Mobile Applications Development and Management Guidelines
As government institutions increasingly embrace mobile technology to deliver services and information to citizens, it becomes paramount to ensure that these applications adhere to standard guidelines to ensure that mobile applications meet user requirements, are easy to use, and meet security and data privacy requirements. By upholding these guiding principles, governments can harness the full potential of mobile technology to deliver seamless, secure, and citizen-centric services, thereby fostering public trust, participation, and empowerment.
Introduction
In today's digital age, mobile applications have become indispensable tools for governments world...
Scope and Objectives
This document outlines the guidelines for the development and management of mobile applications f...
Considerations for mobile applications in Government
Increased access to the internet through mobile devices in Rwanda provides an opportunity to use ...
Approval Process [Mandatory]
Mobile application projects should be approved before commencing and should follow the approval...
Complementary delivery channels[Recommended]
Mobile applications should not replace other Government service delivery channels but rather shou...
Cost effective approach[Recommended]
Mobile applications should only be developed if they provide the best way option to deliver a ser...
Design Guidelines
When designing mobile apps for various platforms and devices in Rwanda, it is important to consid...
Adopt platform design guidelines[Mandatory]
Adhere to design guidelines and principles provided by each platform such as the Material Design ...
Multi Language support[Mandatory]
Consider support for local languages particularly Kinyarwanda when designing citizen facing mobil...
Responsive design[Mandatory]
Adopt a responsive design approach to allow your application to adapt to different screen orienta...
Accessibility[Recommended]
Aim to ensure your app is accessible to users with disabilities. Implement features such as adjus...
Platform conventions[Recommended]
Consider the navigation patterns and gestures familiar to users on each platform. For example, us...
Availability across platforms[Recommended]
To ensure availability across different platforms, mobile applications should at the very least b...
Official app stores[Mandatory]
To ensure safe and secure distribution of apps, official app stores should be used for public app...
Device testing[Mandatory]
Test mobile applications on real devices representing the popular platforms and models used in Rw...
Performance optimisation[Mandatory]
Optimise an app's performance by minimizing loading times, optimizing image sizes, and implementi...
Offline access[Recommendation]
The mobile app should be developed in a way to cater for offline activity and reduce wherever pos...
User involvement[Mandatory]
Gather feedback from users in Rwanda during the design and testing phases. Incorporate user insig...
Open standards[Mandatory]
Open standards shall be adopted for mobile applications for ensuring the interoperability of appl...
Branding[Mandatory]
Adhere to Government of Rwanda branding guidelines when designing mobile applications
Monitoring analytics[Recommended]
Apply appropriate analytics for monitoring the mobile app to gauge engagement and customer behavi...
Security and data privacy
Security is of paramount importance for government mobile applications as they often handle sensi...
Maintenance of mobile applications
Maintenance of mobile applications is a critical activity to ensure their continued functionality...
Monitoring analytics [Mandatory]
Government institutions should apply appropriate analytics tools for monitoring the mobile app to...
User support and feedback[Mandatory]
Provide options for users support and feedback within the mobile app where possible.
Compatibility to new device versions and software[Mandatory]
Continuously assess compatibility of the app to new versions of Operating systems e.g IOS or Andr...
Regular updates[Mandatory]
Monitor the application regularly to check for issues and bugs which should be resolved on a time...
Security maintenance[Mandatory]
Regular security audits are essential to protect sensitive government data and maintain public tr...
Performance monitoring[Mandatory]
Monitor the application's performance. Check the speed, friction in usage and load times for the ...
Entry into force
This guideline shall come into force on the date of its signature by the Chief Executive Officer ...