In recent years, the rapid digital evolution has become essential for governments worldwide, enhancing public service delivery and boosting economic development. Despite Jordan’s commendable efforts under its National Digital Transformation Strategy and Implementation Plan (2021-2025), access to digital services remains considerably low. A recent report, authored by Christopher Tullis from the World Bank and Jordan’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, assesses the country’s digital public infrastructure (DPI) ecosystem. The report sheds light on critical areas such as digital identity, electronic signatures, public key infrastructure, data centers, and data protection frameworks, indicating an urgent need for improvements to achieve broader adoption and efficiency.
Current State and Challenges
Limited Adoption of Sanad Platform
Currently, only about 1.4 million Jordanians use the Sanad platform, which integrates biometrics to provide secure access to public services. This low adoption rate highlights significant challenges that need to be addressed for Jordan to fully leverage its DPI capabilities. The report identifies the need for a trusted, people-centric ecosystem that includes all residents, irrespective of their nationality. This diverse inclusion is particularly crucial in a country that hosts a substantial number of non-Jordanians and refugees, who must also benefit from efficient digital public services.
The Sanad platform’s limited usage points towards broader systemic challenges. There is a necessity to expand the legal identity infrastructure to encompass non-Jordanians and collaborate with organizations like the UNHCR to facilitate ID issuance for refugees. The existing national ID system, if integrated with these external systems, could ensure more inclusive digital identity verification. Furthermore, expanding consultations to address adoption barriers and improve features such as single sign-on could significantly enhance the user experience. This would encourage wider participation, including among foreign residents and refugees, resulting in a more inclusive digital environment.
Need for Comprehensive Digital ID and Trust Services
For Jordan to achieve comprehensive digital transformation, digital ID and trust services need significant improvements. One critical recommendation from the report is the need for broader consultations to understand and address adoption barriers. This includes increasing the number of accredited certificate authorities that can issue digitally verifiable documents, thus making electronic signatures more accessible and trustworthy for Jordanians. Additionally, enhancing the usability of digital ID systems is crucial. Public education campaigns about the benefits and functionality of platforms like Sanad need to be continuously implemented, ensuring residents are well-informed and confident about utilizing digital services.
Addressing legal and structural barriers is also essential for fostering a secure and reliable DPI ecosystem. Revising the Personal Data Protection Law to align with best practices in data minimization, privacy impact assessments, and other protective measures is a step in the right direction. Establishing robust consent management mechanisms and enhancing data sharing systems could further fortify data protection policies. Furthermore, deploying advanced techniques like data anonymization and tokenization would ensure that personal data remains secure, thereby building public trust and encouraging the use of digital services.
Enhancing Legal Frameworks and Public Education
Expanding Legal Identity Structure
To build a holistic digital public infrastructure, Jordan needs to take proactive steps in expanding its legal identity structure. By integrating the national ID system with the UNHCR’s system, Jordan can ensure comprehensive ID issuance for refugees. This integration would streamline identity verification processes and ensure that all residents can access public services seamlessly. Facilitating extensive consultations is another essential measure. Understanding the specific challenges and resistance points within different population groups would enable the government to tailor solutions effectively, ensuring that digital ID systems are widely accepted and utilized.
Moreover, simplifying sign-on features could make it significantly easier for users to access and navigate various digital services. Innovative features that offer a seamless user experience need to be prioritized. Additionally, public education campaigns play a vital role in highlighting the benefits of digital ID systems, reducing skepticism, and fostering a more informed user base. Continuous engagement and transparent communication about the functionalities and security of platforms like Sanad would prove instrumental in boosting broader adoption and fostering a digitally inclusive society.
Revising Data Protection and Encouraging Cloud Adoption
Enhancing data protection frameworks is a cornerstone for building a robust DPI in Jordan. Revising the current Personal Data Protection Law to incorporate global best practices in data minimization and conducting thorough privacy impact assessments could ensure stringent protection of personal data. These steps would bolster public trust in digital systems. Additionally, implementing advanced consent management mechanisms to clearly delineate how personal data is utilized and shared would empower users and ensure adherence to privacy standards. Encouraging the use of cloud services by removing existing barriers can also significantly improve data management efficiencies.
Moreover, improving data sharing systems within government entities and between public and private sectors could foster a more connected and dynamic digital ecosystem. Utilizing techniques such as data anonymization and tokenization would further enhance data security, reducing concerns over privacy breaches and unauthorized use. Taking these steps would create a more reliable and secure digital environment, encouraging residents to engage more actively with digital public services and supporting Jordan’s broader digital transformation goals.
Future Steps for Digital Transformation
Building a Secure and Interoperable Ecosystem
The journey toward a fully digitized public infrastructure in Jordan necessitates a multifaceted approach that prioritizes security, interoperability, and user-centricity. Establishing a trusted digital ecosystem requires building secure frameworks that ensure data privacy and protection at all levels. Collaborating with international bodies to adopt best practices and innovative technologies could fortify Jordan’s digital infrastructure. The goal should be to create an environment where all citizens and residents, regardless of their background, can confidently access and utilize digital services.
Future efforts must include continuous evaluation and adaptation of existing policies to meet the evolving needs of the digital landscape. Strengthening partnerships across various sectors, enhancing public awareness, and ensuring the interoperability of digital systems are crucial for sustainable development. By fostering a culture of digital literacy and inclusion, Jordan can pave the way for a more connected, efficient, and transparent public service delivery system, ultimately advancing its digital transformation agenda and achieving long-term economic growth.
Implementing Recommendations for Sustainable Growth
In recent years, the rapid advancement of digital technology has become crucial for governments globally, enhancing the delivery of public services and promoting economic growth. Despite Jordan’s notable initiatives under its National Digital Transformation Strategy and Implementation Plan (2021-2025), the accessibility of digital services remains significantly limited. A recent report, authored by Christopher Tullis from the World Bank along with Jordan’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, evaluates the country’s digital public infrastructure (DPI) ecosystem. The report provides insights into key areas, including digital identity, electronic signatures, public key infrastructure, data centers, and data protection frameworks. It highlights the urgent need for enhancements in these sectors to achieve greater adoption and operational efficiency. Addressing these deficiencies is critical for Jordan to fully leverage the potential benefits of digital transformation and provide its citizens with better, more reliable digital services.
