Page 28 - Service Delivery Review

E-Government

Connectivity Improves Amid Digital

Divides, Shows UN E-Government Survey

Released at the tail-end of September 2022, the providing digital services in the education sector has
latest edition of the United Nations E-Government increased by 22 per cent, from 104 to 114 countries.
Survey – The Future of Digital Government shows Widespread adoption of digital solutions in response
improvements in online connectivity to how countries to the COVID-19 pandemic has paved the way for
have marshalled resources to mitigate the impact this development, albeit with uneven progress across
of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey report also different regions and income levels.
notes that digital inclusivity continues to be a cause
for concern worldwide. According to the survey, “The Survey results highlight that
many countries and municipalities sought to navigate
the multiple crises of the past two years by staying Governments have remained focused
committed to pursuing digital government strategies
— many implemented specifically to address the on developing digital services and
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, many have infrastructures, despite the global
fallen short of providing adequate online services.
challenges of recent years. Fulfilling
Overall improvements
our vision for leaving no one behind
Denmark, Finland and the Republic of Korea lead the will require us to leave no one offline
2022 digital government ranking of the 193 United
Nations Member States. The runners-up are New in the hybrid digital future,”
Zealand, Sweden, Iceland, Australia, Estonia, the
Netherlands, the United States, the United Kingdom, said Mr. Li Junhua, United Nations Under-Secretary-
Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Japan and General for Economic and Social Affairs.
Malta. The scope and quality of online services,
the status of telecommunication infrastructure and The 2022 Survey shows that digital technologies
existing human capacity are considered in scoring allowed governments to play a critical role in
the surveyed countries. addressing the challenges surrounding the COVID-19
pandemic. All regions implemented digital measures,
On average, the survey shows improvements in with a majority focusing on distance learning and
the E-Government Development Index (EGDI), vaccination services and others also providing
which tracks improvements in telecommunications telehealth and online scheduling for medical tests.
infrastructure and human capacity development. The proportion of countries offering all four types of
Overall, 68.91 per cent of Member States are at the services is highest in Europe (90 per cent), followed
high or very high EGDI level, with eight countries by Asia and the Americas (71 per cent each), Oceania
moving to the high EGDI group for the first time: (65 per cent) and Africa (40 per cent).
Belize, Côte d’Ivoire, Guyana, Lebanon, Nepal,
Rwanda, Tajikistan and Zambia. South Africa’s ranking

Leaving no one offline While still in the lead in the African region, South

Africa shows a decline in the three indices over
While the data shows general increases in online the twelve-year period that is covered by the 2022
services for vulnerable groups, evidence of pervasive E-Government Survey. The latest edition of the
digital divides is stark. The countries with the lowest survey puts South Africa at 65 out of the total of 193
EGDI rankings are those in special and developing countries in terms of the EGDI (which is inclusive of
situations. A range of human-centred issues related Human Capital Development, Online Service and
to access, affordability, general abilities, digital Telecommunications measures) and is ranked at 61
literacy and language are explored in the 2022 for the E-Participation Index. In 2003, South Africa
Survey. The recent Transforming Education Summit was respectively ranked at 45 and 41 in the EGDI and
also highlighted the role of digital learning. The EPI.
2022 Survey shows that the number of countries

28 SERVICE DELIVERY REVIEW | Volume 15 • No. 2 of 2022/2023