The Commonwealth of Dominica (not to be confused with the Dominican Republic) is a small island nation in the Caribbean. It is a 750 square kilometres Eastern Caribbean island with a population of more than 72,000 (2022.)The country is known as the ‘Nature Isle of the Caribbean’ and is home to an expansive array of flora and fauna, but not so much for digital governance, despite efforts and international support. Let’s see why digital Dominica isn’t that digital.
Why a decline in EGDI values?
One of the first things noticeable about digital Dominica in the UN’s 2022 E-government survey is the decline in EGDI values.
But, despite having a middle Online Service Index (OSI), Dominica boasts high values in both Telecommunication Infrastructure Index (TII) and Human Capital Index (HCI).
In fact, Dominica has such a huge focus on developing the infrastructure, that in 2023, the partnership with decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) Tron marked a significant step in that direction.
This collaboration aims to develop the country’s digital ID infrastructure, with Tron being designated as the national blockchain. The project includes the creation of the Dominica Digital Identity (DDID), a “Dominica Metaverse,” and a digital currency named “Dominica Coin” (DMC). This initiative would allow Dominican citizens to use DMC and other Tron-based tokens for payments.
Despite these advancements, the EGDI values of Dominica (0.5789) remain high, but there’s a concerning trend of decline, ranking 109th out of 193 countries assessed. This signifies a drop of 10 places compared to 2020, indicating potential challenges in sustaining or improving its digital governance capabilities.
The EPI value (reflecting the government’s efforts to engage citizens) is notably low at 0.0909 – falling below both the world and Caribbean averages. The specific concern lies in the drastic fall in the E-Participation Index, where Dominica ranks 183rd out of 193 countries, losing 41 places in just two years.
This, too, suggests limited collaboration between the government and the public in shaping policies and governance and using public services.
Digital governance support by UNDP and the World Bank
Digital Dominica has had huge support from international organizations, specifically the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank.
Following the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017, UNDP established a project office in Dominica to aid the government in immediate response, recovery, and reconstruction efforts.
One notable initiative, the “Work Online Dominica” program, started by the Government of Dominica’s Ministry of Public Works and the Digital Economy in collaboration with UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, was particularly successful (even though the website has some issues not allowing people to apply.)
This initiative introduced a 12-week training program to provide an alternative pathway for employment. The whole idea is to help build skills for freelancing opportunities in the gig economy.
Since its inception, the UNDP portfolio has expanded significantly, encompassing diverse projects that contribute to various facets of Dominica’s development, including digital transformation initiatives in the country.
Digital economy development project
The Caribbean Digital Transformation Project is a digital economy development initiative financed by the World Bank.
This project represents a(nother) key component of Dominica’s broader digital transformation efforts, with a focus on digital services, technologies, and skills across the country.
As part of this initiative, the UNDP Chief Digital Office took a proactive step by conducting a digital readiness assessment in Dominica. This assessment played an important role in framing digital governance, identifying opportunities, and understanding challenges.
Building upon the insights gained from the digital readiness assessment, UNDP further extended its support to digital Dominica by mobilizing technical assistance. This assistance aimed at collaboratively developing a national digital transformation strategy for the country.
Final thoughts about Digital Dominica
Dominica’s efforts in digital infrastructure have indeed introduced innovative solutions. However, the declining EGDI and EPI values suggest areas that need careful attention for sustained progress in its digital governance journey.
I believe it’s crucial for Dominica to address these challenges proactively. One key aspect is reinforcing strategies for citizen engagement.
Actively involving citizens in the decision-making process and seeking their feedback can contribute significantly to the success of digital initiatives.
Refining digital service delivery is another critical consideration. While the infrastructure is innovative, optimizing how services are designed and delivered is also very important.
By mitigating the factors contributing to the decline in EGDI values in 2022, digital Dominica can ensure sustained progress in its digital governance journey.
Sources:
https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/en-us/Data/Country-Information/id/50-Dominica
https://www.undp.org/barbados?search=dominica
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=DM
