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9/23/2018 Digital government isn't working in the developing world. Here's why
https://theconversation.com/digital-government-isnt-working-in-the-developing-world-heres-why-94737 1/4
Auteur
Rania Fakhoury
Chercheur associé à LaRIFA, Université
Libanaise
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L’expertise universitaire, l’exigence journalistique
Digital government isn’t working in the developing world.
Here’swhy
11 septembre 2018, 22:12 CEST
The digital transformation of society has brought many immediate benefits: it’s
created new jobs and services, boosted efficiency and promoted innovation. But when
it comes to improving the way we govern, the story is not that simple.
It seems reasonable to imagine introducing digital information and communication
technologies into public sector organisations – known as “digital government” or “e-
government” – would have a beneficial impact on the way public services are
delivered. For instance, by enabling people to claim rebates for medical bills via a
government website.
When implemented well, e-government can reduce the cost of delivering government and public
services, and ensure better contact with citizens – especially in remote or less densely populated
areas. It can also contribute to greater transparency and accountability in public decisions, stimulate
the emergence of local e-cultures, and strengthen democracy.
Àlireaussi:WelcometoEEstonia,thetinynationthat'sleadingEuropeindigital
innovation
But implementing e-government is difficult and uptake among citizens can be slow. While Denmark –
the number one ranked country in online service delivery in 2018 – sees 89% of its citizens using e-
Digital government is primarily a social and political phenomenon driven by human behaviour. Shutterstock
11 septembre 2018, 22:12 CEST
Digital government isn’t working in the developing world.
Here’swhy
9/23/2018 Digital government isn't working in the developing world. Here's why
https://theconversation.com/digital-government-isnt-working-in-the-developing-world-heres-why-94737 2/4
services, many other countries are struggling. In Egypt, for example, uptake of e-services is just 2%.
I argue the implementation of digital government is a intractable problem for developing countries.
But there are small steps we can take right now to make the issues more manageable.
Fewdigitalgovernmentprojectssucceed
The nature of government is complex and deeply rooted in the interactions among social, political,
economic, organisational and global systems. At the same time, technology is itself a source of
complexity – its impacts, benefits and limitations are not yet widely understood by stakeholders.
Given this complexity, it’s not uncommon for many digital government projects to fail, and not just in
the developing world. In fact, 30% of projects are total failures. Another 50-60% are partial failures,
due to budget overruns and missed timing targets. Fewer than 20% are considered a success.
In 2016, government spending on technology worldwide was around US$430 billion, with a forecast
of US$476 billion by 2020. Failure rates for these kinds of projects are therefore a major concern.
What’sgonewrongindevelopingcountries?
A major factor contributing to the failure of most digital government efforts in developing countries
has been the “project management” approach. For too long, government and donors saw the
introduction of digital services as a stand-alone “technical engineering” problem, separate from
government policy and internal government processes.
But while digital government has important technical aspects, it’s primarily a social and political
phenomenon driven by human behaviour – and it’s specific to the local political and the country
context.
Change therefore depends mainly upon “culture change” – a long and difficult process that requires
public servants to engage with new technologies. They must also change the way they regard their
jobs, their mission, their activities and their interaction with citizens.
E-Government Development Index (EGDI) of global regions in 2018. United Nations E-Government Survey 2018
9/23/2018 Digital government isn't working in the developing world. Here's why
https://theconversation.com/digital-government-isnt-working-in-the-developing-world-heres-why-94737 3/4
Àlireaussi:NarendraModi,India'ssocialmediastar,strugglestogetgovernment
online
In developing countries, demand for e-services is lacking, both inside and outside the government.
External demand from citizens is often silenced by popular cynicism about the public sector, and by
inadequate channels for communicating demand. As a result, public sector leaders feel too little
pressure from citizens for change.
For example, Vietnam’s attempt in 2004 to introduce an Education Management Information System
(EMIS) to track school attendance, among other things, was cancelled due to lack of buy-in from
political leaders and senior officials.
Designing and managing a digital government program also requires a high level of administrative
capacity. But developing countries most in need of digital government are also the ones with the least
capacity to manage the process thus creating a risk of “administrative overload”.
Howcanwestarttosolvethisproblem?
Approaches to digital government in developing countries should emphasise the following elements.
Localleadershipandownership
In developing countries, most donor driven e-government projects attempt to transplant what was
successful elsewhere, without adapting to the local culture, and without adequate support from those
who might benefit from the service.
Of the roughly 530 information technology projects funded by the World Bank from 1995 to 2015,
27% were evaluated as moderately unsatisfactory or worse.
The swiftest solution for change is to ensure projects have buy-in from locals – both governments and
citizens alike.
Publicsectorreform
Government policy, reflected in legislation, regulations and social programs, must be reformulated to
adapt to new digital tools.
The success of digital government in Nordic countries results from extensive public sector reforms. In
the United States, investments in information technology by police departments, which lowered crime
rates, were powered by significant organisational changes.
In developing countries, little progress has been made in the last two decades in reforming the public
sector.
Acceptthatchangewillbeslow
9/23/2018 Digital government isn't working in the developing world. Here's why
https://theconversation.com/digital-government-isnt-working-in-the-developing-world-heres-why-94737 4/4
eGovernment Digital developing countries digital governance
Perhaps the most easily overlooked lesson about digital government is that it takes a long time to
achieve the fundamental digitisation of a public sector. Many developing countries are attempting to
achieve in the space of a few decades what took centuries in what is now the developed world. The
Canadian International Development Agency found:
InGreatBritain,forexample,itwasonlyin1854thataseriesofreformswaslaunched
aimedatconstructingameritbasedpublicserviceshapedbyruleoflaw.Ittookafurther30
yearstoeliminatepatronageasthemodusoperandiofpublicsectorstaffing.
Àlireaussi:'Digitalbydefault'–efficienteGovernmentorcostlyflop?
Lookingtothefuture
Effective strategies for addressing the problem of e-government in developing countries should
combine technical infrastructure with social, organisational and policy change.
The best way forward is to acknowledge the complexities inherent in digital government and to break
them into more manageable components. At the same time, we must engage citizens and leaders alike
to define social and economic values.
Local leaders in developing countries, and their donor partners, require a long-term perspective.
Fundamental digital government reform demands sustained effort, commitment and leadership over
many generations. Taking the long view is therefore an essential part of a global socio-economic plan.
