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: West and Central Africa 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. 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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 9 Digital Citizen Engagement 11 GovTech Enablers 12 Digital Governance/GovTech Projects 15 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 (EAWG1, EAWG2, EAWRU, IDD02, and IDD03). 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 Bruna Sofia Simoes 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 West and Central Africa Regional Overview According to the GovTech Maturity Index (GTMI) 2022 update for the West and Central Africa (AFW) region, six countries are in group A or B (in 2020, there were only two countries in group B and no countries in group A). The remaining 16 countries are in group C or D exhibiting medium to low focus on GovTech initiatives in general (Figure 1). Despite progress in core government systems and digital infrastructure, there is room for improvement in all GovTech focus areas, and further investments are needed to address service delivery and citizen engagement challenges, while improving the digital infrastructure, skills, and other enablers. >>> Figure 1: 2022 GTMI Regional Outlook, West and Central Africa Cabo Verde Senegal Gambia Guinea-Bissau Mauritania Guinea Mali Burkina Faso Benin Niger Chad GTMI A GovTech Leaders B Significant Focus C Some Focus D Minimal Focus Total # of Economies 1 5 5 11 22 Nigeria Sierra Leone Côte Togo d’Ivoire Ghana Central African Average GTMI Scores Liberia Republic Cameroon GTMI 0.340 CGSI 0.396 Equatorial Guinea PSDI 0.370 Gabon Republic of Congo DCEI 0.256 GTEI 0.338 0.0 0.5 1.0 Source: World Bank data (22 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 Based on the 2022 Digital Governance/GovTech projects database, 135 investment projects have been completed in 21 countries by the World Bank global practices since 1995. There are 72 active and 24 pipeline projects supporting various GovTech solutions as of December 2022. Total commitments are about $18.1 billion, $5.3 billion of which is on GovTech solutions (Table 2), and GovTech investments are expected to grow in the AFW region. Existing diagnostic reports (Digital Economy Initiative for Africa and 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, AFW The average GTMI scores of 22 countries in the region 1.00 1.00 reflect the widening gap between group A and D countries 2020 0.822 2022 (Figure 2). Despite an increase in the GTMI regional average 0.75 0.75 0.586 0.573 from 0.305 in 2020 to 0.340 in 2022, the digital divide has 0.50 0.50 widened. The AFW regional average (0.340) is lower than the 0.372 0.38 0.305 0.340 overall African regional average (0.394), as well as the global 0.25 0.198 0.25 0.172 average (0.552). 0.00 0.00 A B C D A B C D # Econ: 0 2 9 11 # Econ: 1 5 5 11 >>> Figure 3: Average GTMI Scores, by Income Level, AFW In AFW, there was no progress in the upper-middle-income 1.00 1.00 group. Little progress was also documented in low-income 2020 2022 countries across most of the GovTech focus areas within the 0.75 0.75 last two years (Figure 3). The top six countries in groups A 0.50 0.406 0.50 0.452 and B (Cabo Verde, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, 0.305 0.340 and Togo) are from lower-middle and low-income countries. 0.25 0.25 0.29 0.152 0.25 0.115 0.00 0.00 H UM LM L H UM LM L # Econ: 0 2 9 11 # Econ: 0 2 9 11 Source: World Bank data (22 economies). Note: AFW = West and Central Africa, GTMI = GovTech Maturity Index, H = high-income economies, UM = upper-middle-income economies, LM = lower-middle-income economies, L = low-income economies. The AFW region has the lowest number of economies in groups A and B globally (6 out of 22, or 27 percent) (Figure 4). This is comparable to the East and Southern Africa region (8 out of 26, or 31 percent) but significantly lower than other regions. Since most economies (73 percent) exhibit medium to low focus on GovTech initiatives, there are ample opportunities for progress in the public sector digital transformation agenda of the region. 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. The AFW countries mainly focus on the modernization of core government systems, unlike other regions where the primary focus was on public services (Figure 5). However, the AFW region shows a similar pattern as with other regions, which is having a slow progress in improving citizen engagement and GovTech enablers. The lowest overall GTMI component scores are visible in the region, highlighting the urgent need to allocate more resources to address gaps in all four focus areas. >>> 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 More than half of the countries in the region (12) participated in the 2022 Central Government GTMI online survey and provided useful information about their digital transformation initiatives. For 10 non-participating countries, the GTMI team collected relevant data remotely from the government websites (except new performance-related sub-indicators). Compared with the 2020 GTMI data, five economies (Cabo Verde, Benin, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Togo) advanced to a higher GTMI group (Table 1). The remaining 17 countries maintained their positions. The reduction in the total number of countries in groups C and D (from 20 to 16) and advances in other groups (11 countries out of 22 increased their GTMI scores) 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, AFW, 2022 Group A Cabo Verde B C GTMI Very High High Benin, Burkina Faso¯, Ghana, Nigeria¯*, Togo Medium Cameroon¯, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali¯, Senegal, Sierra Leone D Low Guinea-Bissau¯*, Liberia*, Mauritania, Niger¯* Source: World Bank data (22 economies). Economies in group GovTech leaders Significant focus on GovTech Some focus on GovTech Minimal focus on GovTech Central African Republic (CAR)¯*, Chad¯*, Republic of Congo¯*, Equatorial Guinea*, Gabon*, Gambia, Guinea*, Total Economies 1 5 5 11 22 %E 4% 23% 23% 50% 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 (¯). In nine AFW economies impacted by fragile and conflict-affected situations (FCS), most of the GovTech investments supported improvements in core public financial management systems and information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, and there was little focus on online service delivery, citizen engagement, and strengthening of institutional and regulatory frameworks. This is a common pattern for most of the countries in the region. Exceptional FCS country cases are Burkina Faso and Nigeria, where substantial investments on core government systems, shared platforms, and online public services are visible. Also, new country initiatives that strongly focus on strengthening institutional and regulatory frameworks for the development of digital government, data use, and delivery of digital public services are underway. So far, new entities have been established in the Republic of Congo to support the digital economy; a digital government regulatory framework has been adopted in Burkina Faso; new cyber agencies have been established in Chad; a new law on e-transactions has been passed in CAR; and efforts are being made to fill the digital economy gaps in Mali. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 6 4. >>> GovTech Focus Areas The GTMI data collected encompasses 40 key indicators (35 existing, 5 new). 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 resource management information system, social insurance, e-procurement, debt management, etc.). However, treasury single account operations and public investment management systems are visible only in five leading countries (Figure 6.1). There is little progress in transitioning to shared government platforms to reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of operations. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 7 >>> >>> Figure 6.1: CGSI Indicator-Level Responses, AFW, 2022 Figure 6.2: Changes since 2020 Nat’l Strategy on Disruptive Tech I-17 2 3 17 I-17 5% 14% Open Source Software Policy I-15 2 20 I-15 5% 9% Public Investment Mgmt System I-14 5 1 16 I-14 5% 14% Debt Management System I-13 21 1 I-13 0% 0% e-Procurement Portal I-12 17 1 4 I-12 5% 9% Social Insurance/Pension System I-11 22 I-11 N 0% 5% Payroll System I-10 16 2 4 I-10 9% 5% Human Resources MIS I-9 16 3 3 I-9 9% 18% Customs Mgmt Information System I-8 21 1 I-8 0% 0% Tax Mgmt Information System I-7 18 2 2 I-7 0% 23% Treasury Single Account I-6 5 12 5 I-6 5% 32% 5% Financial Mgmt Information System I-5 20 1 1 I-5 0% 5% Government Service Bus I-4 3 19 I-4 9% 0% Gov Interoperability Framework I-3 5 17 I-3 N 0% 0% Gov Enterprise Architecture I-2 2 1 19 I-2 9% 14% Government Cloud I-1 1 4 17 I-1 5% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Yes Planned / In progress No % Decrease % Increase Source: World Bank data (22 economies). Note: AFW = West and Central Africa, CGSI = Core Government Systems Index, MIS = management information system, N = new indicator. There have been improvements in 10 (out of 14) existing Core Government Systems Index (CGSI) indicators compared with the 2020 GTMI data. The most visible increase is the expansion of treasury single account operations (32 percent of the countries), followed by the modernization of tax (23 percent) and human resources management information systems (18 percent) (Figure 6.2). Despite an overall positive trend, the progress is visible in only a small group of countries. Two new key indicators (denoted by N) did not reveal substantial progress regarding the use of social insurance/pension systems and interoperability frameworks. New initiatives could focus more on improving the effective use and interoperability of existing systems, 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: ● Cabo Verde is the leading economy in terms of core government systems, with a CGSI score of 0.91, well above the regional and global average. The Information Society Operational Unit (NOSI) is the key entity leading the GovTech initiatives since 2004. In 2018, Cabo Verde launched the NOSI Cloud, a shared national cloud platform, the first of its regional peers, together with the Data Exchange Platform (PDEX), which is a service bus extensively used by both central and local governments. Cabo Verde has gradually improved its core government systems, shared digital infrastructure, and online services with a focus on a whole-of-government approach. ● Liberia is improving its core government systems with the support of development partners and the Public Financial Management Reforms Strengthening Project (P165000). The ASYCUDA system was introduced, and the pilot implementation of the Integrated Tax Administration Systems (ITAS) was initiated in 2022. Much progress has been made in rolling out the integrated financial management information system (IFMIS) to all ministries, agencies, and commissions (MACs), with more than 85 percent coverage. To address the Internet connectivity challenge, the MACs are connected via dark fiber. This opened an opportunity for other systems to be implemented, such as the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and the e-Government Procurement System, both expected to go live in late 2023. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 8 ● In the Nigerian States, e-procurement systems have been deployed by using Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). These systems support the core procurement processes including registration, procurement planning, notification/publication, tendering, evaluation, and contract award. The systems also support the publishing of procurement data in line with Open Contracting Data Standards (OCDS). The Nigerian federal government is currently implementing a Commercial-off-the-Shelf e-Procurement system, which offers the core modules in addition to a broader range of modules including electronic reverse auctions, catalogs, and contract management. States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Program-for-Results (P162009) is supporting the implementation of e-procurement and OCDS at the state level in Nigeria for strengthening transparency and accountability. The Kaduna State Public Procurement Authority served as the lead purchaser and represented a group of purchasers to procure a SaaS electronic government procurement (eGP) suite. The framework agreement was structured for awarding a single vendor for a period of three years. This approach helped in streamlining the procurement procedures for all 36 states (all Nigerian states can sign call-off contracts with the winning vendor; 16 states signed on to the framework agreement). The SFTAS became a national program with all 36 states having achieved results and received performance- based grants so far (closing is in June 2023). ● Ghana launched the Electronic Procurement System (GhanEPS) in 2019, with support from the eTransform Ghana Project (P144140), to manage the public procurement processes including planning, tendering, and publication of contracts in line with Open Contracting Data Standards (OCDS). The procurement team assessed the platform and approved the use of GhanEPS for the World Bank financed projects in Ghana, as a demonstration of the bank’s commitment to the use of country systems. This platform is expected to extend by interfacing with other systems, as well as by adopting a government service bus for a more secure and seamless data exchange. Recently completed activities, including P151447 – Public Financial Management Reform Project and P152171 – Economic Management Strengthening, enhanced the capabilities and expanded the scope of PFM systems and contributed to improvement of online services. However, several setbacks and bottlenecks persist while fully adopting the whole-of-government approach across the government (e.g., connectivity and system and data interoperability across the ministries, departments, and agencies; adoption of a common interoperability framework; and low digital literacy among government employees). Future GovTech projects could invest more on the interoperability of core government systems, shared platforms, e-participation, and digital skills, by leveraging the previous and ongoing activities. Ghana Digital Acceleration Project (P176126) supports the development of a national interoperability standard across the public sector and of new shared services and platforms following a whole-of-government approach. Additionally, the Office of the Head of Civil Service is developing digital training, upskilling, and competency programs for IT officials, civil servants, and government employees. Public Service Delivery There are gaps and opportunities across all public service delivery index (PSDI) indicators in the AFW region. Benin and Cabo Verde lead with a PSDI score of 0.803 and 0.786, respectively. Compared with the 2020 GTMI data, there were substantial decreases in two (out of five) existing PSDI indicators (customs single window and tax online service portals), mainly because of 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 7.1 and 7.2). EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 9 >>> >>> Figure 7.1: PSDI Indicator-Level Responses, AFW, 2022 Figure 7.2: Changes since 2020 0% Job Portal I-25 8 14 I-25 N 0% 0% Social Ins/Pension Online Services I-24 8 3 11 I-24 N 0% 77% Customs Services/Single Window I-23 4 4 14 I-23 0% 0% e-Payment Services I-22 10 2 10 I-22 41% 5% e-Filing for Tax/Customs I-21 8 3 11 I-21 18% 41% Tax Online Service Portal I-20 12 10 I-20 14% 9% Online Public Service Portal I-19 7 3 12 I-19 23% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Yes Planned / In progress No % Decrease % Increase Source: World Bank data (22 economies). Note: AFW = West and Central Africa, N = new indicator, PSDI = Public Service Delivery Index. Despite progress in launching new online service portals and e-tax and e-payment services, the utilization levels of existing platforms are relatively low, reflecting the challenges in access to, and adoption of, digital connectivity within the region. There is a need to consider other factors including improving connectivity as well as analog complements (effective regulations, improved technical skills, and accountable institutions). Some of the good practices related to online public service delivery platforms are presented below: ● Benin has the Service-Public.bj portal providing access to a wide range of e-services. Launched in 2020, this portal was designed around the user and is accessible through multiple channels; it is searchable by keyword, administration, theme, and jurisdiction. Benin Health System Enhancement Program (P172940) is a recently launched Program-for-Results financing project that seeks to strengthen the public service delivery component. Specifically, it aims to improve the quality of and access to primary health care services with a focus on reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, adolescent health, and nutrition (RMNCAH+N). It also seeks to strengthen public health emergency preparedness and response capacity. ● Cabo Verde is one of the leading countries in online service delivery with a focus on life events. Citizens can obtain information and conduct some public service transactions online through the Porton di Nos Ilha portal launched in 2017. Balcão Único is another expanding project launched in 2017 to provide swift and inclusive public services in municipal councils. The government involved citizens and businesses in the design of e-services and released a mobile app to broaden access. Residents can even start a business or establish an e-residency through the portal. A report on online service delivery performance/user experience has been published. ● In Togo, the Novissi platform delivers contactless, emergency cash transfers based on machine learning techniques, geospatial analytics, and mobile money. The poorest villages and neighborhoods are selected through high-resolution satellite imagery and nationally representative household consumption data. Within those areas, the poorest people are then prioritized through machine learning algorithms using mobile phone metadata and phone surveys. Novissi predicted consumption patterns for 5.7 million individuals, or 70 percent of the population. In 2020–2021, 57,000 new beneficiaries were prioritized for contactless, social protection payments using predictive algorithms. The World Bank provided $72 million to finance this platform and other social protection delivery systems and equipment for the pandemic response. This is part of a $400 million IDA program across six countries in West Africa. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 10 Both Benin and Cabo Verde have online tax service portals that facilitate registration, e-filing, and e-payments. In case of Benin, the portal is also accessible through multiple mediums. Both countries also have a job portal where citizens can register and search for jobs (and submit applications in Benin). The Burkina Faso Public Sector Modernization Program (P132216) contributed to the enhancement of selected service standards in targeted regions of the ministries responsible for primary education, justice, labor, and civil service. The project had five pillars, the third of which was promoting accessibility and transparency in the public administration to improve access to services and establish the principle of accountability across the entire public administration. The project was completed by the end of 2020 and supported the development of mechanisms for civil servants to be more effective and service-oriented. Digital Citizen Engagement The AFW region has the lowest Digital Citizen Engagement Index (DCEI) score compared with other regions. Cabo Verde and Burkina Faso lead with a DCEI score of 0.826 and 0.805, respectively. However, more than 80 percent of the economies in the region do not have the necessary platforms to allow citizens to participate in decision-making and provide feedback on public service delivery (Figure 8.1). Only a few economies publish citizen engagement statistics which can help to quantify progress. >>> >>> Figure 8.1: DCEI Indicator-Level Responses, AFW, 2022 Figure 8.2: Changes since 2020 Citizen Engagement Stats Public I-32 3 19 I-32 0% 14% Gov Platform for Citizen Feedback I-31 I-31 5% 5 17 18% Nat’l Platform for Citizen Particip I-30 9% 3 19 I-30 14% Open Data Portal I-29 14% 18 4 I-29 9% 5% Open Government Portal I-28 10 12 I-28 9% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Yes No % Decrease % Increase Source: World Bank data (22 economies). Note: AFW = West and Central Africa, DCEI = Digital Citizen Engagement Index. Less than half of the economies have open government portals, demonstrating limited transparency and accountability, and highlighting the need to improve public access to government data and publications. The majority of AFW economies (82 percent) have open data portals, but the contents and update frequencies of these platforms vary. These portals can also benefit from dynamic updates through automated processes (via application programming interfaces or APIs) where applicable. There have been increases in the extension of citizen feedback (among 18 percent of AFW countries), citizen participation (14 percent), and open government portals (9 percent). However, improvements measured by five existing DCEI key indicators are visible only in a small group of economies. The largest decrease is in open data portals (14 percent), indicating that some of the countries have been unable to maintain existing platforms since 2020 (Figure 8.2). Selected good practice cases related to digital citizen engagement are presented below: ● Côte d’Ivoire launched the Milie platform in 2019. The platform allows the population to file complaints and provide suggestions to improve the delivery of public services. The platform provides multichannel access (a web platform, a mobile application, and a call center). To date, it has recorded more than 50,000 requests with a processing rate of 99.9 percent. Cote d’Ivoire’s Open Data platform aims to improve the collection and use of open data. The portal has around 121 datasets on the economy, education, energy, health, and security, which are updated regularly. The platform also includes visualizations that enable a better understanding of the data. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 11 ● Burkina Faso’s Data Portal has comprehensive data covering agriculture, education, transport, and other major aspects of the economy, which are updated quarterly. Burkina Faso also launched the Open Burkina platform to improve the collection and use of open data. The Présimètre platform (launched in 2017 with donor support) provides opportunities for citizen participation and collaboration with civil society groups. Additionally, the Plaintes platform is available for citizen feedback on public services. Statistics on complaints, suggestions, and satisfaction with services are also published. The recently completed eBurkina Project (P155645) contributed to improving several focus areas: (i) people using the digital platform for e-service delivery improved from a baseline of 0 to 8,002; (ii) e-services increased from a baseline of 0 to 158; (iii) public authorities and external producers providing information as open data on the portal openburkina.bf improved from a baseline of 31 to 106; and (iv) startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, and Civic Tech incubated increased from 0 to 55. By the end of the project, all these achievements exceeded the original targets. ● Cabo Verde is a member of the open government partnership, and the current action plan includes commitments linked with the ease of doing business, open data, and service delivery. The Cape Verde Spatial Data Infrastructure (IDE-CV) provides access to geospatial open data and related services for the public and private sector. IDE-CV follows the standards defined by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). The e-participa platform also enables citizens to both compliment and complain about government services and policies. Omnichannel access is available on the platform and citizens can provide anonymous feedback. GovTech Enablers Dedicated digital government/GovTech entities, digital transformation strategies, data protection laws, and several other GovTech enablers exist in about 68 percent of the economies in the region. However, there are gaps and opportunities to strengthen the GovTech ecosystem in all countries. For instance, 41 percent of the AFW economies have drafted digital strategies but there is minimal focus on the whole-of-government approach for substantial efficiency improvements and cost savings (Figure 9.1). >>> >>> Figure 9.1: GTEI Indicator-Level Responses, AFW, 2022 Figure 9.2: Changes since 2020 I-48 N 0% Gov Policy on GovTech Startups I-48 5 17 14% I-47 0% Gov Entity for PS Innovation I-47 11 1 10 36% I-46 5% Public Sector Innovation Strategy I-46 1 6 15 14% I-45 9% Gov Strategy/Prog on Digital Skills I-45 3 7 12 27% 5% Digital Signature Platform I-42 7 5 10 I-42 32% 0% Data Protection Authority I-39 12 1 9 I-39 9% 5% Data Protection/Privacy Laws I-38 15 2 5 I-38 14% 9% Right to Information Laws I-37 9 3 10 I-37 5% 0% Whole-of-Government Approach I-36 6 1 15 I-36 32% 36% GovTech/Digital Transf Strategy I-35 13 3 6 I-35 14% 0% Dedicated Data Governance Entity I-34 6 1 15 I-34 27% 0% Dedicated DG/GovTech Entity I-33 14 1 7 I-33 68% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Yes Planned / In progress No % Decrease % Increase Source: World Bank data (22 economies). Note: AFW = West and Central Africa, DG = digital governance, GTEI = GovTech Enablers Index, N = new indicator, PS = public sector. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 12 Changes in existing GovTech Enablers Index (GTEI) key indicators (10 out of 11) indicate that there have been improvements especially in seven leading economies within the last two years. The largest increase is related to the expansion of dedicated entities for GovTech (68 percent of AFW countries), followed by the increasing focus on public sector innovation (36 percent), whole-of-government approach (32 percent), digital signature platforms (32 percent), and data governance (27 percent). The decrease in the digital transformation strategy score is mainly due to outdated strategies and action plans in 36 percent of the countries. The new key indicator on government policies to support startups also reveals some progress in 14 percent of the countries within the last two years (Figure 9.2). Government policies to support GovTech startups and promote digital skills and innovation programs are also scarce. Generally, more than half of the economies in AFW also require the formulation and implementation of critical legislation and regulations such as right to information (RTI) laws and digital signature. Also, investments in digital ID and digital signature platforms could be increased to improve service delivery and financial inclusion. Selected good practices and opportunities for improving the GTEI indicators are summarized below: ● Benin also has significant focus on GovTech including a strategy for digital government transformation that pursues a whole- of-government approach and the implementation of Smart Administration (SMART GOUV). The Ministere du Numérique et de la Digitalisation is currently leading the whole-of-government approach. In 2022, the government announced the creation of a single agency in charge of digital transformation—the Information and Digital Systems Agency (Agence des Systèmes d’Information et du Numérique, ASIN). The ASIN was created by merging four agencies: the Digital Development Agency (ADN), the Agency for Information Services and Systems (ASSI), the National Agency for Information Systems Security (ANSSI), and the Benin Agency for Universal Electronic Communications and Postal Services (ABSUCEP). West Africa Unique Identification for Regional Integration and Inclusion (P161329 and P169594) is a two-stage operation (2018–2026) spanning six West African countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Niger, and Togo.The project facilitates access to services including through the development of identification systems. Pilot implementation of the Modular Open-Source Identification Platform (MOSIP) has been completed in most of the countries. While other countries are still working on their regulations, institutions, and pilot implementation, Benin has been making a good progress. As of December 2022, 1,330,152 persons (about 10 percent of the population) registered in the National Registry of Physical Persons, including all households registered in the social registry, and 1,045,000 credentials were delivered online, of which 45 percent are of women. ● Cabo Verde is a leading country in the region with regard to creating an enabling environment for GovTech to thrive. Through weblab, digital inclusion and technological skills development is promoted, making it easier to access equipment and connectivity, knowledge, and free use of technologies. The Agência Reguladora Multissetorial da Economia (ARME) was established in 2018 as an independent authority for granting the digital certificates, among other duties. The Entidade de Certificação Raiz de Cabo Verde (ECRCV) is the Root Certificate Authority, and the Cape Verde Public Key Infrastructure (ICP-CV) has been available since 2009. Regarding digital signature, some legal amendments are still required for it to be fully functional. In the meantime, the government could focus more on public sector innovation programs, citizen engagement, right to information laws, and cybersecurity solutions for possible improvements. ● In Ghana, the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) is mandated as the GovTech entity focused on regulating e-services, private sector partnerships, and shared platforms. The NITA operates the National Data Center and private government cloud, which can provide reliable and secure hosting services to all government entities, as well as to the private sector. However, various government institutions continue to invest on fragmented systems and data centers. There is an urgent need to adopt a whole-of-government approach. Similarly, the digital signature could be used in service delivery and government operations to maximize the benefits of existing investments on shared platforms. A new Digital Economy Policy was prepared by the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD) to address these challenges. A series of public consultations were completed in November 2022, and it is at the final stage of approval. An associated implementation plan/ strategy will be prepared accordingly. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 13 ● In Mauritania, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Innovation and Modernization of Administration (MTNIMA) is leading the implementation of the new National Agenda for Digital Transformation (2022–2025) with a focus on the whole-of-government approach. The main findings of the 2022 GTMI update are highly consistent with the gaps identified and priority actions included in the national agenda. One of the important projects (online service portal) is expected to be funded by the World Bank in 2023. The Agence Nationale du Registre des Populations et des Titres Sécurisés (ANRPTS) has been the key agency issuing national ID cards for citizens since 2012. A unique ID and digital ID card have been issued to 92 percent of the population so far. Although the biometric data and smart card features are included, digital ID cards have not yet been effectively used for online services or digital signature. Mauritania Public Sector Governance Project (P146804) contributed to the modernization and expansion of existing PFM information systems operated by the Ministry of Finance (MoF), and supported the preparation of a future integrated FMIS roadmap. New activities could benefit from the upcoming shared digital platforms for hosting FMIS and connecting with other government systems and from using digital signature in operations and service delivery. EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 14 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 the implementation of new digital transformation programs, online service delivery channels, citizen engagement, and other critical components of the GovTech ecosystem. A summary of 231 DG/GovTech investments funded by the bank since 1995 is presented in Table 2.5 This section presents a summary of World Bank funded activities led by related global practices supporting the public sector digital transformation in the region.6 The Governance Global Practice (GGP) is leading 20 active and 12 pipeline GovTech projects in 20 AFW countries to support the modernization and extension of online public services, e-procurement portals, interoperability of core systems (FMIS, tax, HRMIS, etc.), and other public administration reforms. The Digital Development Global Practice (DD GP) is leading 12 active and 6 pipeline projects in 14 countries7 to support digital transformation programs, establishment of foundational ID systems, use of digital ID, and digital connectivity solutions.8 Other practices (Education; Health; Social Protection; Poverty; Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation, and other units) are leading the remaining 40 active and 6 pipeline projects focused on sector-specific applications (management information systems, payment systems, statistics, and land administration, among others). Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal are the top five countries benefiting from the digital governance/GovTech investments so far (about 40 percent of the 231 projects). The current portfolio includes GovTech projects in 22 countries, and most of these are multisectoral solutions mainly related to central government systems, public services, and the enabling environment. In Nigeria, half of the active and pipeline projects are supporting state-level reforms. 5. 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. 6. See World Bank. 2022. “An Overview of WBG Digital Governance and GovTech Projects.” Equitable Growth, Finance & Institutions Notes – Governance. Washington DC: World Bank. 7. DD GP projects include an IDA commitment annex that describes the contribution to the GovTech agenda. 8. 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 <<< 15 States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Program-for-Results (P162009) is supporting the implementation of the open government partnership (OGP) commitments at the state-level in Nigeria to strengthen fiscal transparency and accountability. The SFTAS has become a national program with all 36 states having achieved results and received performance-based grants so far (closing is in June 2023). In parallel, Nigeria Digital Identification for Development Project (P167183) activities focus on the establishment of a robust and inclusive digital foundational identification (ID) system that facilitates universal access to services. The new platform will issue free of charge a unique national ID number (NIN) with focus on vulnerable groups such as the poor, women, and rural communities. Additionally, the deduplication capacity of the National Identity Management System (NIMS) will be reinforced, together with back-end systems, telecommunication links, and human resources. Enrollment to the new platform is projected to commence in February 2023, first through field testing and piloting of new systems. The number of individuals assigned with a NIN based on successful national-level deduplication of biometric and biographic data is expected to reach 148 million (currently 89 million) by June 2024. The ID4D will promote financial inclusion and social safety nets and transform the delivery of public and private services by facilitating trusted transactions, including through digital ID authentication. Other large GovTech projects focus on social safety nets, FMIS, public investment management, e-procurement, and auditing systems. Digital Development teams are leading eight active and seven pipeline digital transformation projects covering country-specific priorities in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire (both an active and pipeline project), Gabon, Ghana, Mauritania, Mali, Republic of Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Other practices are contributing to most of these projects (e.g., Digital Development and Global Governance Practice teams collaborate in Central African Republic, Gabon, and Republic of Congo). Governance teams are leading a digital governance project in the Central African Republic and supporting mainly core government system modernization (FMIS, tax, e-procurement, HRMIS/payroll, and GovTech enablers such as legislation on data protection and ID management) and online services in Côte d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Niger, and Nigeria. In Liberia, a new project is under preparation—Governance Reform and Accountability Transformation (GREAT) Project—to support service delivery and invest more in the interoperability of core government systems, shared platforms, e-participation, and digital skills. Other cross-practice activities focus on new digital transformation initiatives to accelerate digitalization in key sectors including education, health, energy, agriculture, and social protection, as well as digital entrepreneurship, payment systems, statistics, and land administration. 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. Regarding the procurement reforms in AFW, the World Bank is financing investments and technical assistance in 17 countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria (Federal), Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Togo) with a total support of $385 million for various procurement components. The latest report on Procurement Policy Dialogue Framework (PPDF) in AFW (2022) presents the key areas of focus for the regional policy dialogue and provides an analytic foundation for country-specific engagements in the area of public procurement through 2025 and beyond. The Identification for Development (ID4D) and Digitizing Government to Person Payments (G2Px) initiatives are also helping several countries, including Nigeria and Togo, in building identification systems and in transitioning to digital G2P payments in a human-centered, rights-preserving, and trust-fostering manner. Also, GGP teams are assisting the Central African Republic and Cameroon governments in digitalizing G2P payments with funding from the G2Px, and ongoing projects in Gabon and the Republic of Congo have significant digital ID components. ID4D Diagnostics have been completed in 13 AFW countries (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo). EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES <<< 16 Based on the findings of the 2021 ID4D report and dataset, about 850 million people worldwide (about half of them 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 more than 470 million) live in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the AFW region, the number of people without an ID is about 216 million (45 percent of 478 million total population in 22 countries, based on 2021 ID4D data). Bridging this ID ownership gap is critical to ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. Hence, future projects could also focus more on supporting sustainable identification systems to realize the global commitment to “leave no one behind.” 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 Supervision9 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). 9. 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, AFW, 2022 2020 2022 Change GovTech Focus Areas DG/GovTech Projects Funding ($ million) Country Pop (m) % UP Tot Grp GTMI Grp GTMI Grp GTMI CGS PSD DCE GTE Completed Active Pipeline Tot Comm Tot DG Disb Benin C 0.345 B 0.678 £ £ 9 3 - 2 12.997 36.6 6 2 2 700 229 213 Burkina Faso¯ C 0.462 B 0.639 £ £ 15 6 3 2 22.101 19.6 8 5 2 1,005 538 328 Cabo Verde B 0.511 A 0.822 £ £ 2 2 - 1 0.588 0.7 1 2 - 53 25 21 Cameroon¯ C 0.334 C 0.392 ¥ £ 9 1 1 1 27.199 27.5 5 4 1 655 268 232 Central African Rep.¯ D 0.149 D 0.171 ¥ £ 9 2 2 2 5.457 58.6 4 3 2 314 149 97 Chad¯ D 0.176 D 0.179 ¥ £ 9 4 1 3 17.180 68.2 6 3 1 399 148 112 Congo, Republic of¯ D 0.245 D 0.165 ¥ ¤ 11 4 1 3 5.836 22.6 5 5 1 439 219 277 Côte d'Ivoire C 0.483 C 0.459 ¥ ¤ 12 3 - 2 27.478 28.3 7 5 1 1,367 678 483 Equatorial Guinea D 0.054 D 0.093 ¥ £ - - - - 1.634 40.9 - - - - - - Gabon D 0.249 D 0.137 ¥ ¤ 4 4 1 2 2.341 20.7 1 4 1 366 209 216 Gambia D 0.209 D 0.223 ¥ £ 8 3 - 2 2.640 35.0 6 2 1 271 136 84 Ghana B 0.661 B 0.534 ¥ ¤ 21 10 6 7 32.833 19.3 17 7 - 2,110 1,378 629 Guinea D 0.226 D 0.147 ¥ ¤ 7 3 1 - 13.532 40.0 7 1 1 495 401 67 Guinea-Bissau¯ D 0.212 D 0.204 ¥ ¤ 5 2 1 2 2.061 39.0 4 - 1 58 37 24 Liberia D 0.232 D 0.211 ¥ ¤ 10 4 - 1 5.193 55.0 6 3 1 155 108 81 Mali¯ C 0.258 C 0.405 ¥ £ 10 2 1 2 21.905 22.4 5 3 3 782 295 349 Mauritania D 0.203 D 0.187 ¥ ¤ 10 6 1 - 4.615 9.8 6 4 - 300 255 88 Niger¯ D 0.225 D 0.178 ¥ ¤ 9 2 - 3 25.253 45.9 6 4 - 767 374 106 Nigeria¯ C 0.466 B 0.504 £ £ 26 11 1 4 213.401 61.8 18 7 2 6,285 4,279 1,397 Senegal C 0.404 C 0.327 ¥ ¤ 12 4 1 3 16.877 19.1 10 3 1 898 526 334 Sierra Leone C 0.329 C 0.319 ¥ ¤ 9 4 2 2 8.421 27.1 6 4 - 272 141 108 Togo C 0.269 B 0.508 £ £ 2 1 - - 8.645 42.5 1 1 3 394 21 74 Totals 478.186 45.2 135 72 24 18,084 10,415 5,319 EQUITABLE GROWTH, FINANCE & INSTITUTIONS NOTES Source: World Bank data (231 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 enablers (GTE). Total commitments and disbursements are shown together with the total investments on digital government/GovTech solutions. AFW = West and Central Africa; DG = digital governance; GTMI = GovTech Maturity Index; Pop (m) = population (in millions), 2021 UN data; % 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 <<< 21 and birth registration rates), 2021 ID4D data. Fragile and conflict-affected economies are shown with (¯).