Other Public Sector Study
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Publication
Reaching the Potential for the Digital Economy in Africa: Digital Tools for Better Governance
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2023-08-28)That digital technologies can be tools for better governance is widely accepted - the degree to which they can meet their potential in Africa in the near future is an open question. Are the countries in Africa caught in a trap with digital progress limited by the very governance problems that such technologies could address? Or have they already progressed with large leaps forward? What are the factors that limit progress from being even faster? This study examines the progress and challenges in establishing the analog foundations for the use of digital technologies for better governance in Africa, and the degree of implementation of those GovTech tools. It covers the use of digital tools for providing information to the public, for streamlining the provision of government services including those related to taxation and business and land registration, courts and one-stop shops, digital identification systems, and interoperability between systems. The report similarly covers the use of digital tools for strengthening participation in policy making, accountability systems including grievance redress, and control of corruption. Finally, the report examines the adoption of electronic government procurement (eGP), as well as the procurement of IT systems by governments. The report concludes with recommendations for reaching the potential for the use of digital tools for better governance in Africa. -
Publication
Data Governance Practices in MENA: Case Study - Opportunities and Challenges in Morocco
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-11)Through successive royal speeches and digital transformation strategies, Morocco has identified the digital transformation of government, the economy, and society as high priorities for the country’s new development model and for strengthening the social contract between the state and citizens. This case study examines the data governance ecosystem in Morocco by applying a regional assessment tool developed the World Bank’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) tech initiative. The case provides an assessment of existing practices to optimize the management and generation of data for development outcomes. Morocco has the opportunity to achieve its strategic digital transformation aspirations by reinforcing and effectively implementing a robust technical infrastructure and policy, legal, and regulatory framework for data governance to enable trusted data collection, processing, and (re)use by government, civil society, and the private sector. Enabling effective implementation of this data governance framework and better use by civil servants and individual users will also require investment to build institutional capacity and digital skills of all actors in the data ecosystem. Finally, an inclusive communications and dissemination campaign to increase public awareness and acceptance, can foster trust in data use in a country and region with a fragile social contract. -
Publication
Freedom of Information Access: Key Challenges, Lessons Learned and Strategies for Effective Implementation
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-06-01)Implementation of the right to information as established in a Freedom of Information Access (FOIA) Law provides a foundation for institutionalization of transparency and support for anti-corruption efforts. Passage of a FOIA law is only a first step toward accessibility of data and documents held by public agencies, however. Effective implementation of a FOIA requires that public agencies take additional steps to put laws into practice and overcome common implementation challenges that can render FOIA laws ineffective. This note, which builds on previous World Bank research on factors determining effective implementation of FOIA laws, reviews cases of introduction of FOIA laws around the world and summarizes the main challenges, lessons learned and key strategies emerging from these experiences. Its primary aim is to inform Italian public agencies charged with implementation of the FOIA law about steps they can take toward effective implementation. As such, it focuses on areas of activity typically within the purview of public agencies, as opposed to those typically in scope of policymakers or central agencies charged with implementation and/or legislative oversight of FOIA. -
Publication
Artificial Intelligence in the Public Sector: Maximizing Opportunities, Managing Risks
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020)The paper curate’s knowledge residing in public documents and aims to distill lessons learned on how to adopt and use AI as part of a public sector modernization strategy. The paper’s primary scope is on governance-related aspects. Chapter two elaborates on the opportunities being availed by governmentsaround the world using AI. These opportunities should be availed while managing associated risks, which are discussed in chapter three. For maximizing opportunities and managing risks, governments need to adopt AI ethical principles and institutional arrangements, discussed in chapter four. Chapter five discusses the ethical dimensions that need a broader policy response at the national level. Chapter six enumerates the building blocks necessary for a successful long-term AI strategy. The appendices contain information for practitioners. Appendix A provides technical information and additional resources for further support, and Appendix B highlights solutions that rely on AI for improvements in efficiency, scientific analysis, and prediction within the disciplines. To fully comprehend the impact that AI might have on governments, it is necessary to develop a solid understanding of key AI concepts. The paper does not offer in-depth coverage of work in specific sectors. The findings in the paper were validated through interviews with industry experts. Special efforts have been made to ensure the architectural design approaches discussed in the paper incorporate the best industry knowledge. The paper goes to great lengths to maintain a practical approach, with ‘handson’ examples of architectures and applications. -
Publication
Leveraging ICT Platforms to Foster Citizen Engagement For Enhanced Public Accountability: The Korean Experience
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2019-05-10)This learning note aims to document the experience of the Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea (BAI) and the online administrative appeals hub system of Korea’s Central Administrative Appeals Commission (CAAC) in leveraging ICT platforms for citizen engagement. The note both analyzes participatory practices and examines how the use of ICT platforms contributed to enhance public outreach by making citizen engagement in public accountability more cost-effective, scalable, transparent, and inclusive. The learning note targets accountability institutions (such as supreme audit institutions, anti corruption agencies,and so on), as well as representatives from civil society organizations and citizens around the world interested in knowing more about the experience of Korea, including the challenges and opportunities, in leveraging ICT tools to foster citizen engagement for enhanced public accountability. -
Publication
Digital Government and Open Data Readiness Assessment
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2019-02)This report, composed of two separate themes of Digital Government Readiness Assessment (DGRA) and Open Data Readiness Assessment (ODRA), is intended to help government assess their digital environments and frame their own strategies.In order to assess the potential for a Digital Enabling Government Initiative (DEGI) for Vietnam, this report compiles two chapters of aforementioned DGRA and ODRA. Specifically, it assesses potential opportunities and challenges of improving digital government and open data initiatives in the country. Although DGRA and ODRA are two separate assessments with different dimensions evaluated, they take a similar methodological approach from a broader point of view, starting with the desk research and later expanding to scoping mission. Therefore, both chapters of DGRA and ODRA are similar in format but outlined in respective assessment dimension and individual indicators. Since its onset in the fall of 2017, intensive desk research was conducted, and a field mission was carried out to confirm preliminary findings and uncover additional insight during a specific period in time, which means that during the course of analysis and writing additional developments could have been made. This is similar to the United Nations global e-government development report, which assesses progress during a “snapshot” in time.DGRA, the first part of the report, aims to evaluate Vietnam’s current potential for digital government development across seven key dimensions of leadership and governance; user focus; business process change; capabilities; culture and skills; shared infrastructure; data driven; and cybersecurity, privacy and resilience. Meanwhile, ODRA assesses Vietnam’s open data policy through evaluating eight different dimensions of leadership; policy/legal framework; institutional structure; data within government; demand; citizen engagement; funding; and infrastructure.The DGRA chapter focuses on digital government, which is a core part of Digital Economy as public sector delivers information and services more effectively and make them accessible to its citizens.The DGRA also measures the citizen’s demand for digital government services as well as integration and infrastructure policies to delve deeper into the opportunities and challenges the country faces in its digital development journey. The assessment includes a step-by-step analysis of specific components of digital government and presents an action plan to address the challenges identified for improvement.ODRA, the second part of the report, focuses on the country’s open data policy. Open data refers that the data must be both legally and technically open to public, thus placed in the public domain or under liberal terms of use with minimal restrictions, and that the data is published in machine-readable and preferably in non-proprietary electronic formats, which enables everyone to access and use data with freely available software tools.This report, bringing DGRA and ODRA assessments altogether, aims to help raise awareness of digital government and open data, two critical topics as Vietnam prepares its next step for the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0). Further, it hopes to serve as a useful resource for the top government leadership in identifying areas of relative strengths and weaknesses to help improve digital government and open data at the same time. -
Publication
Moldova Mobile ID Case Study
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2018-12)The Republic of Moldova was among the first countries in the world to implement Mobile eID, whichhas been implemented through the innovative Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. In recognitionof Moldova embracing mobile technologies as an opportunity to tap the potential of mobile phones toimprove government initiatives, the government of Moldova was awarded the Best mGovernment Awardby the GSMA during the 2013 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The concept of Mobile eID, also known as mobile signature, works as an ID in the virtual world, allowing users to authenticate themselves in cyberspace, with the aim to prove their identity with the help of a cell phone or electronically sign a legally-binding transaction or document. For the regular users, the advantage of mobile eID lies in its simplicity, since no separate card reader or drivers areneeded, as the phone itself already performs these functions. Implementation of Mobile eID in Moldova was part of a larger digital transformation initiative supported by a 20 million US Dollars World Bank–funded loan as part of Governance eTransformation Project (GeT), and assuch, it benefited from increased political support. Moreover, the approval by the government of Moldova of the strategic e-Transformation program further paved the way for eID implementation, by expressly stating that mobile electronic identity is "a means to ensure data integrity and security in eservice delivery and financial transactions." -
Publication
Identification for Development Country Diagnostic: Uganda
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2018-11-01)In today’s digital age, robust, inclusive, and responsible civil registration and identification systems play an important role in providing citizens with a legal identity and generating vital and demographic statistics. Universal coverage of these systems improves the accessibility, integrity, effectiveness, and efficiency of public and private services. Experience in Estonia, India, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, and other countries has shown that an effective national identification system can accelerate progress in addressing key development and governance challenges, such as financial inclusion, universal healthcare coverage, and digitizing and integrating services in the public and private sectors. The ID4D diagnostic was undertaken between November 2017 and June 2018 at the request from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Government of Uganda under the umbrella of the World Bank’s Identification for Development (ID4D) initiative.This work was done with excellent collaboration from NIRA’s management and personnel. Its objective was to analyze the identification ecosystem in Uganda, highlight strengths and achievements, suggest areas of improvement, and build consensus around recommendations and next steps. This was done through in-person interviews with over40 government and private stakeholders, a field visit, and a literature review. Draft findings and recommendations were presented at a consultation workshop in August 2018, attended by over 50 experts representing 30 MDAs and private sector organizations. Feedback from the workshop is reflected in the report. -
Publication
Privacy by Design: Current Practices in Estonia, India, and Austria
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2018-11)Digital identification systems, integrated with civil registration, can play a transformational role across many development areas, such as financial inclusion, expanding access to services and social safety nets, and effective humanitarian response. But while the opportunity is great, so are the risks. One set of risks results from collecting, using, and managing personal data, which creates serious privacy challenges. Risks also include: (1) Incorrect or inaccurate data collection, leading to mistaken identity or unjust treatment; (2) Data collected for one purpose being used for another purpose without the user’s consent; and (3) Unauthorized or inappropriate transfer of data between government agencies, governments, and even with third non-governmental parties. The importance of data privacy in building digital ID systems is highlighted in the Principles on Identification developed by the World Bank in 2017. These principles have been signed onto by more than 20 international organizations and development partners as being fundamental to maximizing the benefits of identification systems for sustainable development. -
Publication
Ukraine e-Government Assessment
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2018-06)Electronic Government (e-government) is among the main bases for improving public administration and service delivery in Ukraine. To effectively support enhanced developmentoutcomes, it requires a systemic and coordinated approach and parallel advancement of various components of digitalization. The purpose of this assessment is to identify issues and opportunities to consolidate, enhance and accelerate the electronic government reform in Ukraine. It informs and serves as a foundation for the prioritization and development of future areas of engagement of the broader e-government reform.Efforts to advance the implementation of e-government activities have not been properly sequenced and have been uncoordinated.To assess governance e-transformation this report introduces a comprehensive methodology – Electronic Government’s Governance Outline (hereafter Assessment) – that was developed by the team and is used for the first time. This assessment reflects the progress and status against various benchmarks of e-government, grouped in 18 dimensions and spread among 5 areas.The Ukraine assessment is a first attempt at bringing together the technical perspective of digitalization with the treatment of the agency problem underlaying the essence of governance. Recognizing the challenges and complexity of reforms in this area, the report outlines key priorities for future focus by policymakers and implementers in setting up specific strategies for addressing weaknesses and advancing reforms. The assessment, which was performed through desk review of policy and regulatory framework, interviews and structured surveys of key stakeholders, reveals a pattern of disproportional development of the system. The report discusses three foresight scenarios as alternatives to the “status quo”.The scenarios reflect different approaches to addressing identified vulnerabilities of e-government in Ukraine. Implementing many of the good practices will be a challenge in the short-term. Next steps should ideally focus on reforms that prioritize consolidation of datacenters. Implementing a centralized policy for ICT procurement requires strong political will and high-level support. The first manifestation of such political support could be clear definition of the stakeholder roles and, most importantly, separation of implementation from policymaking.