa, where he has chaired the Resource Mobilisation Committee since 2022.
Alongside his various other responsibilities, Lourino has served as an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Engineering of Eduardo Mondlane University since 2015, contributing to teaching and research in the Department of Electrical Engineering.
United Nations University (UNU-EGOV): Could you briefly describe your professional journey and the key moments that led you to your current role as Chairman of the Board of Directors of INTIC?
Lourino Chemane (LC): My professional trajectory has been marked by strong involvement in the field of ICT. I have been working since 1993, with experience in academia as a researcher and lecturer, including several scientific publications in ICT and e-Government, as well as in industry over the course of approximately 33 years of professional experience.
Over the years, I have also had the opportunity to contribute to strategic initiatives related to the development and establishment of the legal and regulatory framework for ICT in Mozambique, the modernisation of public administration, the development of digital infrastructure, and the promotion of digital inclusion in the country.
Among the key moments that have shaped my career are my participation in developing public policy instruments in the ICT sector (policies, laws, strategies, and regulations), my involvement in major e-government projects, and my collaboration with international partners in digital transformation. These milestones have enabled me to build an integrated vision of the role of ICT in the country’s socio-economic development, culminating in my current position as Chairman of the Board of Directors of INTIC.
UNU-EGOV: From your perspective, how would you assess Mozambique’s progress in recent years in the areas of digital transformation, digital governance and the development of the digital economy?
LC: Mozambique has recorded notable – albeit uneven – progress in these areas. In digital transformation, key highlights include strengthening technological infrastructure, expanding public digital services, and increasing internet access. Recent developments are particularly marked by institutional reforms, including the creation of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Transformation (MCTD) by Presidential Decree No. 9/2025 of 6 February; the establishment of the Digital Transformation and Innovation Agency (ATDI) by Decree No. 4/2026 of 10 March; the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Commission by Decree No. 14/2026 of 17 April; and the Multisectoral Technical Commission for Coordinating the Implementation of Digital Transformation (CTD) by Resolution No. 17/2026 of 11 March.
Further progress includes the recent approval in principle and by consensus by the Assembly of the Republic, on 16 April 2026, of the Draft Cybersecurity Law and the Draft Cybercrime Law, as well as the positive appraisal by the Council of Ministers of the Draft Personal Data Protection Law and its submission for the next stages of the legislative process in the Assembly of the Republic – an essential instrument for data governance.
In digital governance, significant progress has been achieved, particularly in the digitalisation of public services. Currently, INTIC coordinates the operationalisation of Mozambique’s Digital Certification System and the introduction of digital signature services – both essential to ensuring secure and trustworthy digital service delivery in the country.
With support from the European Union through the Knowledge Hub Digital Project, the country is benefiting from technical assistance to revise Decree No. 67/2017 of 1 December, which approves the e-Government Interoperability Framework. Additionally, under the Digital Economy and e-Government Project (EDGE), financed by the World Bank, consultancy services are underway to develop standards and procedures for integration into the interoperability platform, along with capacity-building initiatives for human resources.
At the same time, ATDI is implementing the Interoperability Platform, the Services Portal, and the Digital Identity System.
Regarding the digital economy, the innovation ecosystem has grown gradually, with increased participation from startups and digital entrepreneurial initiatives. However, this potential remains underexploited, particularly due to limitations in digital skills, financing, and the regulatory environment.
UNU-EGOV: Mozambique is currently developing several key legal and regulatory instruments, such as the National Digital Transformation Strategy, the Artificial Intelligence Strategy, and the National Cybersecurity Strategy. How important are these frameworks for the country’s digital future, and how do they complement each other?
LC: The three instruments mentioned here are fundamental to structuring and guiding the country’s digital future. The National Digital Transformation Strategy defines the overall vision and the pillars for the digitalisation of the economy and public administration. The Artificial Intelligence Strategy complements this framework by establishing specific guidelines for the ethical, responsible, and strategic adoption of AI, promoting innovation and efficiency across various sectors. In turn, the National Cybersecurity Strategy ensures the protection of digital infrastructure, data, and citizens, creating a trusted environment essential for the functioning of the digital economy.
The complementarity of these instruments lies in the fact that they address different dimensions of the same ecosystem: digital transformation (vision and implementation), Artificial Intelligence (innovation), and cybersecurity (protection of the digital ecosystem). In this context, it is important to highlight the development and implementation of the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy in 2021, whose results are reflected, among other aspects, in the improvement of Mozambique’s ranking in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), published in 2025.
Additionally, significant institutional progress has been made, including the establishment of the National Cyber Incident Response Team (CSIRT) and sectoral and institutional CSIRTs within entities that manage critical infrastructure and provide essential services in areas such as health, education, agriculture, energy, and tourism.
At the same time, the process of reviewing the National Cybersecurity Strategy is underway, with support from Finland, aimed at developing the new Strategy for the 2026–2030 period. It is expected that this new strategy will more robustly incorporate cybersecurity aspects related to AI, considering its impact on the increasing number, sophistication, and complexity of cyberattacks and cybercrime.
UNU-EGOV: What do you consider to be the main challenges Mozambique faces in advancing its digital transformation agenda, particularly in the public sector?
LC: Mozambique’s digital transformation agenda, particularly within the public sector, is advancing in a context marked by both structural constraints and institutional transition. While progress is evident, several interrelated challenges continue to shape the pace, scale and effectiveness of implementation.
The main challenges include institutional and human capacity constraints, particularly the shortage of digital skills within the public sector. There is a continued lack of specialised expertise in areas such as systems integration, data governance, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. At the same time, there is a broader need for continuous capacity building among civil servants to ensure not only technical proficiency but also a shift in organisational culture towards digital-first service delivery. Resistance to change, limited digital literacy, and fragmented skills-development initiatives can slow reform processes and undermine their sustainability.
Another key challenge is the fragmentation of systems, leading to limited interoperability and poor service integration. Many public institutions still rely on legacy systems that are not designed to communicate with one another, leading to siloed data, duplicated processes, and inefficient service delivery. Although ongoing efforts, such as strengthening the e-Government Interoperability Framework, are addressing this issue, achieving a fully integrated government platform requires sustained coordination, clear standards, and strong governance mechanisms across institutions.
Insufficient digital infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, also remains a significant barrier. Although connectivity has expanded, important gaps in last-mile broadband access persist, especially in remote regions. This situation is further compounded by the high cost of internet services and, in some areas, unreliable electricity supply, which directly affect the accessibility, reliability, and scalability of digital public services.
In addition, resistance to organisational and individual change continues to hinder both institutional adoption and the effective use of digital solutions. Financial constraints further limit the implementation of large-scale, transformative projects, as digital infrastructure development, system modernisation, and capacity-building programmes require sustained investment that must be balanced against competing national priorities. Finally, data governance frameworks are still under development, which highlights the need for clearer policies and more effective enforcement mechanisms.
UNU-EGOV: How do you see the role of Artificial Intelligence in Mozambique? Do you consider AI an inevitability, a necessity, an opportunity, or a challenge (or a combination of all these dimensions)?
LC: Artificial Intelligence must be examined in terms of both the opportunities it offers and the challenges it presents. It is, above all, an inevitability: as digital systems become increasingly dominant and data-driven decision-making becomes standard across all sectors, AI technologies are progressively integrated into the tools and platforms used by governments, businesses, and citizens. In this context, Mozambique cannot remain peripheral to this global technological transformation without compromising its competitiveness and deepening digital dependency. The central question is therefore no longer whether the country should adopt AI, but how to do so in a strategic, inclusive manner aligned with national interests.
AI is transforming economies and societies on a global scale, becoming indispensable for improving the efficiency of public services, strengthening data-driven decision-making, and enhancing overall well-being. In the national context, its opportunities are clear, particularly in its potential to drive key sectors such as agriculture, health, education, and finance. It can also catalyse innovation, stimulate digital entrepreneurship, and create new value chains, enabling the country to accelerate development by leveraging expanding data ecosystems and mobile technologies.
However, this transformation also brings significant challenges. These include limitations in digital literacy, ethical concerns, regulatory gaps, security risks, inequalities in access, and the misuse of data. There are also concerns about job displacement, which could worsen current unemployment levels, especially among young people. At the same time, this scenario creates opportunities for higher education and technical and vocational institutions to adapt their curricula, introducing new courses, skills, and assessment methods aligned with the AI era – preparing society for emerging professions and encouraging participation in digital income-generating initiatives.
There are also serious risks associated with the misuse of AI in sensitive sectors such as education, health, defence, and security, which may increase the vulnerability of digital platforms and affect national sovereignty. It is therefore essential to ensure robust regulatory and supervisory mechanisms capable of mitigating these risks and guaranteeing the responsible use of the technology.
Additionally, it is important to recognise the risks associated with algorithmic bias, particularly related to race and gender, often embedded in systems developed outside the African context. In this regard, there is a strategic opportunity for countries of the Global South to strengthen cooperation by promoting the development of more representative and inclusive datasets, thereby contributing to AI solutions that are fairer and better suited to their realities.
UNU-EGOV: What are the main priorities for Digital Government in Mozambique in the short and medium term?
LC: The priorities include capacity building and continuous training for public servants in digital skills, alongside the consolidation of interoperability among government systems. They also encompass the expansion and improvement of citizen-centred digital public services, as well as the strengthening of digital identity and authentication mechanisms. In addition, there is a focus on establishing a legal and regulatory framework for data governance and promoting digital inclusion by ensuring equitable access to technologies. Finally, these priorities involve the strategic, ethical, and responsible adoption of emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence.
UNU-EGOV: How do you view the importance of international digital cooperation – at the global, continental and PALOP levels – in supporting Mozambique’s digital transformation and capacity-building efforts?
LC: International digital cooperation is critically important for countries such as Mozambique. Currently, the country collaborates with various partners at both global and regional levels, enabling access to best practices, financing, and knowledge transfer. At the continental level, particularly within the frameworks of the African Union and SADC, such cooperation facilitates policy harmonisation and promotes regional digital integration. Within the CPLP and the PALOP group, it carries added value due to linguistic proximity, enabling the joint development of solutions tailored to shared realities. Without these partnerships, progress would be significantly slower and more fragmented.
In this context, Mozambique’s active participation in international forums on Artificial Intelligence, Digital Transformation, and the Digital Society is also noteworthy. These are promoted within the United Nations system by various agencies, including UNESCO, ITU, WTO, WHO, UNDP, UNICEF, and the World Bank. These platforms address key areas such as data governance, personal data protection, cybersecurity, and the prevention and combat of cybercrime.
Within this framework, Mozambique has been aligning itself with key international instruments, having ratified the Malabo Convention and the Budapest Convention, signed the CPLP Charter, and is in the process of acceding to and ratifying additional international instruments in the field of cybercrime, including the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime.
It is important to emphasise that no State can, in isolation, effectively address the challenges and opportunities of the Digital Society, particularly in the current era of Artificial Intelligence. For this reason, international cooperation stands as a cross-cutting strategic dimension across all national policies and strategies related to the development and performance of the digital society.
UNU-EGOV: Finally, how do you assess the relevance of initiatives such as the Digital Government Dialogues launched by UNU-EGOV and CETIC.br for fostering knowledge exchange, collaboration and evidence-based policymaking?
LC: These initiatives are highly relevant as they create structured spaces for experience sharing, knowledge dissemination, and the development of evidence-based public policies. In a context where many countries face similar challenges, such platforms help avoid duplication of efforts, accelerate institutional learning, and promote more effective and sustainable approaches.
Additionally, it is important to emphasise the strong component of training and skills development, as well as the dimensions of awareness-raising and the harmonisation of policies and strategies across the various aspects of digital governance. In this regard, the relevance of cooperation within the CPLP is particularly noteworthy, where linguistic and cultural proximity facilitates the sharing of experiences and the development of solutions tailored to common contexts.
This need becomes even more evident in the current era of Artificial Intelligence, where greater collaboration is required to ensure the presence and protection of the Portuguese language in models and algorithms, as well as to promote the use of national languages. These efforts are essential to strengthen digital inclusion and ensure the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights in the digital age, while also contributing to Mozambique’s alignment with global best practices in digital governance.
