WEF, UAE launch smart toolbox for world leaders to improve state services

The Future of Government Smart Toolbox is the work of 20 global experts, analysing how technology has impacted governments and their work.

Countries across the world need to effectively use technology to improve leadership and service delivery. Providing world leaders with a smart toolbox, the World Economic Forum (WEF) launched a new guide in cooperation with the UAE Government on Tuesday.

Espen Barth Eide speaking at the launch of the Future of Government Smart Toolbox. —KT photos by Rahul Gajjar

The Future of Government Smart Toolbox is the work of 20 global experts from both public and private sectors, analysing how technology has impacted governments and their work.

Addressing the media, Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs, said, “We are witnessing a lot of change around the world today and that’s why governments need to review their plans and upgrade their expectations.

One of the fastest changing variables in governance is technology and every government needs to find ways of working hand in hand with new technologies. The UAE will always welcome and adopt new technologies which can be used to improve people’s lives in the future.”

The UAE has been in the forefront of technological innovation to improve government services, and the country has been ranked second in the ‘Government Usage of ICT’ index, released as part of the Global Information Technology Report for 2014 by the World Economic Forum.

“The partnership between the World Economic Forum and the Government Summit comes from a joint vision for offering services which lead to achieve stability and prosperity for people worldwide,” he added. The Smart Toolbox report provides case studies and examples from governments which have used technology to improve the lives of people.

It focuses on eight key areas for improving government performance: anti-corruption, political representation, bureaucracy, delivery of services, trust, leadership, security and innovation.

Espen Barth Eide, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, said, “We very much cherish the close relationship we have developed with the UAE, particularly with the Government Summit.” The report is aimed at helping leaders envision the future they want for their countries and map it out in the context of uncertainty.

“People change because they have new expectations with time. If governments are not able to innovate while performing their traditional tasks with new expectations, they would be left behind,” added Eide.

“Today, people have access to enormous amounts of information which changes the relationship between government and citizens. Building trust and maintaining it over time is a major challenge for modern governments,” said Eide.

The Smart Toolbox shares insights into how technology can strengthen good government — for example, by enabling greater transparency of government actions through open data, empowering citizens to have faster and more accurate access to online services, and helping to strengthen responses to aid civilians.

The Smart Toolbox also explores the risks and challenges of an increasingly digital era, including the often expensive and complex need to keep pace with changing tools and technology.

muaz@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE