Enterprise mobility, big data, analytics and private cloud computing are investment focus areas for one-third of surveyed government sector workers in the Middle East and Africa over the next two years.

This is according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) 'Annual Middle East and Africa Government CIO Survey 2014', which includes research on third platform technology adoption.

The IDC has told ITWeb Africa that it surveyed 98 government chief information officers (CIOs) across the region: 44% from sub-Saharan Africa, 28% from the Middle East, 20% from North Africa, and 8% from Turkey.

In particular, the research notes that "nearly two-thirds of MEA government IT decision makers expect to see an increase in the ratio of their organisation's mobile workforce.."

The IDC says this could drive investments in mobile devices, connectivity, and software solutions among public sector workers. The research body also says this could place a greater emphasis on developing wider enterprise mobility strategies and support policies regarding bring-your-own-device (BYOD).

“But during this process, governments need to realise that ‘one size does not fit all’,” Mukesh Chulani -- the programme manager for IDC government insights in the Middle East,Turkey, and Africa -- told ITWeb Africa.

Chulani said a greater focus on mobility by government workers could further impact the way that government e-services are rolled-out in the region as well.

“This channel shift to rolling out self-service channels will require prioritising services to be migrated to self-service channels based on: 1) complexity of the process and application architecture, ie. services with highly complex processes and multiple tightly integrated applications supporting them are not good candidates, 2) volume, ie. the higher the volume, the higher the benefit for both citizens that will have to visit government offices fewer times and for governments that will be able to reduce opening hours, and 3) touch ie. services characterised by sensitive data and themes, such as child protection, are not good candidates for self service,” Chulani told ITWeb aFRICA.

The IDC research further notes that MEA government organisations are; however, “grappling with the need to gain executive-level support and funding for technology investments amid increasing end-user expectations and service delivery requirements.”

"MEA government IT departments are increasingly being asked not only to ‘do more with less’ but also to ‘do new with less'," says Chulani in a separate press statement.

"This raft of increasingly complex new demands includes expanding the roster and reach of various services, ensuring operations are well governed, and minimising the risks arising from the intensifying security threat landscape. Consequently, many IT decision makers are keen to evaluate new engagement and business models."