{"id":159759,"date":"2021-07-30T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-30T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=159759"},"modified":"2021-07-30T06:05:49","modified_gmt":"2021-07-30T11:05:49","slug":"snapshot-2020-update-of-e-government-in-the-caribbean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2021\/07\/snapshot-2020-update-of-e-government-in-the-caribbean\/","title":{"rendered":"Snapshot: 2020 update of e-Government in the Caribbean"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We examine the results of the latest global e-government survey, which includes 16 Caribbean countries, and compare the 2020 results with those recorded in previous exercises.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In 2020. the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA<\/a>) published the results of its latest e-government survey, which covers all 193 United Nations member states. The exercise included 16 Caribbean countries, which are listed in Exhibit 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Exhibit 1: Caribbean countries included in the 2020 EGDI (Source – UNDESA)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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In this article, as we have done for the past several editions of the survey results, we highlight and discuss the performance of the Caribbean countries included in the most recent exercise, and compare it with the results from assessments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Determining the EGDI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The United Nations e-Government Development Index (EGDI) measures the willingness and capacity of governments to use ICTs to deliver public services by assessing national websites and how e-government policies and strategies are applied in general and in specific sectors for the delivery of essential services. Similar to previous years, the EGDI consists of three indices, as outlined in Exhibit 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Exhibit 2: Summary of the measures that comprised the main indices of the 2020 EGDI (Source: UN-DESA)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The OSI was determined through the use of a 148-point questionnaire that covered a broad range of topics, including open government data, e-participation, mobile-government and whole-of-government approach, along with key services across the Sustainable Development Goals domains, such as health, education, social protection, gender equality, and decent work and employment. It should be noted that with each edition of the EGDI survey, the questions tend to be adjusted to ensure that they are relevant and aligned with government trends and evolution globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also highlighted that the indicators that are measured under TII have been adjusted since the 2018 exercise. For the 2020 assessment, fixed telephone subscriptions is no longer being measured. The current focus of the TII appears to be on internet service delivery, which can occur via fixed and\/or wireless means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scope and quality of online services; the development status of telecommunication infrastructure; and the inherent human capital, represent what experts consider are the most important contributors to optimal e-government. The scores for each of those indices are valued between 0 and 1, and the weighted average of the three are used to arrive at the EGDI for each of the 193 countries examined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How did Caribbean countries perform in the 2020 survey?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The 2020 EGDI results can be considered a mixed bag, as although the EGDI scores did improve for most countries, the overall ranking of virtually all countries dropped since the 2018 assessment, as shown in Exhibit 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Exhibit 3: Comparison of 2018 and 2020 EDGIs and ranking for select Caribbean countries (Source: UN DESA)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Consistently, and within the Caribbean grouping, Barbados is the highest-ranked country at 62 out of 193, with an EGDI of 0.7279, which although is a slightly better score since 2018 (0.7229), it dropped 16 places from 46th. Following Barbados is the Bahamas, at 73, and a EGDI of 0.7017, and Trinidad and Tobago, at 81, and a score of 0.6785. However, comparing the results for the Caribbean group in 2018, Saint Kitts and Nevis dropped from second to fifth, and also recorded a lower score in 2020 than it did in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the other end of the list, the lowest ranked Caribbean countries have remained the same: Belize, at 136 and a score of 0.4548; Cuba, at 140 and a score of 0.4439; and Haiti, at 180 and a score of 0.2723. Unlike Belize and Cuba, which recorded improved EGDI scores, Haiti\u2019s score dropped from 0.3047 in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a point of reference, Exhibit 4 lists the top 10 ranked countries globally in 2020. Based on the scores and ranking, the Caribbean region is still far behind. No Caribbean country is among the top 50, and only five countries are ranked within the top half of the listing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Exhibit 4: Top 10 ranked countries globally in 2020 EGDI exercise (Source: UN DESA)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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In breaking down the EGDI scores each Caribbean country received, Exhibit 5 shows the scores for the sub-indices that comprise the EGDI. With the exception of the Dominican Republic, all the other countries received their highest scores for HCI, which covers matters related to education, and thus the capability of citizens to adequately engage e-government systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Exhibit 5: Breakdown of the 2020 EGDI scoring by the three main sub-indices for select Caribbean countries (Source: UN DESA)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The top three Caribbean countries with respect to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n