Assessing UNDP's Global Efforts To Digitalise Public Services: Key Insights And Future Outlook

The UNDP's Independent Evaluation Office recently assessed the organisation's support for digitalising public services from 2015-2023. The evaluation revealed three key findings:

1. Foundation Building:

• UNDP played a crucial role in developing basic digital infrastructure like digital IDs, payment systems, and civil registries
• Notable successes include biometric ID systems in Malawi and vaccine tracking in India
• However, challenges remain with interoperability, funding, and digital inclusion

1. Sector-Specific Success:

• Digital initiatives aligned with specific sectors showed better results
• India's eVIN (electronic vaccine tracker) demonstrated how comprehensive approaches combining policy reform, partnerships, and user-centric design can succeed
• Long-term, coordinated efforts proved more effective than isolated technical solutions

1. Organisational Readiness:

• UNDP is well-positioned to promote inclusive digitalisation due to its global presence
• Internal digital capacity building and partnerships were valuable during the pandemic
• However, there's a gap between high-level digital ambitions and operational resources

The evaluation emphasised the need to balance technological advancement with social equity, particularly addressing digital divides in access, affordability, skills, and digital rights.

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