GOVERNANCE E Q U I TA B L E G R O W T H , F I N A N C E & I N S T I T U T I O N S N OT E S GovTech Maturity Index 2022 Update Regional Brief: East Asia and Pacific March 2023 © 2023 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street NW Washington DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000 Internet: www.worldbank.org This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the data included in this work and does not assume responsibility for any errors, omissions, or discrepancies in the information, or liability with respect to the use of or failure to use the information, methods, processes, or conclusions set forth. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Nothing herein shall constitute or be construed or considered to be a limitation upon or waiver of the privileges and immunities of The World Bank, all of which are specifically reserved. Rights and Permissions The material in this work is subject to copyright. Because The World Bank encourages dissemination of its knowledge, this work may be reproduced, in whole or in part, for noncommercial purposes as long as full attribution to this work is given. Attribution: Please cite this brief as follows: World Bank. 2023. “GovTech Maturity Index, 2022 Update — Regional Brief: East Asia and Pacific.” Equitable Growth, Finance & Institutions Notes. Washington, DC: World Bank. Any queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to World Bank Publications, The World Bank Group, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA; fax: 202-522- 2625; e-mail: pubrights@worldbank.org. >>> Contents Acknowledgements iii GovTech Maturity Index Regional Briefs 1 Regional Overview 3 Country-Level Overview 6 GovTech Focus Areas 7 Core Government Systems 7 Public Service Delivery 10 Digital Citizen Engagement 12 GovTech Enablers 13 Digital Governance/GovTech Projects 16 Future Directions 18 Resources 20 >>> Acknowledgements This brief was prepared by the GovTech Maturity Index (GTMI) team led by Cem Dener (Task Team Leader, Lead Governance Specialist) and composed of Kimberly Johns (Co-Task Team Leader, Senior Public Sector Specialist), Hubert Nii-Aponsah (Consultant), Charles Victor Blanco (Senior Public Sector Specialist), Hunt La Cascia (Senior Procurement Specialist), Çağla Giray (Consultant), Till Hartmann (Junior Professional Officer), Youngseok Kim (Senior Governance Specialist), Asami Okahashi (Governance Specialist), Freida Siregar (E.T. Consultant), and João Ricardo Vasconcelos (Senior Governance Specialist). Overall guidance for the 2022 GTMI regional briefs was provided by Roby Senderowitsch (Practice Manager), and Arturo Herrera Gutiérrez (Global Director). The team benefited from the comments and contributions of the World Bank Governance and Digital Development Global Practice regional units, as well as the Identification for Development (ID4D) and the Digitizing Government to Person Payments (G2Px) initiatives (EEAG1, EEAG2, EEAR1, EEAR2, IDD03, and IDD05). The team is also thankful to Liudmila Uvarova and Sandra Valdivia Teixeira for their support on dissemination activities. Cyrel Crisologo San Gabriel provided editorial services, and Maria Lopez provided graphic design services. This report was made possible by the World Bank’s GovTech Initiative and the GovTech Global Partnership trust fund. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< iii 1. >>> GovTech Maturity Index Regional Briefs GovTech is a whole-of-government approach to public sector modernization that promotes a simple, efficient, and transparent government with the citizen at the center of reforms.1 The GovTech Maturity Index (GTMI) measures the key aspects of four GovTech focus areas in 198 economies—supporting core government systems, enhancing service delivery, mainstreaming citizen engagement, and fostering enablers—and assists government officials, World Bank teams, and practitioners in the design of new projects. Several indexes are available in the public domain for measuring the specific aspects of digital government, including the United Nations (UN) eGovernment Development Index (EGDI) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Digital Government Index. Although these indexes are useful for monitoring the progress of digital government initiatives and good practices in general, none of them fully capture the critical dimensions of digital transformation in the public sector. The GTMI is a comprehensive composite index that comprises 48 key indicators—40 of them are updated or expanded GovTech indicators and eight are highly relevant external indicators, including the UN EGDI. The key indicators measure the relatively less-known aspects of GovTech focus areas across 198 economies. The GTMI is the simple average of the normalized scores of four components: the Core Government Systems Index (CGSI), based on 17 indicators; the Public Service Delivery Index (PSDI), based on nine composite indicators; the Digital Citizen Engagement Index (DCEI), based on six indicators; and the GovTech Enablers Index (GTEI), based on 16 indicators.2 The similarities and differences of the GTMI findings compared with other global indexes are discussed in the GTMI 2020 and 2022 Update reports, which present the GTMI methodology in detail. The GTMI is neither intended to create a ranking, nor capture the extent of GovTech implementation, or assess a country’s readiness for GovTech. Rather, it provides a snapshot of the GovTech maturity and helps in identifying gaps that represent opportunities for improvement. Countries are grouped into four categories, A to D.3 Group A comprises the GovTech leaders demonstrating substantial progress and good practices in all four focus areas. Group B economies have significant GovTech investments and good practices in most of the focus areas. Group C economies have ongoing activities to improve some of the GovTech focus areas. Group D includes economies with minimal focus on GovTech initiatives. 1. The World Bank launched the GovTech Global Partnership (GTGP) Initiative in 2019 to support client countries in their efforts to harness the opportunities of digitalization for public sector modernization. The GovTech approach represents the current frontier of digital government transformation. Please visit the GovTech website for details. 2. The meaning of enablers in this context may be different from the use of enablers and foundations in other World Bank reports or tools, including World Development Reports and the Digital Government Readiness Assessment, and elsewhere within the GovTech context. The GovTech Enablers Index measures the presence of several crosscutting enablers relevant to advancing GovTech; however, it does not quantify their effectiveness or performance. 3. All economies were grouped into four categories, A to D, based on the normalized GTMI scores reflecting the key aspects of four focus areas (A = Very high >=0.75 and <=1; B = High >=0.50 and <0.75; C = Medium >=0.25 and <0.50; D = Low <0.25). EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 1 The GTMI is not comparable to the UN EGDI, since it measures different aspects using different indicators based on the information and evidence provided by government officials or available in government websites. Although similarities exist in about 80 percent of the economies, the GTMI may present a different view than the UN EGDI in some countries (see Appendix C of the GTMI reports for further explanation). Hence, ranking or comparison of countries based on their GTMI component scores may lead to misleading conclusions. Instead, the change in the GTMI group of an economy can be used as an indicator of the progress to avoid any misperception. The GTMI is intended to present the state of play in digital government. When using the GTMI, readers are encouraged to examine the initial pointers presented in the GovTech Dataset and collect further evidence to understand the level of implementation, effectiveness, and reception of GovTech solutions and their enablers in each economy. For a comprehensive diagnostic, the updated Digital Government Readiness Assessment (DGRA) toolkit developed by the Digital Development Global Practice can be used to validate degrees of implementation, expand on all areas, and provide country-specific recommendations. The 2020 edition of the GTMI was based on remote data collection (mainly due to the pandemic). The 2022 GTMI update is essentially based on the World Bank’s GovTech Dataset (October 2022 version), which is publicly available in the World Bank Data Catalog. The dataset captures the online survey responses of formally designated public officials to 48 key indicators and 303 sub-indicators (153 of which are used in the GTMI calculations and the remaining 150 are informative). Additional evidence was gathered in the form of functional URLs and public documents to support the reported progress. The GTMI findings presented in this brief are based on the GovTech dataset to minimize subjectivity biases, which may not be consistent with the available evidence. The dataset will be updated every two years to reflect progress in the four GovTech focus areas. The new GTMI Data Dashboard was launched in November 2022 (together with the 2022 GovTech Dataset) to enable users visualize and explore the data collected on 48 key indicators and related sub-indicators. The GovTech Projects Database (October 2022 version) presents the details of more than 1,440 investments funded by the World Bank in 147 countries since 1995. The projects included in the database cover a broad spectrum of solutions funded by all related global practices of the World Bank.4 As a part of the dissemination activities, a series of regional GTMI briefs were prepared in consultation with the World Bank regional units and country teams to complement the 2022 GTMI Update report, which was released in December 2022. The regional briefs will cover the East and South Africa (AFE), the West and Central Africa (AFW), the East Asia and Pacific (EAP), the Europe and Central Asia (ECA), the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the Middle East and North Africa (MNA), and the South Asia (SAR) regions of the World Bank. Each regional brief presents an overview of the progress within the last two years, together with good practices, gaps, and opportunities identified in public sector digital transformation based on the 2022 GTMI findings, to inform policy decisions and the design of new projects. So far, the GTMI findings have been used in the design of more than 15 new investment lending projects since 2021. Some of the World Bank projects supporting various reforms are also included to complement the presentation of country cases. Please reach out to the GTMI team (gtmi@worldbank.org) for your questions, clarifications, and suggestions on the GTMI update report, datasets, dashboard, or regional briefs. 4. In addition to the projects led by the Governance Global Practice, the database also includes a core part of Digital Development Global Practice’s business lines of data infrastructure and digital public infrastructure and the cross-global-practice initiatives of Identification for Development (ID4D) and Digitizing Government to Person Payments (G2Px), together with the activities of other global practices. The new projects initiated after the October 2022 update of the database may not be captured in this brief. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 2 2. >>> GovTech Maturity Index Regional Brief East Asia and Pacific Regional Overview According to the GovTech Maturity Index (GTMI) 2022 update for the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region, 11 countries are progressing well in groups A and B, and the remaining 14 countries in groups C and D are exhibiting medium to low focus on GovTech initiatives in general (Figure 1). Initiatives associated with the improvement of public service delivery and core government systems are closer to the technology frontier. However, the regional average GTMI score of 0.474 is lower than the global average of 0.552, which indicates that all four focus areas can be improved through investments in platforms that encourage citizen engagement, as well as strategies, laws, and programs that create an enabling environment for digital transformation to thrive. Additional investments in government systems and public services are also required, as demonstrated in the following sections of the brief. >>> Figure 1: 2022 GTMI Regional Outlook, East Asia and Pacific Mongolia China Rep. of Korea A GovTech Leaders B Significant Focus C Some Focus D Minimal Focus Total GTMI # of Economies 6 5 7 7 25 Myanmar Lao PDR Thailand Vietnam Philippines Cambodia Marshall Micronesia, Islands Average GTMI Scores Palau Fed. States of Malaysia Kiribati Singapore Nauru GTMI 0.474 Indonesia Papua New CGSI 0.522 Solomon Tuvalu Guinea Timor-Leste Islands PSDI 0.551 Samoa Fiji DCEI 0.377 Vanuatu Tonga GTEI 0.446 0.0 0.5 1.0 Source: World Bank data (25 economies). Please refer to the 2022 GTMI Update report for details. Note: The regional average GTMI scores in each GovTech focus area and the number of economies in each GTMI group are presented together with the map. GTMI = GovTech Maturity Index, CGSI = Core Government Systems Index, PSDI = Public Service Delivery Index, DCEI = Digital Citizen Engagement Index, GTEI = GovTech Enablers Index. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 3 The 2022 Digital Government/GovTech projects database presents the details of 161 investment projects funded by World Bank global practices since 1995. As of December 2022, 118 investments have been completed and there are 37 active and six pipeline projects supporting various GovTech solutions. Total commitments are about $12 billion, and $3.8 billion is on DG/GovTech solutions (Table 2). Existing diagnostic reports (Digital Economy Reports, Digital Government Readiness Assessment), the 2022 GTMI update, global datasets, and regional briefs can be used to monitor progress in the adoption of digital technologies and to identify priority engagements while designing new activities to address country-specific challenges in the upcoming years. >>> Figure 2: Average GTMI Scores, by GTMI Group, EAP Despite an improvement in the regional GTMI average from 1.00 0.887 1.00 0.87 0.447 in 2020 to 0.474 in 2022, the digital divide has increased, 2020 2022 as reflected by the widening gap between group A and D 0.75 0.688 0.75 0.648 countries (Figure 2). The 2022 regional average (0.474) is 0.50 0.447 0.50 0.474 also lower than the global average (0.552), which reveals that 0.344 0.346 there are opportunities to advance toward the contemporary 0.25 0.178 0.25 0.139 technology frontier in most of the countries. 0.00 0.00 A B C D A B C D # Econ: 4 5 8 8 # Econ: 6 5 7 7 >>> Figure 3: Average GTMI Scores, by Income Level, EAP Progress was observed across most income levels in EAP 1.00 1.00 within the last two years (Figure 3). Improvements in high- 2020 2022 income and lower-middle-income countries were the main 0.75 0.75 0.634 drivers of this progress, while setbacks were experienced 0.539 0.485 0.50 0.447 0.50 0.451 0.453 0.474 by upper-middle-income countries (confirming such trend as 0.387 shown in Figure 2). This pattern highlights the need to allocate 0.25 0.25 adequate resources to advance digital transformation in the public sector. 0.00 0.00 H UM LM L H UM LM L # Econ: 0 1 6 1 # Econ: 3 8 14 0 Source: World Bank data (25 economies). Note: EAP = East Asia and Pacific, GTMI = GovTech Maturity Index, H = high-income economies, UM = upper-middle-income economies, LM = lower-middle-income economies, L = low-income economies. The EAP region comprises fewer economies in groups A and B (11 out of 25, or 44 percent) than in groups C and D (Figure 4). This is lower than other regions such as Europe and Central Asia (26 out of 30, or 87 percent), and South Asia (5 out of 8, or 63 percent). More than half of the economies (14 out of 25, or 56 percent) are in groups C and D, displaying medium to low focus on public sector digital transformation. It is worth noting that 11 of the 25 EAP economies are small island countries. There are abundant opportunities for further progress in the GovTech agenda, including digital citizen engagement, one-stop-shop for efficient public service delivery, and GovTech enablers (e.g., digital skills, innovation, and cybersecurity). EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 4 >>> Figure 4: GovTech Maturity in the World Bank Regions, by GTMI Group, 2022 AFE 4 14 5 3 AFW 11 5 5 1 EAP 7 7 5 6 ECA 1 3 10 16 LAC 3 11 7 11 MNA 3 4 5 8 SAR 3 3 2 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Economies D C B A Source: World Bank data (163 economies). Note: AFE = East and Southern Africa, AFW = West and Central Africa, EAP = East Asia and Pacific, ECA = Europe and Central Asia, LAC = Latin America and the Caribbean, MNA = Middle East and North Africa, SAR = South Asia. GovTech initiatives in the EAP region are primarily concentrated on improving the delivery of public services, like most of the other regions except for the AFW region. Some emphasis has also been placed on the modernization and interoperability of core government systems, as well as the broader GovTech ecosystem (Figure 5). However, the region followed a pattern similar to other regions where there was slow progress in improving digital citizen engagement. This indicates a need to allocate more resources to address existing gaps in CivicTech and other focus areas highlighted in subsequent sections. >>> Figure 5: Average GTMI Scores, by Region, 2022 1.00 0.75 0.50 0.25 0.00 AFE AFW EAP ECA LAC MNA SAR Avg CGSI Avg PSDI Avg DCEI Avg GTEI Source: World Bank data (covering 163 economies in all regions). Note: AFE = East and Southern Africa, AFW = West and Central Africa, EAP = East Asia and Pacific, ECA = Europe and Central Asia, LAC = Latin America and the Caribbean, MNA = Middle East and North Africa, SAR = South Asia, CGSI = Core Government Systems Index, PSDI = Public Service Delivery Index, DCEI = Digital Citizen Engagement Index, GTEI = GovTech Enablers Index. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 5 3. >>> Country-Level Overview Most of the countries in the region (16 out of 25, or 64 percent) participated in the 2022 Central Government GTMI online survey and provided useful information about their digital transformation initiatives. For nine non-participating countries, the GTMI team collected relevant data remotely from government websites (except new performance-related sub-indicators). Compared with the 2020 GTMI data, six economies (Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, and Samoa) advanced to a higher GTMI group, and one country (Myanmar) moved one level down (Table 1). The remaining 18 countries maintained their positions. The reduction in the total number of countries in groups C and D (from 16 to 14) and advances in other groups indicate that there was some progress in several focus areas within the last two years despite the COVID-19 pandemic challenges. >>> Table 1: Overview of the GTMI Groups, EAP, 2022 Group A Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, Thailand B Cambodia, China*, Fiji, Philippines, Vietnam* C D GTMI Very High High Medium Low Economies in group GovTech leaders Significant focus on GovTech Some focus on GovTech Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea¯, Samoa, Solomon Islands¯*, Timor-Leste¯, Tonga*, Vanuatu Minimal focus on GovTech Kiribati, Marshall Islands¯*, Federated States of Micronesia¯*, Myanmar¯*, Nauru*, Palau, Tuvalu¯* Source: World Bank data (25 economies). Total Economies 6 5 7 7 25 %E 24% 20% 28% 28% Note: Blue represents a movement to a higher GTMI group and red indicates a drop from a higher GTMI group compared with the 2020 GTMI data. Black implies no change in the GTMI group. % E means percentage of the economies included in the relevant group. Economies highlighted with (*) did not participate in the 2022 Central Government GTMI online survey. Fragile and conflict-affected economies are shown with (¯). Seven economies in the EAP region are on the World Bank’s current list of fragile and conflict-affected situations (FCS). While Myanmar is severely impacted by an ongoing internal conflict, the other six economies are experiencing fragility mainly due to their vulnerability to natural hazards. In the Pacific island countries, including the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu, climate change threatens to increase vulnerabilities and fragility. In the EAP region, FCS economies have a GTMI score (0.23) that is more than half lower than that of non-FCS economies (0.57). The GTMI data collected suggest that FCS economies in the EAP region provide very few opportunities for digital citizen engagement. In the meantime, there are new projects supporting the expansion of digital infrastructure, Internet connectivity, modernization of core government systems, and improvement of online service delivery in the Pacific islands. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 6 4. >>> GovTech Focus Areas The GTMI data collected encompasses 40 key indicators (35 existing, 5 new) as explained in detail in the GTMI report. They are presented below to reflect the state of four GovTech focus areas, together with selected good practices and possible improvements. Eight external indicators used in the calculation of the GTMI groups are not included in Figures 6 to 9 and their indicator numbers are not displayed. Please refer to the GTMI report for a detailed explanation of all 48 GTMI indicators. Core Government Systems Most countries already have core public financial management and other systems in place to support central government operations (financial management information system, tax, customs, human resources management information system, payroll, social insurance, e-procurement, debt management). Also, shared digital platforms (government cloud, interoperability framework), public investment management systems, disruptive technology strategies, and Open-Source Software (OSS) policies (advisory or mandatory) are visible in about half of the countries (Figure 6.1). There have been increases in the uptake of almost all the existing Core Government Systems Index (CGSI) indicators compared with the 2020 GTMI data. The most visible increase is in the adoption of a single treasury account (32 percent), government cloud (28 percent), and enterprise architecture (28 percent). Meanwhile, the two exceptions where economies’ adoption have decreased are in payroll system (16 percent) and human resources management information system (24 percent). Despite an overall positive trend, the progress is visible in only a small group of countries. Two new key indicators (denoted by N) revealed some progress regarding the use of social insurance/pension systems and interoperability frameworks (Figure 6.2).5 5. Percentage increases or decreases indicate that some country responses were switched from “No” (or Planned) to “Yes,” or from “Yes” to “No” respectively. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 7 >>> >>> Figure 6.1: CGSI Indicator-Level Responses, EAP, 2022 Figure 6.2: Changes since 2020 Nat’l Strategy on Disruptive Tech I-17 8 4 13 I-17 4% 24% Open Source Software Policy I-15 2 7 16 I-15 4% 12% Public Investment Mgmt System I-14 9 16 I-14 0% 8% Debt Management System I-13 21 4 I-13 0% 8% e-Procurement Portal I-12 17 2 6 I-12 4% 12% Social Insurance/Pension System I-11 24 1 I-11 N 0% 8% Payroll System I-10 20 5 I-10 16% 8% Human Resources MIS I-9 17 2 6 I-9 24% 4% Customs Mgmt Information System I-8 22 3 I-8 0% 12% Tax Mgmt Information System I-7 21 4 I-7 0% 8% Treasury Single Account I-6 14 7 4 I-6 4% 32% 4% Financial Mgmt Information System I-5 24 1 I-5 0% 0% Government Service Bus I-4 9 3 13 I-4 24% 0% Gov Interoperability Framework I-3 7 6 12 I-3 N 4% 4% Gov Enterprise Architecture I-2 9 3 13 I-2 28% 0% Government Cloud I-1 11 4 10 I-1 28% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Yes Planned / In progress No % Decrease % Increase Source: World Bank data (25 economies). Note: EAP = East Asia and Pacific, CGSI = Core Government Systems Index, MIS = management information system, N = new indicator. New initiatives could focus on improving the effective use and interoperability of existing systems, as well as on expanding shared digital infrastructure (e.g., government cloud, service bus) and data governance. New initiatives could also promote the use of innovative technologies and open-source solutions to reduce the cost of investments and create more sustainable platforms supporting the whole-of-government approach, service delivery improvements, and digital citizen engagement. Selected good practices and opportunities for improving CGSI are presented below: ● Singapore’s Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) built the Singpass, Singapore’s national digital identity (NDI), and the API Exchange (APEX), the government’s data-sharing platform, both of which have helped improve the lives of citizens and residents, and enable government agencies and businesses to offer better services. A World Bank case study features Singapore’s NDI and APEX, and how they work together. ● Malaysia launched the MyGovCloud platform in 2018 as a private government cloud platform and disaster recovery center for all public entities. The Malaysian Government Data Exchange (MyGDX) is currently providing access to 129 application programming interfaces (APIs), and the platform is being expanded to connect 40 agencies and support 200 APIs for up to 500,000 transactions by the end of 2025. The government could review the interoperability framework and devise a strategy to ensure its effective implementation by all agencies. For example, the interoperability of existing platforms developed for the social safety net programs (maintaining several program-specific beneficiary lists and databases) could be improved to create an integrated social registry system. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 8 ● The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) of the Republic of Korea launched the next-generation integrated FMIS platform (dBrain) in January 2022 as an integral part of the data-based policy supporting systems based on the Data, Networking, and Artificial Intelligence (DNA) strategy. The new system has improved the efficiency of PFM operations by expanding existing dBrain function modules from 13 to 24, with the addition of 11 new tasks. The dBrain platform provides the following AI-based capabilities: ● Proactive risk management through real-time monitoring, diagnoses, and forecasts. ● Mid- to long-term financial estimation based on revenue and expenditure information and macroeconomic indicators. ● Daily forecast updates on the national treasury balance through AI-based simulation. ● Indonesia’s Ministry of Health has launched Satu Sehat (or “One Health”), an Indonesia Health Service platform that seeks to integrate information systems to deliver better health care. The platform is a vehicle for the integration and standardization of health data services in Indonesia, particularly through patient medical records, data connectivity, analysis, and services to support integration between applications and health care facilities. The platform was developed by the Ministry of Health by adopting the Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) infrastructure model.6 There is a need for a shared data exchange platform that goes beyond ministries. The World Bank’s Digital ID project is working with the government to develop such a platform. ● Thailand has implemented several initiatives aimed at promoting data sharing and collaboration among government agencies, including the development of the national e-Government Interoperability Framework (e-GIF) in 2010. The e-GIF provides a standardized framework for the exchange of information and services among government agencies. Additionally, Thailand has implemented a number of shared services platforms, such as the National Single Window and the Government Data Exchange (DGX) service bus platform, which enable government agencies to share information and services more easily. These initiatives have improved the efficiency and effectiveness of government operations, reduce duplication of efforts, and better the overall quality of public services. However, there is still work to be done to improve the interoperability of government systems, particularly at the local level, and to ensure that data are being shared securely and in compliance with privacy regulations. ● In Cambodia, the National Digital Economy and Society Council (NDESC), established in 2021, is leading the digital transformation, and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPTC) is expanding the digital public infrastructure and promoting shared platforms. The NDESC has launched several initiatives, including the Cambodia Data eXchange (CamDX) based on the X-Road platform of Estonia; the Cambodia Data Ledger (CamDL), which is a decentralized blockchain technology infrastructure; the Bakong e-payment platform supporting mobile payments; and online banking. Implementation of digital signature infrastructure is in progress. An ICT project management system is being developed to monitor the progress and post the results achieved in digital transformation investments. Strengthening PFM and Public Sector Performance for Improved Service Delivery (P168407) in Cambodia aims to provide technical support on process improvements and change management for public financial management reforms. The project contributed to the adoption of a change management strategy and a process improvement action plan in early 2020. The government’s strong ownership of this strategy and action plan resulted in step-by-step improvement in the timeliness of transaction processing, including utility payments and civil servants’ payroll payments. For example, salary payment processes at the Ministry of Economy and Finance were streamlined from 46 steps to 13 steps. Also, the Ministry of Post and Telecom saw the payroll processing time reduced from 35 days under the old process to about 12 days, and transaction processing time for utility payments at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries was reduced from about 26 days to 12 days using the new streamlined processes.7 6. Assist.id Menjadi Sistem Klinik SATU SEHAT Kementrian Kesehatan. 7. World Bank. 2022. “Cambodia: Maximizing the Benefits of FMIS.” GovTech Case Studies: Solutions at Work. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 9 ● In Mongolia, the adoption of a National Enterprise Architecture (NEA), the expansion of the National Data Center (NDC), and the establishment of a disaster recovery center were completed under the Smart Government Project (P130891). The NDC will be expanded to provide cloud computing services and access to other shared platforms. The HUR government information exchange system is being used extensively by central and local entities to simplify online services and improve the interoperability of core systems. Existing public financial management information systems are also being connected to automate data exchange with application programming interfaces (APIs). Additionally, the Government Electronic Marketplace (GEM) has been introduced as a module of the larger e-GP system that was launched by the government in 2016. Prequalification of bidders is done with the existing e-Tendering module. In the e-Marketplace, the shortlisted bidders are required to upload their e-Catalogs and submit their prices in response to an invitation for bid. The e-Marketplace features 180 products from over 100 companies, with this number increasing daily. About 350 software developers and representatives of some 250 buyers and users of government organizations, ministries, agencies, and state-owned companies are participating in the platform. The efforts continue under the SMART Government II Project (P176631) to upgrade the e-GP platform. Public Service Delivery Despite progress in most of the service delivery channels within the last two years, there are gaps and opportunities across all Public Service Delivery Index (PSDI) indicators in the region. More than two-thirds of the region’s economies have an online tax service portal, job portal, and e-payment services, but there are many economies without the public service delivery portals inquired in the GTMI. Many economies reportedly do not yet have online social insurance or pension services (56 percent), and even more do not have a general online public service portal (66 percent) (Figure 7.1). >>> >>> Figure 7.1: PSDI Indicator-Level Responses, EAP, 2022 Figure 7.2: Changes since 2020 0% Job Portal I-25 17 8 I-25 N 0% 0% Social Ins/Pension Online Services I-24 11 1 13 I-24 N 0% 40% Customs Services/Single Window I-23 12 5 8 I-23 0% 0% e-Payment Services I-22 16 9 I-22 36% 8% e-Filing for Tax/Customs I-21 15 2 8 I-21 20% 12% Tax Online Service Portal I-20 19 1 5 I-20 8% 4% Online Public Service Portal I-19 9 7 9 I-19 8% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Yes Planned / In progress No % Decrease % Increase Source: World Bank data (25 economies). Note: EAP = East Asia and Pacific, N = new indicator, PSDI = Public Service Delivery Index. Compared with the 2020 GTMI data, there were increases in three existing PSDI indicators (e-payment services, e-filing, and online service portals) and decreases in two (tax online service portals and, more significantly, customs single window), partly due to more detailed questions to capture the difference between transactional and informational services and the interconnectivity of existing platforms. Responses to two new key indicators (social insurance/pension and job portals) revealed that the existing platforms were maintained without major improvements within the last two years (Figure 7.2). There are opportunities to leverage digital public service portals to advance local development objectives. Economies with existing service delivery portals would also benefit from expanding the functions supported by these portals, improvements in the portals’ human-centered design, and universal accessibility. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 10 Some of the good practices related to online public service delivery platforms are presented below: ● Malaysia is one of the GovTech leaders in the provision of digital services. The MyGovernment portal is a single gateway for simplified and seamless online services (more than 400) and information based on citizen-centric and life events concept. After the COVID-19 outbreak, the total number of visitors to the MyGovernment portal grew more than 200 percent, jumping from 2 million visitors in 2019 to 6.15 million in 2021. Citizens, residents, and businesses can also use Malaysia’s online tax service portal to register themselves, file their taxes, make payments, and check taxation regulations. Malaysia reports having an online job portal (for vacancies in the public sector) where users can register themselves, search for jobs, and submit applications. Additionally, the MyFutureJobs portal is available for job applications in the private sector. The National Single Window (NSW) was launched in 2009 to support electronic customs declarations (eDeclare), customs duty payments (ePayment), electronic manifests (eManifest), permits (ePermit), preferential certificates of origin (ePCO), and permit strategic trade act (ePermitSTA). More than 722,000 transactions have been processed through the NSW in 2022. Also, about 78 percent of federal ministries, departments, and statutory bodies already offer cashless payment options. ● Thailand’s Digital Government Development Agency (DGA) is managing an integrated online service portal, accessible through mobile apps with a focus on life events. The online Job Portal includes listings for both private and public sector jobs, and can be used to register, search for jobs, and submit applications. The Social Insurance service portal was similarly designed to provide access to registration, benefits, and payment services. ● Korea’s Government 24 platform is a one-stop shop providing access to about 90,000 services (85,000 government to citizens/ government to business and 5,000 government to government), including 1,000 transactional services related to life events. Subsidies 24 is a customized service that enables citizens apply for about 10,000 benefits provided by the central government, local governments, and public institutions in cash, in kind, or vouchers. Users can also see the policy information posted by all government agencies and contest information. Detailed monthly statistics about all online services are also available. ● In Indonesia, the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry launched the Merdeka (Freedom/Independent) Curriculum Program in February 2022 to modernize the education system.8 The program is being used by early childhood educational institutions all the way up to senior high schools. A mobile app has been developed to support the implementation of the Merdeka Mengajar (Independent Teaching) program and assist teachers in getting references, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of the Merdeka Curriculum. That platform is assisting teachers and principals in teaching, learning, and creating. About 151,000 educational units have reportedly implemented the program and benefited from it. ● In Mongolia, the Ministry of Electronic Development and Communications is managing the e-Mongolia integrated service delivery platform, e-Mongolia, with a focus on life events as well. A dashboard presents the online service delivery performance. Additionally, sectoral service portals are available (for taxes, e-payments, customs, social insurance, and jobs) to provide additional channels for delivery of online services. The Mongolia SMART Government Project (P130891), completed in August 2022, contributed to the integration of 72 e-services for citizens and 37 digital services for businesses through the e-Mongolia portal. The government has also implemented more than 700 e-services over the past few years. The SMART Government II Project (P176631) was launched in 2022 to further improve the usability and efficiency of online public services to citizens and businesses. The project is expected to support the development of 75 transactional online services that are compliant with standards on human-centric design. The cost-efficiency savings from use of the shared cloud computing platform by Mongolian government agencies is expected to reach $12 million by 2027. 8. Merdeka Curriculum is a curriculum with diverse intra-curricular learning where the content is made more optimum so that students have sufficient time to explore concepts and strengthen their competence. This curriculum is also more flexible, and focuses on essential material and character development and student competencies. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 11 Digital Citizen Engagement In the EAP region, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Mongolia, and Singapore are among the countries boasting of integrated platforms that enhance digital citizen engagement. Such platforms do not exist in about half of the economies in the region (Figure 8.1). Specifically, only 11 of 25 countries (44 percent) reported having national platforms for citizen participation, and even fewer (6 out of 25, or 24 percent) have published citizen engagement statistics to help monitor and track progress as of December 2022. Furthermore, about half of the economies in the region provide citizens the chance to offer feedback on policy issues and public services, whereas less than half of the countries have established open government portals comprising current government data and informative publications to promote good governance by enhancing transparency and accountability. >>> >>> Figure 8.1: DCEI Indicator-Level Responses, EAP, 2022 Figure 8.2: Changes since 2020 Citizen Engagement Stats Public I-32 6 19 I-32 0% 16% Gov Platform for Citizen Feedback I-31 I-31 0% 12 13 12% Nat’l Platform for Citizen Particip I-30 8% 11 14 I-30 12% Open Data Portal I-29 32% 16 9 I-29 0% 8% Open Government Portal I-28 10 15 I-28 16% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Yes No % Decrease % Increase Source: World Bank data (25 economies). Note: EAP = East Asia and Pacific, DCEI = Digital Citizen Engagement Index. There has been improved availability of open government portals and publication of citizen engagement statistics in 16 percent of the countries within the past two years. Additionally, government platforms to capture feedback have improved in 12 percent of the countries in the region, revealing some positive developments (Figure 8.2). While open data portals are common (in 16 out 25 countries, or 64 percent), eight countries representing 32 percent (Cambodia, Kiribati, Myanmar, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu) have not been able to maintain their open data platforms. Future GovTech initiatives could focus more on launching and expanding citizen participation and feedback platforms, as well as on updating open data portals. Selected good practice cases related to digital citizen engagement are presented below: ● The Republic of Korea’s data.go.kr provides comprehensive and disaggregated data covering multiple sectors including agriculture, education, transport, and other major aspects of the economy, which are provided in both human- and machine- readable formats. Most of the available data are dynamically updated daily through application programming interfaces (APIs). Since the data are shareable (upon registration on the portal in some cases), access promotes wider accessibility and application of government-owned data to unlock the potential of data for growth. User guides and other resources are available, including policies that govern data usage and reusage. Additionally, the epeople.go.kr platform is available for citizen feedback on public services and policymaking. Complaints about government corruption can be reported. The government also publishes citizen engagement statistics on 110.go.kr and implements initiatives to improve representation of vulnerable groups. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 12 ● Mongolia is a member of the Open Government Partnership and is committed to publication of government data and reports to improve fiscal openness and transparency. The 11-11 platform enables citizens to engage the government through manifold channels, including an app and various social media platforms. The number of interactions through the 11-11 platform increased from a baseline of 65,000 in 2014 to 329,751 in 2022. Guidelines are also provided through videos to facilitate and enhance the user experience while limited statistics on engagement with citizens are also published. Furthermore, the open data portal embodies data updated daily. Published data are comprehensive in coverage and disaggregated at the sector level. The data are updated automatically and uses of the data are also published to highlight potential applications of the data and encourage usage. The SMART Government Project (P130891) has enhanced not only the civic engagement and citizen participation but also the transparency, accessibility, and efficiency of public service in Mongolia. The project team has set the foundation of SMART government by successfully developing income and asset declaration email systems, adding new call centers for all citizen feedback, and enhancing the publicly available data via searchable platforms. The project efforts continue under SMART Government II Project (P176631), including upgrading and rebranding the software development for the PIAID (the government’s Personal Interests, Assets and Income Declaration Systems) and procurement of server hardware and licenses. ● Thailand‘s open government data platform comprises 7,900 datasets available in both human- and machine-readable forms. The data scope entails key sectors including education and public health and is available at both national and subnational levels. While most of the data are updated manually, the updates are frequent (weekly) and the government publishes comprehensive statistics on data usage. Articles are also published to demonstrate potential applications of the data. The Government Complaint Center also empowers the public to participate in the policymaking process, report complaints, and follow up on previous complaints. This is achieved through various channels including the PSC 111 app, which offers citizens updates on government policy actions. This enables citizens to contribute toward shaping policy and improving public service delivery. GovTech Enablers Based on the 2022 GTMI update, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, and Indonesia are among the regional leaders focused on improving the GovTech ecosystem. Broadly, more than 60 percent of the economies in the region have dedicated digital government entities that oversee GovTech initiatives and digital transformation strategies (Figure 9.1). However, public sector innovation strategies and digital signature platforms are relatively scarce, as they exist in only 12 of the 25 countries in the region. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 13 >>> >>> Figure 9.1: GTEI Indicator-Level Responses, EAP, 2022 Figure 9.2: Changes since 2020 I-48 N 0% Gov Policy on GovTech Startups I-48 10 15 20% I-47 0% Gov Entity for PS Innovation I-47 12 1 12 16% I-46 4% Public Sector Innovation Strategy I-46 5 4 16 24% I-45 0% Gov Strategy/Prog on Digital Skills I-45 10 6 9 52% 4% Digital Signature Platform I-42 7 9 9 I-42 24% 4% Data Protection Authority I-39 8 3 14 I-39 16% 4% Data Protection/Privacy Laws I-38 10 3 12 I-38 20% 8% Right to Information Laws I-37 10 3 12 I-37 12% 0% Whole-of-Government Approach I-36 11 7 7 I-36 48% 12% GovTech/Digital Transf Strategy I-35 17 4 4 I-35 16% 4% Dedicated Data Governance Entity I-34 8 5 12 I-34 24% 0% Dedicated DG/GovTech Entity I-33 16 1 8 I-33 68% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Yes Planned / In progress No % Decrease % Increase Source: World Bank data (25 economies). Note: DG = digital governance, EAP = East Asia and Pacific, GTEI = GovTech Enablers Index, N = new indicator, PS = public sector. A focus on a whole-of-government approach, as well as strategies and programs designed to improve digital skills, is also limited, since full implementation was reported in less than half of the countries in the region. Less than half of the countries in the region also have dedicated government entities in charge of data governance or an established data protection authority, which are critical for information security and privacy amid advancements in new technologies. There is, nevertheless, a strong potential to institutionalize a whole-of-government approach, which is planned in nine countries. Within the past two years, major favorable developments have been noted in institutions dedicated to GovTech (in 68 percent of the countries), strategies and programs to improve digital skills (52 percent), and institutionalizing a whole-of-government approach (48 percent) (Figure 9.2). Improvements were also documented in the development of public sector innovation strategies (24 percent) as well as the establishment of data governance organizations (24 percent). While setbacks were experienced in some areas, such as the need to update digital transformation strategies in three countries, the evidence indicates that momentum is building in lagging areas. Therefore, support is needed to ensure that the potential of the region is realized through a strong enabling GovTech environment. Selected good practices and opportunities for improving the GTEI indicators are summarized below: ● Singapore has for a long time been a global reference in public sector digital transformation. The whole-of-government policy approach sustaining this transformation is a key factor in the country’s impressive digital performance. GovTech Singapore (Government Technology Agency of Singapore) leads in digitalizing the public sector and strengthening digital skills of civil servants. The agency develops digital products for citizens, businesses, and governments based on strong internal software engineering capacities, supports the digital transformation of Singapore’s government agencies, and leads the country’s cybersecurity policy. GovTech Singapore is a strong example of how a clear and mature institutional setting can significantly contribute to coherent, impactful, and sustainable digitalization approaches. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 14 ● In Vietnam, the Authority of Information Technology Application (AITA) was renamed as the National Digital Transformation Authority (NDTA) in October 2022 to lead GovTech initiatives with additional mandates. Several institutions, including the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), are mandated to advance data protection. The National Digital Transformation Portal presents the implementation status of GovTech and other initiatives. A whole-of-government approach has been planned but has not yet been fully institutionalized. The government has a digital skill-building plan, and an online learning platform (OneTouch) was launched in 2020 to improve digital skills for about 2 million civil servants and the rest of the population. Also, the government offers training and an opportunity to obtain digital certificates through its Vietnam National Root Certification Authority for digital signature and authentication purposes. ● In the Philippines, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), established in 2016, is the primary policy, planning, coordinating, implementing, and administrative entity in charge of the overall national ICT development agenda, which encompasses GovTech. The institutionalization of a whole-of-government approach is planned but not yet fully realized. There are nevertheless critical programs designed to promote public sector innovation and improve digital skills. For instance, the Digital Governance Awards (DGA) reward local government units using advancements in technology to deliver online public services effectively and efficiently to their constituents and business stakeholders. The ICT Knowledge Portal (IKP) also seeks to centralize national ICT data and metadata collections for research, planning, and policy formulation. The Philippines Digital Infrastructure Project (P176317), expected to be launched in 2024, is a new World Bank investment that aims to improve broadband connectivity, strengthen resilience of the digital environment, and support digital infrastructure in order to expand online service delivery, particularly in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, thereby achieving inclusive development and growth. In 2021, the government launched the PhilSys initiative to establish a single national identification system for all citizens and residents, with technical assistance and capacity- building support from the World Bank’s ID4D and G2Px programs. The Modular Open-Source Identity Platform (MOSIP) was adopted to facilitate full country ownership and technology neutrality. A PhilSys Number (PSN) is assigned to every citizen or resident as a unique, randomly generated 12-digit permanent identification number upon successful registration to PhilSys. As of December 2022, more than 75 million registrations have been completed, from which 23 million people have received a physical PhilID card and 22 million have received the digital equivalent, the e-PhilID. ● The Republic of Korea launched the Digital Platform Government Initiative that allows citizens, businesses, and the government to work in collaboration to solve social problems and create new value based on a digital platform where all data are connected. The Presidential Committee on Digital Platform Government was established in September 2022 to design and coordinate key projects for the Digital Platform Government as one of the presidential agendas. Experts in AI, data, security, and public administration from the private sector are joining the Presidential Committee. This effective governance structure is an essential GovTech enabler that facilitates digital transformation in the public sector, based on collaboration within the government and with the private sector. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 15 5. >>> Digital Governance/GovTech Projects Historically, most of the World-Bank-funded digital governance (DG) projects have supported the establishment or modernization of core government systems, digital infrastructure, connectivity, social safety nets, health, education, and other sector applications within the last two decades. New activities (active and pipeline projects launched within the last five years) are focused on implementation of new digital transformation programs, online service delivery channels, citizen engagement, and other critical components of the GovTech ecosystem. A summary of 161 DG investments funded by World Bank global practices since 1995 in the EAP region is presented in Table 2.9 This section presents a summary of World-Bank-funded activities led by related global practices supporting the public sector digital transformation.10 The Governance Global Practice (GGP) is leading eight active and two pipeline GovTech projects in six EAP countries to support modernization and interoperability of core public financial management systems such as FMIS, tax, and HRMIS at the central and subnational levels. The Digital Development Global Practice (DD GP)11 is leading one pipeline and 10 active projects in 14 countries to support digital transformation programs, digital connectivity solutions, establishment of foundational ID systems, and use of digital ID.12 Other practices (Education; Health; Social Protection; Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation [FCI]; and other units) are leading the remaining 19 active and three pipeline projects focused on sector-specific applications, including management information systems, payment systems, safety nets, and land administration. Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Lao PDR, Mongolia, and Cambodia are the top seven countries benefiting from digital government investments so far (about 80 percent of the 161 projects in total). The current portfolio includes GovTech projects in 17 countries, and most of these are multisectoral solutions mainly related to central government systems, public services, and enabling environment. 9. The Digital Governance/GovTech Projects Database includes most of the WBG investments since 1995. However, some of the recently approved projects or previous projects without a relevant theme code or tagging may not be visible in the dataset. 10. See World Bank. 2022. “An Overview of World Bank Group Digital Governance and GovTech Projects.” Equitable Growth, Finance & Institutions Notes – Governance. Washington DC: World Bank. 11. DD GP projects include an IDA commitment annex that describes contributions to the GovTech agenda. 12. DD GP business lines include (1) Broadband Connectivity, Access, and Use; (2) Digital Data Infrastructure; (3) ICT Industry and Digital Jobs; (4) Digital Safeguards; (5) Digital for Climate; and (6) Accelerating Digital Use Cases Across Sectors. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 16 Project to Strengthen Budget Execution and Financial Reporting Systems (P163131) in the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) supported the rapid deployment of a cloud-based FMIS platform for budget planning in July 2022 and for budget execution in October 2022, less than one year after the contract signing. The total cost of the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) was $2.17 million with recurrent costs of $183,000, far below the estimate to install and maintain commercial software and establish new data centers. The new system is currently supporting budget preparation, execution, payroll, accounting, and reporting needs of 70 decentralized concurrent users from the Ministry of Finance and 10 line ministries. The reform benefited from strong collaboration with development partners, as well as from a change management and communication strategy initiated during the project’s early stages. DD GP is leading one pipeline (Philippines) and eight active (Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu) digital transformation projects.13 It is also leading the Pacific Regional Connectivity Program and the First Digital Transformation Development Policy Financing (P179361) in the Philippines, a pipeline project led by FCI with support from several global practices, including GGP and DD GP. GGP is leading five active projects (Indonesia, Lao PDR, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Philippines) mainly focused on GovTech core systems (FMIS, tax, e-procurement, HRMIS/payroll, and GovTech enablers). GGP is also collaborating with DD GP and other global practices in digital governance projects in Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Philippines, and Vietnam. Additionally, the Geo-Enabling initiative for Monitoring and Supervision (GEMS) has been supporting the systematic enhancement of monitoring and evaluation, as well as supervision of investments in fragile and conflict-affected countries since 2018. Identification for Development (ID4D) and Digitizing Government to Person Payments (G2Px) initiatives are also helping several countries, including Indonesia, Kiribati, Philippines, Samoa, Timor-Leste, and Tonga, in building identification systems and transitioning to digital GAP payments in a human-centered, rights-preserving, and trust-fostering manner. Also, ID4D Diagnostics have been completed in Kiribati, Philippines, and Tonga. In the Philippines, technical assistance from ID4D and G2Px—as well as funding from the Beneficiary FIRST Social Protection Project (P174066)—has supported the design of pilots using the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) to improve the inclusivity and human centricity of social welfare benefits delivery. A study in Timor- Leste, completed in partnership with the ICT Agency (TIC Timor), explored the experiences of vulnerable groups with existing IDs in the country, and their perceptions of the Unique Identification (UID) system being developed. In Indonesia, ID4D has provided technical assistance on standards and different approaches for digital ID smartphone applications, including an exposure visit to Singapore to learn about the national digital identity, Singpass, and its related features, such as the Myinfo consented data sharing product. The ID for Inclusive Service Delivery and Digital Transformation in Indonesia (P175218) is another relevant activity led by Social Protection, Jobs and Development, and Digital Development global practices. In Cambodia, the government issued a regulation this year to enable account-based payments to beneficiaries, instead of the current over-the-counter model that leverages agents for distribution, but not using accounts. Based on the findings of the 2021 ID4D report and dataset, an estimated 850 million people worldwide (around half are children), often individuals within the most marginalized and vulnerable groups, lack an officially recognized ID. Many more have IDs that are not suited for the digital age or that put their data privacy at risk. More than half of the people without an ID (56 percent, or over 470 million) live in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the EAP region, the estimated number of people without official identification is about 75 million (3.5 percent of the 2.169 billion total population in 25 countries, based on 2021 data). Although the region is in a much better position in ID ownership, closing the remaining gap is still important in order to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity. Hence, future projects could also focus more on supporting sustainable identification systems to realize the global commitment to “leave no one behind.” 13. These are the specific broader engagements to support country-specific digital transformation initiatives. The total number of DG/GovTech projects may be higher, since these cover other activities supporting smaller sector-specific applications as well. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 17 6. >>> Future Directions New projects could focus more on the adoption of a whole-of-government approach, digital citizen engagement, digital public infrastructure, data governance, cybersecurity, coordination of ongoing activities, monitoring and reporting of digital spending and results, and other key components of the GovTech enabling environment (e.g., leadership, effective regulations, accountable institutions, digital skills, innovation, and incentives for startups) to maximize the benefits of the government’s investments. The following opportunities exist in all countries to address key digital transformation challenges: ● Institutionalization of the whole-of-government approach by allocating the necessary resources, coordinating large-scale digital governance initiatives, and monitoring and reporting the results. ● Digital transformation of local government services, shared local infrastructure, and the intergovernmental fiscal relations. ● Use of technology and geospatial data and climate models to assess and mitigate the risks of climate change on public investments and assets. ● Transition to shared digital platforms (e.g., government private cloud, service bus, digital signature) for cost-effective, reliable, and secure hosting services. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 18 ● Improving the interoperability and interconnectivity of existing government systems and online services through government service bus and application programming interfaces (APIs), ideally based on open-source solutions. ● Building digital public infrastructure (DPI) to enable the provision of essential society-wide functions and services for identification and authentication, data exchange, and payments that are fundamental to social and economic development. ● Daily use of existing PFM information systems (FMIS, tax, e-procurement, HRMIS) to record and report all transactions for decision support, performance monitoring, and timely web publishing of budget results. ● Additional investments on technical/digital skills development and public sector innovation to ensure the sustainability and expansion of digital solutions, with a focus on gender balance. ● Alignment of the development partner support, and agreement on a clear strategic plan for digital transformation to avoid duplication of investments and activities. ● Exploration of the use of artificial intelligence/machine learning in specific public sector applications in collaboration with the private sector and civil society organizations. ● Allocation of adequate government resources for the operation and maintenance of existing systems/platforms to ensure their sustainability. ● Focusing more on improving Internet access, concrete outcomes for the citizens, and digitalization of end-to-end public services in the next generation of digital transformation projects. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 19 >>> Resources ● The GovTech Data Dashboard presents maps and graphs allowing users to digest and explore the findings of the GovTech Dataset and the GovTech projects database. ● The GovTech Dataset presents the GTMI data for 198 economies. ● The GovTech projects database presents the details of more than 1,450 activities funded by the World Bank in 147 countries since 1995. ● DE4A Country Diagnostics, Digital Development, July 2022. ● ID4D Global Dataset, Digital Development, December 2022. ● ID4D Principles, 2021 (2nd Edition). ● ID4D Practitioner’s Guide, October 2019. ● GEMS: Geo-Enabling initiative for Monitoring and Supervision14 managed by the Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV) Group. GovTech publications are classified into five categories: crosscutting, core government systems, public service delivery, citizen engagement, and GovTech enablers. ● GovTech Maturity Index, 2022 Update: Trends in Public Sector Digital Transformation, Equitable Growth, Finance & Institutions (EFI) Insight – Governance, December 2022. ● An Overview of World Bank Group Digital Governance and GovTech Projects, EFI Notes – Governance, December 2022. ● Interoperability: Towards a Data-Driven Public Sector, EFI Insight – Governance, January 2023. ● CivicTech: Transparency, Engagement, and Collaboration for Better Governance, EFI Insight – Governance, July 2022. ● Tech Savvy: Advancing GovTech Reforms in Public Administration, EFI Insight – Governance, April 2022. ● Service Upgrade: The GovTech Approach to Citizen Centered Services, EFI Insight – Governance, March 2022. ● Institutional and Procurement Practice Note on Cloud Computing, EFI Insight – Governance, March 2023. ● Data Classification Matrix and Cloud Assessment Framework, EFI Insight – Governance, March 2023. ● Mobile Government How-To Note, EFI Insight – Governance, March 2023. ● How-To Note on Green GovTech (forthcoming). 14. As of October 2022, GEMS has been implemented in more than 100 countries. More than 900 project teams and 6,500 government staff and partners have benefited from the digital skills and tools provided. GEMS has been used extensively for remote supervision and enhanced monitoring and evaluation of project implementation, risk and safeguards monitoring, beneficiary engagement, and security assessments in Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of Congo, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, and several Pacific island states. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 20 >>> Table 2: Digital Governance/GovTech Projects, EAP, 2022 2020 2022 Change GovTech Focus Areas DG/GovTech Projects Funding ($ million) Country Pop (m) % UP Grp GTMI Grp GTMI Grp GTMI CGS PSD DCE GTE Completed Active Pipeline Tot Comm Tot Disb Tot DG Cambodia C 0.451 B 0.584 £ £ 7 2 1 1 16.589 15.2 6 2 1 224 164 106 China B 0.710 B 0.665 ¥ ¤ 26 2 - 2 1,425.893 1.2 23 3 - 3,209 3,068 1,135 Fiji C 0.440 B 0.574 £ £ 1 - - 1 0.925 13.4 1 - - 6 6 5 Indonesia B 0.704 A 0.817 £ £ 22 5 4 4 273.753 9.0 16 5 2 1,969 1,473 540 Kiribati D 0.235 D 0.149 ¥ ¤ 11 6 - 1 0.129 26.5 1 2 - 33 3 13 Korea, Rep. of A 0.979 A 0.991 ¥ £ - - - - 51.830 2.7 - - - - - - Lao PDR D 0.232 C 0.414 £ £ 13 5 1 1 7.425 39.2 11 4 - 304 234 119 Malaysia A 0.855 A 0.793 ¥ ¤ 1 - - - 33.574 4.5 1 - - 244 230 6 Marshall Islands¯ D 0.107 D 0.070 ¥ ¤ 1 1 1 2 0.042 16.2 - 2 - 39 3 14 Micronesia, Fed. Sts.¯ D 0.174 D 0.145 ¥ ¤ 3 1 - 1 0.113 0.0 - 3 - 111 53 35 Mongolia B 0.594 A 0.907 £ £ 11 5 1 3 3.348 1.4 8 3 1 134 80 85 Myanmar¯ C 0.268 D 0.220 ¤ ¤ 2 1 - 2 53.798 13.8 2 1 - 162 44 177 Nauru D 0.105 D 0.079 ¥ ¤ - - - - 0.013 4.1 - - - - - - Palau D 0.180 D 0.202 ¥ £ - - - 1 0.018 0.0 - 1 - 1 1 1 Papua New Guinea¯ C 0.307 C 0.465 ¥ £ 2 1 - - 9.949 37.7 2 - - 21 20 14 Philippines B 0.740 B 0.733 ¥ ¤ 14 3 - 2 113.880 8.3 12 2 2 2,421 2,163 700 Samoa D 0.237 C 0.278 £ £ 1 - - 1 0.219 16.2 - 1 - 32 24 1 Singapore A 0.890 A 0.833 ¥ ¤ - - - - 5.941 2.8 - - - - - - Solomon Islands¯ C 0.342 C 0.268 ¥ ¤ 2 1 - 1 0.708 6.1 1 1 - 19 4 8 Thailand A 0.822 A 0.879 ¥ £ 1 - - - 71.601 1.0 1 - - 400 400 1 Timor-Leste¯ C 0.305 C 0.335 ¥ £ 6 2 - 1 1.321 15.9 5 1 - 31 16 37 Tonga C 0.341 C 0.322 ¥ ¤ 2 1 - 2 0.106 5.1 2 1 - 33 29 37 Tuvalu¯ D 0.152 D 0.106 ¥ ¤ 1 - - 1 0.011 12.8 - 1 - 29 1 29 Vanuatu C 0.300 C 0.341 ¥ £ - 1 - 1 0.319 9.7 1 - - 5 5 3 Vietnam B 0.693 B 0.682 ¥ ¤ 28 6 - 4 97.468 3.2 25 4 - 2,601 1,934 688 Totals 2,168.974 3.5 118 37 6 12,026 9,955 3,755 Source: World Bank data (161 digital governance/GovTech investments funded by World Bank since 1995). Note: GovTech Focus Areas present the number of projects supporting the prioritized GovTech pillars including core government systems (CGS), public service delivery (PSD), digital citizen engagement (DCE), and GovTech EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES enablers (GTE). Total commitments and disbursements are shown together with the total investments on digital government/GovTech solutions. EAP = East Asia and Pacific; DG = digital governance; GTMI = GovTech Maturity Index; Pop (m) = Population (in millions), 2021 UN database; % UP = Estimated percentage of unregistered population (using separate metric rates for children and adults without IDs based on ID4D-Findex, administrative data, and voter registration and birth registration rates), 2021 ID4D dataset. Fragile and conflict-affected economies are shown with (¯). <<< 21