Stage 1. Online publication of state information

Stage 2. Provision of expanded information on the activities of government bodies, interaction between the government and citizens through the use of electronic forms uploaded to the portal

Stage 3. Two-way interactive cooperation between the government and citizens, gradual involvement of citizens in the process of public administration using information technologies (electronic voting, filling in tax returns, as well as applications for licenses, financial transactions)

Stage 4. Coordination of processes within and between state institutions based on digital solutions, full digital participation of citizens in the process of public administration

According to the UN estimates, the global average e-Government Development Index (EGDI) continues to grow, reaching 0.6 in 2020 compared to 0.55 in 2018. According to the results of the study for 2020, 36% (69) states have high EGDI rates, 31% (59) states scored average EGDI rates, 29% (57) countries reached very high EGDI rates, 4% (8) countries have low EGDI rates (the share decreased from 8% to 4% from 2018 to 2020).

The UN e-Government Development Index is published by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) every two years, starting in 2001. All of the 193 UN Member States are audited. The composite index includes three indicators:

• telecommunications Infrastructure Index (TII), based on data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU);
• human Capital Index (HCI) based on UNESCO data;
• online Services Index (OSI) based on the DESA sociological survey.

Based on the results of the assessment, countries are divided into 4 categories: countries with a very high EGDI rate (0.75 – 1), a high EGDI rate (0.5 – 0.75), an average EGDI rate (0.25 – 0.5), a low EGDI rate (0 – 0.25).

More than 80% of UN Member States digitize public services for citizens. The most common digital services are: registration of a new business, obtaining a birth and death certificate, registration of a building permit, payment for utilities. 95% of countries have a government online portal with basic search and feedback functions.

Guided by the principles of SDG 16 on improving the transparency and accountability of public institutions, governments are actively using digital platforms to organize public procurement and employment. Since 2018, the number of countries posting open vacancies on the Internet has increased by 30%. More than 70% (138 countries) publish procurement/bidding results online, 65% (125) have specialized e-procurement platforms.

The leading countries in digital government development are Australia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Russia ranks 39th (0.8176) and belongs to the group of countries with a very high rate of electronic participation.

Despite the progress made, the UN experts admit the existing digital divide both within and between regions. Limited financial resources, lack of infrastructure and strategy for digital transformation of public administration, as well as low professional level of responsible persons and stakeholders are the key factors constraining digital development in developing countries.

The digital transformation of public administration requires new approaches, different from the initiatives related to e-government. The priorities of digital transformation in modern conditions are: the introduction of platform solutions, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technologies, increasing the digital maturity of the population, the provision of digital services based on data analysis tools.

Digital government is open and accessible to all stakeholders. Digital platforms are used not only to inform, but also to involve citizens in the decision-making process and to overcome administrative barriers in inter-agency cooperation.

The UN e-Participation Index (EPART) includes an assessment of three components:

• e-information: ensuring participation by providing citizens with public information and access to information on demand or without it;
• e-hearings: involvement of citizens in discussions and decision-making on public policies and services;
• e-decision-making: enabling citizens to participate directly in decision-making.

Since 2016, the evaluated countries are classified into one of four groups based on their respective EPI values: low EPI countries (0 – 0.25), medium EPI countries (0.25 – 0.5), high EPI countries (0.5 – 0.75), very high EPI countries (0.75 – 1). The countries with the highest index of e-participation in 2020 are Austria, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea, Estonia, New Zealand, Singapore, the United States, Japan.

The results of the 2020 study show an increase in the number of government portals with feedback, voting and commenting functions. However, many countries still lack the digital resources to provide inclusive services and civil engagement.

Improving the efficiency and transparency of the public sector has been made possible by the introduction of information technology and the conversion of public services to electronic format. The next step is to use digital technologies to create more open, inclusive, and web-based governance models, as well as a culture of data-driven decision-making.

OECD Recommendations for the Development of a National Digital Transformation Strategy

Transparency and Engagement

1. Ensure transparency, openness and inclusiveness of government processes and operations

2. Engagement and participation of public, private and civil society stakeholders in decision-making processes

3. Creating a data-driven management culture

4. Risk management approach to addressing digital security and privacy issues

Management and Coordination

5. Leadership and political commitment to the strategy

6. Coherent use of digital technologies across policy areas and levels of government

7. Effective organisational and governance frameworks

8. International cooperation with other countries

Implementation Support

9. Clear business cases for implementation of digital projects

10. Institutional capacities to manage and monitor projects’ implementation

11. Procurement of digital technologies based on assessment of existing assets

12. Ensure that general and sector-specific legal and regulatory frameworks allow digital opportunities to be seized

OECD experts identify six key characteristics of digital government:

• Digitalization of the entire decision-making process;
• Data analytics as a basis for policymaking;
• Government as a platform (formation of a single digital ecosystem);
• Open government;
• Dtate policy in accordance with the needs of citizens;
• Proactive provision of public services.

The OECD E-Leaders Handbook on the Governance of Digital Government presents recommendations for digital transformation and increasing digital maturity of the public sector, based on the experience of the organization's member states and partner countries.

The Handbook identifies three main factors that need to be taken into account in the development and implementation of digital projects.

• Contextual Factors. It is necessary to determine the principles and mechanisms of project management in accordance with the political, socio-economic, technological, geographical characteristics of the country.
• Institutional Models. Openness, transparency, orderliness and coherence of organizational and management processes are crucial for the sustainable and effective digitalization of the public sector.
• Policy Levers are rigid or soft tools that policymakers use to support the sound and coherent implementation of a digital transformation strategy, including strategic planning, financial management mechanisms, regulatory frameworks, and standardization.

Digital Government develops the concept of e-government, uses digital data to proactively provide socially oriented public services.

There are six main components of a digital government:

• Digital infrastructure;
• Digital literacy;
• Digital communications;
• Active use of information technologies;
• Legal regulation of the digital environment;
• Information security and digital rights.

The key elements of the digital architecture of the government include a single government information portal, a system of joint management of data from the registers of different state structures; the provision of public services in the format of "one window"; an open database of digital solutions, innovative systems for collecting and analyzing data, ensuring cybersecurity and reliable protection of personal information.

According to the World Bank methodology, the criteria for assessing the effectiveness of digital transformation are:

• Time of service provision;
• The popularity of digital channels of interaction with the state;
• Quality of digitalization of public services;
• Number of requests automatically processed;
• Digital literacy rate of the population;
• Reducing financial costs;
• Reducing fraud and corruption.

Priority areas for increasing the digital maturity of government and public bodies are also:

• Aggregation and systematization of scattered data to improve the delivery of public services;
• Establishing safe and flexible technological infrastructure;
• Building professional capacity, implementation of personnel policy with emphasis on digital competencies;
• Interaction with representatives of the scientific and business communities for the exchange of best practices in the field of digitalization and innovation;
• Periodic optimization of work processes, maximum use of labor and technological potential;
• Development of the digital ecosystem in accordance with the needs of users of public services.

GovTech is a digital approach to modernizing the public sector that can improve the quality of public service delivery, simplify interaction with civil society, and improve the efficiency of public administration. The concept of GovTech can be understood as a set of very different areas of activity: from the formation of a "smart" urban environment to the use of digital tools to combat crime.

GovTech relies on four main elements:

• Implementation of digital platforms based on big data analytics;
• Development of public, customer-centric digital services;
• Direct multichannel interaction between the state and citizens;
• Creation of legal and organizational conditions for the introduction of innovations in the public sector.

In practical terms, GovTech is a set of activities aimed at improving the efficiency of public administration and processes in four main categories:

• Digital These include, but are not limited to, decision-making platforms, digital identity, e-voting, G2G and G2B services (e-taxes, banking, etc.).
• Smart city: urban planning, waste management, transport and monitoring systems, energy saving solutions.
• CrimeTech: identity recognition systems, cybersecurity solutions, e-courts, digital anti-money laundering initiatives.
• Public administration: educational platforms, healthcare systems, solutions in the field of sports and entertainment, agriculture technologies.

GovTech has enormous potential, but turning digital initiatives into tangible, measurable and consistent results in most countries remains a challenge. The movement towards GovTech requires a unified nationwide approach to digital transformation, the creation of a transparent system of management and decision-making, the use of the potential of public-private partnerships to attract competencies, innovation and private sector investment.

To assess the degree of “maturity” of GovTech, World Bank experts developed the GovTech Maturity Index (GTMI): The State of Public Sector Digital Transformation. The index is based on an assessment of the results of digital transformation in 198 countries around the world. In addition, the report includes an overview of best practices in the use of digital tools in the public sector.

According to the results of the study, in 43 countries, digital transformation occupies the most important place in the strategic agenda of the state, as well as the successful implementation of numerous innovative projects. Among the leaders of digital transformation are Australia, Austria, India, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, South Africa. At the same time, 33 countries show minimal attention to initiatives in the field of GovTech. The digital divide is most pronounced in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Despite increased investment in digital infrastructure and the vigorous development of government policies in this area, digital maturity remains insufficient in most countries: 47% of countries lack strategies to develop digital skills among the population.

The main barriers remain:

• The lack of political will and regulation on the part of the State;
• Underdeveloped digital infrastructure;
• Low level of digital literacy of the population as well as civil servants;
• Ineffective or insufficient funding.

To increase digital maturity and adapt to the new "normality", WB experts recommend conducting an audit of state approaches to digital transformation: focus on improving the compatibility of existing information systems, creating multifunctional platforms, creating a culture of effective big data management, developing the necessary digital skills among the population.