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Government CIO Outlook | Thursday, February 25, 2021
The governments are using digital technologies to offer better services to the citizens during emergencies like COVID-19.
FREMONT, CA : Countries struggling to solve the pandemic's problems have a void between their IT infrastructures and policies and the solutions needed. Governments, which have managed to commit resources to improve the sound, effective IT systems, are now considering it much easier to provide people and businesses with digital services.
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During "normal" times, efforts to build, deploy, and manage IT systems are paying off in the pandemic, allowing governments to respond rapidly and have the necessary solutions as part of the response. When things do not go as smoothly as expected, governments that have continuously built and improved digital systems respond better to the emergencies like COVID-19, such as when the number of visitors momentarily triggers a website crash or when there are not enough remote access licenses to support all interested parties simultaneously.
They were able to reallocate existing information and resources to the response quickly. Digital government services' ability to supply emergency support is strongly linked to in-house knowledge of process adaptation without sacrificing security, interoperability of the systems in place, and management style that facilitates development.
In Uruguay, due to platforms that have been built and enhanced for more than ten years, Plan Ceibal can deliver online education to young children throughout the country when schools are closed. The country's digital government agency (AGESIC) had established a digital strategy when COVID-19 appeared, with 90 percent of government services available online from start to finish. Moreover, over 90 percent of the population of Uruguay has access to the Internet.
North Macedonia also has stable national programs in place, including the National Bank's treasury system, electronic transfers, single treasury account, and the tax system. As one of the COVID-19 emergency services, a project using contingency financing from a recently approved project was quickly prepared by the government and the World Bank. To allow online applications from businesses, automated collection, and announcements of financial assistance to qualified firms, a digital solution was necessary.
In unforeseen situations, the emphasis should not be on developing digital services, as this poses substantial opportunity costs. Instead, it is necessary to work with governments across regions and revenue levels to build stable, interoperable IT systems and help them develop their digital strategies to deliver efficient services in regular times while retaining flexibility and vision to respond to exceptional circumstances.
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