BACKGROUND
Georgia has a proven track record of how technology, process and organisational reengineering and reduction of administrative burdens can revitalize a country and save it from the brink of collapse and endemic corruption. Since November 2003, Georgia has through its continuous reform programmes increased productivity and transparency of the public sector with limited resources, improved access to services even in remote areas, lowered administrative burdens, and practically eliminated corruption in the delivery of public services across all channels. Central authorities and shared services have been a key driver for accessibility.
The period of 2004 to 2014, in particular, was characterised by a politically-driven will and initiatives transforming the public sector. With popular support, Georgia has managed to create a solid legal framework and ICT foundation. Strategically, the focus has been on transparency, accountability, efficient, and effective public service delivery. The role of ICT in underpinning the strategic objectives is therefore helpful to understand the Georgian context and eGovernment outcomes. eGovernment in Georgia can be divided in two main periods: fragmented and uncoordinated use of ICT between 2004 and 2014 followed by attempts to introduce a more formalised approach and, a coordinated approach since 2014.
Recently, Georgia increased the focus on developing capacity at regional and local levels, including the decentralisation of service production and delivery. The country ranks above average on all indexes for its region and level of income and is a global and regional leader for ease of doing business and cybersecurity. Georgia had a 2020 UNDESA EGDI Ranking of 65, with an OSI of 0.5882, a TII of 0.6923, and a HCI of 0.8717. In the EPI, Georgia ranked 80 with a score of 0.6429. Georgia has improved its UNDESA EGDI scores across the board, but developments have been relatively slower than its global peers since 2014, where the country’s EGDI ranking was 56, and 49 for the EPI, thus highlighting the importance of a new Strategy for the approach to ICT in the public sector.
OBJECTIVES
The objective is to develop a Digital Transformation Strategy of Georgia 2021-2025. The key aim of the project is to develop a 36-month strategy for the digital transformation of the public sector service production and delivery in Georgia and Georgian society at large. The project will build on past initiatives and success through a new Strategy. Upon completion, the strategy developed will set the strategic direction for the Government of Georgia and its digital transformation in the coming years.
The project part of the Digital Governance Agency’s (DGA) work programme and is partially funded by the United Nations Development Programme in Georgia.
ACTIVITIES
The project activities include:
Establish the Georgian state of affairs and global best practice.
Develop the Georgian eGovernment / Digital Transformation Strategy 2021-2025.
Carry stakeholder consultation (online survey and virtual workshop)
Final activity report.
OUTCOMES
The project outcomes include:
Georgian eGovernment / Digital Transformation Strategy 2021-2024.
Consultation workshop including workshop agenda, invitation letter, slide deck, plus summary report.