Antigua and Barbuda targets complete digitalization of its public services by 2030

Suggestions from UNDP’s Digital Readiness Evaluation in Antigua and Barbuda have impressed the nation’s objective to digitally remodel all public companies by 2030

The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda has dedicated to a whole digitalization of the nation’s public companies by 2030. This determination comes following the completion of UNDP’s Digital Readiness Evaluation (DRA), which units out actionable insights and suggestions to form the nation’s nationwide digital technique in direction of the acceleration of the Sustainable Improvement Targets (SDGs).

Protecting 5 key pillars of digital transformation, the DRA targeted on authorities, regulation, infrastructure, the digital financial system, and folks. Insights had been mixed with suggestions from a variety of stakeholders – together with via a public survey – to supply a complete diagnostic of the nation’s digital progress.

The DRA highlighted that whereas the nation’s progress on digital transformation is commendable, there’s a rising demand for enhancing public companies supply via digitalization. As an illustration, establishing protected and inclusive on-line portals to facilitate the registration course of for driver’s licenses, in addition to beginning and marriage certificates.

“Our ambition is to rework Antigua and Barbuda’s authorities and financial system. We’re aiming for the total digitalization of our public companies by 2030, and in so doing, place the nation as a hub for e-commerce and e-business,” stated Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda.

Mr. Browne has been on the forefront of this imaginative and prescient, notably the ambition to rework Barbuda right into a technologically superior neighborhood to make sure nobody is left behind. In step with UNDP’s people-centric strategy to digital transformation, the nation’s effort might be targeted on guaranteeing entry for folks with disabilities and people residing in rural areas. As a bunch of the 4th Worldwide Convention on Small Island Growing States, Antigua and Barbuda is main the best way to make sure digital meets the wants of individuals in small islands with distinctive contexts and geographies.

In November 2023, UNDP mentioned the outcomes of the DRA with a gaggle of stakeholders throughout a participatory workshop, geared at additional defining the nation’s nationwide imaginative and prescient for digital transformation. Hosted by the Barbados and Jap Caribbean UN nation crew, the workshop introduced collectively near 50 individuals from authorities, non-public sector, civil society and the UN to trade concepts and description suggestions for shifting ahead.

“The advantages of digital transformation have gotten extra evident every day, and due to this fact we have now began to implement transformative digital initiatives and interventions throughout all areas of Authorities,” stated Isoke Perry, appearing director of the e-Authorities Division on the Ministry of Info Communication Applied sciences (ICTs), Utilities and Vitality.

“In preparation for the uptake of extra software program and digital applied sciences, our digitization unit has been helping varied authorities workplaces with digitizing paper-based data, reminiscent of from the Passport Workplace, the Treasury Division, amongst others. This may drastically enhance workflow, processing instances, resulting in quicker and extra data-informed selections,” Ms. Perry stated.

“Because the host of the upcoming 4^th Worldwide Convention on Small Island Growing States (SIDS) in Could 2024, Antigua and Barbuda is properly positioned to steer the digital growth agenda for small islands within the Caribbean and all over the world. At UNDP, we imagine taking a rights-based and inclusive strategy to this essential agenda will guarantee supply of society-wide influence for everybody,” stated Limya Eltayeb, UNDP Resident Consultant for Barbados and the Jap Caribbean.

 As Antigua and Barbuda refines its digital technique and imaginative and prescient for 2030, UNDP will proceed its help, together with in serving to the nation to form a sturdy digital public infrastructure with acceptable governance and safeguards to allow the availability of varied companies at scale.