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Ethiopia Remains Near Bottom in Latest UN E-government Index

3 weeks ago | 2 min read

By Ayu Beteseb

Ethiopia was ranked 24th from the bottom out of 193 countries by a United Nations E-government development report released last week.

While the country climbed 10 positions from its previous rank of 179 in the 13th edition of the report, it remains categorized in the lower-middle tier with a minimum first-level rating.

The E-government survey report also highlights interesting differences between different regions, with most European countries grouped very high in the E-Government Development Index. In contrast, African countries remain around the bottom. With most low-income countries having underdeveloped metrics to evaluate the success of their digital government efforts, impact assessment remains limited.

However, the report highlights Ethiopia’s progress, particularly in the development of the National Identity Program (Fayda), which aims to issue 90 million digital IDs within five years. Additionally, initiatives like the UNHCR and MasterCard project to verify refugees’ identities and ensure their access to entitlements, as well as the Digital Green project, which equips farmers with essential information to boost crop yields, are recognized as promising advancements.

A close relationship between sustainable development goals (SDGs) and digital development is underlined in the report, with a focus on promoting just, peaceful, and inclusive societies and building effective, inclusive, and accountable institutions. Around 11 principles of effective governance, which include transparency, competence, and independent oversight, are used to assess institution building.

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