Government Service Automation Platform Challenge

Citizens across Africa waste millions of hours annually in government offices, often making multiple trips due to incorrect documentation, visiting wrong departments, or arriving at inappropriate times. The confusion around government services creates corruption opportunities, excludes marginalized populations, and undermines state legitimacy. Simple tasks like registering a birth, obtaining permits, or accessing social services become multi-day ordeals that particularly burden the poor who cannot afford to miss work. Developers must create AI systems that understand bureaucratic processes across departments, guide citizens with personalized step-by-step instructions, automate form completion through natural conversation, and track applications to completion, transforming government service delivery from an ordeal into an efficient, transparent process.

The Government Service Automation Platform Challenge calls for innovative AI solutions that transform how citizens interact with government services. This challenge addresses the frustration and inefficiency of bureaucratic processes that cost citizens time, money, and opportunities while reducing government effectiveness.

Participants will create intelligent systems that guide citizens through government services by automatically determining which documents are needed for specific services, identifying where to go and when, managing queue systems, tracking application status, and automating form filling through conversational interfaces. The platform should understand natural language requests like 'I want to start a business' or 'I need to renew my passport' and provide comprehensive, personalized guidance.

Successful solutions will integrate with existing government systems where possible, work across multiple government departments, and handle the complexity of requirements that vary by location, citizenship status, and service type. The system should reduce errors in applications, minimize repeated visits to government offices, and provide real-time status updates on pending applications.

We particularly value solutions that work via USSD for feature phone users, integrate with WhatsApp and SMS, provide offline functionality for common queries, and include accessibility features for users with disabilities. The platform should maintain user privacy while streamlining the often overwhelming process of accessing government services.