Digital Government podcast
150 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 days ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsWelcome to e-Governance Academy’s podcast to discover the future of governance. e-Governance Academy has assisted digital transformation globally in more than 130 countries. Our experts will share their insights and worldwide examples on how digital technology could benefit every society. Tune in for the digital government podcast every Wednesday!
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Episodes
Synergising digital and green transformations
April 17, 2024 06:00 - 34 minutes - 24.1 MBSome terms in the public discourse, despite filled with meaning and relevant concepts, somehow happen to not really take hold. The green transition, a necessity of our times to address, still it’s something that – here and there – could truly benefit from more support. That support can come from citizens, enabled to participate in more democratic decision-making processes, and from digital tools too, that favour and streamline such participation. All in all, the end is still to achieve more...
Good services can make the world a better place
April 03, 2024 05:00 - 35 minutes - 24.5 MBService design remains in focus at the e-Governance Conference – this year hosting a keynote by the former Director of Design for the UK Government, Lou Downe. The founder also of the School of Good Services, a design and consulting practice that resulted from the wide reach of their design principles, and the book ‘Good Services: How to Design Services that Work’. A start in the arts, the switch to service design. To then set such standards and practices to create a community of designers ...
Can EU regulation ensure a conscious use of AI?
March 20, 2024 11:00 - 40 minutes - 28.1 MBThe European Union's AI Act is an initiative aimed at regulating the field of artificial intelligence. On Wednesday, March 13, the Parliament approved the regulation. It seeks to establish a legal framework for the use of AI, but also to position the EU at the forefront of global digital governance – at least on this aspect, and in this regard. The approach is comprehensive, touching on a wide spectrum of applications, from low-risk to high-risk categories, tailoring regulatory requirement...
Data and services run fast in digital Ukraine
March 04, 2024 10:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MBUkraine's journey towards digital transformation has been marked by significant achievements, notably through the development and implementation of Trembita, the nation’s data exchange layer, and the Diia app. These tools have revolutionised the way citizens interact with government services, making them more efficient, transparent, and accessible. Zooming out, though, the context and circumstances within which this rapid development took place would make most of us go red. If there’s one –...
Teams and people as the core of effective digital leadership
February 21, 2024 07:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBWe find ourselves often saying that it is people, rather than technological tools, that make the digital transformation successful and effective. That holds true for what concerns listening to the needs of users, taking invaluable feedback, and returning to citizens with solutions that do actually fit their asks and necessities. That holds true as well, though, when applied to managing teams, and leading them to goals set in plans and strategies. Public service delivery makes no exception i...
Unlocking digital success at the e-Governance Conference
February 07, 2024 07:00 - 33 minutes - 22.8 MBThe e-Governance Conference reaches its tenth edition. In 2024, we mark a decade of digital dialogues – ten years through which topics and participants have become increasingly diverse, and the Conference established itself as a key appointment for practitioners worldwide. This year, we invite you to unlock the secrets and key enablers of successful digital transformation. “Digital success leads to aware and competent societies that enjoy prosperity and openness. It involves a journey of co...
Cyber legislation for safe cyberspace
January 24, 2024 11:00 - 42 minutes - 29.5 MBCybersecurity has been, undoubtedly, a dominant theme in last year’s digital governance discourse. The attention, and relevance, that cybersecurity increasingly enjoyed in the past years should be taken as a sign. As our life becomes increasingly digital, it is natural that more and more subdomains of it enter the scene too. In this podcast episode, Elsa Neeme, Senior Expert on Cybersecurity at eGA, and Vitalie Varaniță, assisting activities in Moldova, tell us more about cyber laws’ role i...
Europe in 2030 – a digital powerhouse?
January 10, 2024 09:00 - 41 minutes - 28.2 MBDigital skills, collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors and governments are important in leading businesses into the digital era. We start the year with a strong vision and a focus on Europe, in light of the recently published DigitalEurope 2030 report. And we do so with Raido Lember, former CEO of the National Investment Promotion Agency of Estonia, right now consulting businesses independently and as eGA expert. It is a strategy that goes beyond wishful thinking, or a...
Core themes in 2023 and trends for 2024
December 19, 2023 13:00 - 26 minutes - 18.6 MBAnd here we are, at the end-of-year appointment with Hannes Astok, Executive Director and Chairman of e-Governance Academy (eGA) to take a look back at what 2023 meant for governments worldwide. But also, we reflect on what the year meant for eGA. Through our projects and activities, we have once again had the pleasure – and duty – to work with an impressive number of countries, cultures, and various digital government ecosystems. Data quality, cybersecurity, and digital identity have been...
Developing digital skills, today and tomorrow
December 13, 2023 08:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MB“Digital skills feel like a superpower. Because if you can use computers and the internet, the world opens in front of you,” says Kristi Kivilo, Senior Expert in the Governance and Engagement unit of e-Governance Academy. And digital skills, indeed, are the perfect example of something rather small, but that may have a tremendous impact on people’s lives. That holds true in rapidly growing countries, in nations tackling issues of digital and media literacy, or in the day-to-day with common ...
Upgrading the first line of cyber protection in Moldova
December 06, 2023 04:00 - 29 minutes - 20.1 MBThe saying goes, that the weakest link in the chain of cybersecurity is people. But what about a change of perspective? People, instead, could be considered the first line in a cyber battlefield. An approach that signalled a change of mindset in Moldova, for example, within the ongoing EU-funded project on developing cybersecurity rapid assistance. Including citizens in the scope, next to technical development, to increase online safety. In this episode of the Digital Government Podcast, Ri...
Data exchange makes things happen in Kyrgyzstan
November 22, 2023 08:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MBDigital transformation of government in Central Asia, in this podcast episode, has the face of Kyrgyzstan. Almost a decade since the inception of the country’s first plans, public services are now available online for citizens, and data exchange is happening between government agencies. Something Tõnis Mäe, Senior Expert of the Digital Architecture Competence Centre of e-Governance Academy, is rightfully proud of – and it shows. Fresh from his two-year tenure in Kyrgyzstan, we discuss with ...
Data quality as the basis of informed decision-making
November 08, 2023 07:00 - 25 minutes - 17.9 MBWhether in population management, or more specific business processes and use cases, we can’t stress enough the significance of digital data quality. Because tidy registries equate to informed decision-making, and the possibility to build powerful tools and solutions on top of them. In this episode of the Digital Government Podcast, we expand on how ensuring data quality might be an overlooked yet essential aspect of advancing digital transformation. And prepare governments for the next wav...
20 years of change in managing digital transformation
November 08, 2023 06:00 - 38 minutes - 26.4 MBHow long are two decades, when it comes to digital government? Well, very long – and with a lot of things happening. At least that is what it feels like, as the rapid pace of technological development presents governments with new opportunities, sure. But also, with challenges and risks, new elements to consider in strategy papers, and different ways of delivering services to citizens. Arvo Ott has seen quite some things happen in this time span. First, as the first Government CIO of Estoni...
Digitalization in Latin America means solutions to fit diverse needs
November 01, 2023 07:00 - 28 minutes - 19.9 MBThe past decade has seen digitalization efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean area ramp up rapidly. Development has been fast, but not homogenous. Differing approaches across countries have created a map of digitalization, so to say, that sees governments in the region excel at different things. So what’s the way forward, in such a rapidly moving landscape? Carlos Vargas is an Expert at the Competence Centre for Government and Engagement of e-Governance Academy, currently based in Chil...
Cyber defence in the time of war
October 25, 2023 08:00 - 26 minutes - 18.6 MBCrucial distinctions exist between cybersecurity and cyber defence – even more so, at times when war and conflicts seem ever-present in news headlines from all around the globe. It is only fair, then, that governments look into enhancing their cyber defence capabilities and adapt plans and policy agendas to fit a constantly changing threat landscape. Merle Maigre, Head of the Competence Centre on Cybersecurity at e-Governance Academy, joins us in this closing podcast of the cybersecurity mo...
In a digital marriage – love, law, and a new e-service in Ukraine
October 18, 2023 06:00 - 30 minutes - 21.2 MBTimes of digital love, those we live in – as Daft Punk stated too. Practically, the entire supply chain of romance has somehow been impacted by societal digital transformation. Instant messaging, dating apps. So why not take online as well all the boring bureaucratic steps that would lead to the “yes, I do”. A podcast episode on love, war times, and digital services. All elements that coexist in the roll-out of the marriage application e-service, a reality in Estonia and now also in Ukraine...
Tailoring cybersecurity trainings to threats, needs, and skills
October 11, 2023 06:00 - 26 minutes - 18 MBOctober is cybersecurity month. Not that in the rest of the year we are not supposed to place the same attention to safeguarding our digital spaces – that needs to be constant, ever-present. But moments like this do help us highlight, and stress once more, the importance of cybersecurity as a cross-cutting component of digital development actions and strategies. In this podcast episode, we do so by focusing on cybersecurity trainings – why do we need them, differences in skills and audience...
Empowering CSOs in the Western Balkans for digital transformation
October 04, 2023 09:00 - 35 minutes - 24.3 MBCivil society organizations (CSOs) are assuming growingly critical roles in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. These organizations act as intermediaries between citizens and governments, advocating for inclusive digital policies and services that cater to the needs of all. In the Western Balkans, the ICEDA project aimed to foster and improve CSOs role and positioning in order to do just that. From shaping the digital agenda, to spreading a culture of cybersecurity and cyber hygiene. In ...
Latest trends in digital participation and civic engagement
September 27, 2023 05:00 - 35 minutes - 24.3 MBThe newly formed Competence Centre of e-Governance Academy on Governance and Engagement already has a track record of matching active citizenship with institutional dialogue, bringing citizens and administrations closer together. But let’s zoom out for a moment. We have worked on improving the relationship between public service providers and users in Georgia, Ukraine, and many other countries worldwide. In what context and which direction, though, these developments took place more at larg...
Innovation in healthcare provision
September 20, 2023 09:00 - 28 minutes - 19.9 MBE-governance practitioners well know that the implementation of digital tools is essential, to enhance the provision and reach of public services. This applies across domains, from the most specific in user base to the more generalist ones. But innovation gains even further relevance when services matter to the entire population at large – in short when it comes to public goods. Healthcare represents by full means one of these cases. And as of late, the e-Governance Academy features in its ...
Safeguarding Digital Systems in the Western Balkans
September 13, 2023 08:00 - 57 minutes - 39.4 MBDigitalization is rapidly transforming democratic processes. Ensuring digital security, as a consequence, has become paramount for safeguarding free and fair elections. Countries in the Western Balkans have recognized the critical role of cybersecurity in preserving the integrity of democratic systems, but at what cost? Repeated high-profile cyberattacks over the past year have underscored the urgency of adopting a well-structured approach to cybersecurity. The European Union (EU) has step...
Ukraine’s digital signatures are now valid in the EU
June 28, 2023 09:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBDespite the war, despite the devastation. We saw it last year already, through the eyes and voices of e-Governance Academy’s team in Ukraine – digital transformation never stopped in the country. If anything, it picked up pace. In fact, in many ways, digital tools helped Ukrainians work and access public services despite the ongoing Russian invasion. And another milestone has been reached in April. Ukraine has become the first non-EU country to see digital signatures of its businesses and c...
Laying the groundwork for The Gambia’s digital transformation
June 21, 2023 07:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBSpeaking today is Serign Modou Bah, Director of Telecommunications and Postal Services at the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy of The Gambia. In this episode, next to delving into the status of digital transformation in the country, Modou Bah discusses the importance of getting right needs and policy actions, and the role of international partnerships in advancing the country’s digital journey. Status of digital transformation in The Gambia, at a glance The Gambia, like many ...
Fostering coordination to advance Uganda’s digital transformation
June 14, 2023 06:00 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MBThe all-African panel that took place at the e-Governance Conference 2023 brought into the spotlight country cases of digital transformation from the continent. An enlightening sessions, where everyone attending – both online and offline – got a unique chance to hear, at a glance, the most salient developments in digital taking place in Uganda and Namibia, among others. In this episode of the Digital Government Podcast, we host one of the speakers of that session – Dr. Amina Zawedde. As the...
Cyber diplomats from all around the globe will soon gather in Tallinn
June 06, 2023 14:00 - 27 minutes - 18.8 MBThe Tallinn Summer School of Cyber Diplomacy returns for its fourth edition, keeping up the pace with global developments in diplomacy and cybersecurity. But it’s not just about the mainstreaming of cyber diplomacy as a foreign policy topic, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In both war and peace times, it has become evident how international collaboration can set the world to create a safer and more secure cyberspace – from attributing cyber operations, to applying international law ...
Thinking about the past and future of digital transformation
May 23, 2023 13:00 - 31 minutes - 21.5 MBThe upcoming book by e-Governance Academy, “Twenty Years of Building Digital Societies”, brings into focus the role that digitalization played in Estonia, in the countries eGA has collaborated with – and what such expertise adds to the digital development strategies of countries worldwide. Vision, sustainability, people, security. We take the long view here, in a publication absolutely not to miss, into both the past and the future of digital transformation. A peak into it is offered tod...
The collaborative road to innovation in Africa
May 16, 2023 10:00 - 29 minutes - 20 MBFor the first time, the 2023 e-Governance Conference is set to feature an all-African panel showcasing case studies from the continent. Exactly: both moderator and speakers will present examples of inter-sector cooperation from Namibia, Uganda, and the West African region. Collaborative partnerships for digital policy implementation are core to their experience, and there we stand to learn from them. The African Union – European Union (AU-EU) Digital for Development (D4D) Hub is giving the ...
Data policy in the era of artificial intelligence
May 10, 2023 11:00 - 31 minutes - 21.4 MBThe ongoing conversation and development around artificial intelligence are bringing data policy back into the spotlight, as we will explore in a dedicated session at the e-Governance Conference 2023. Perhaps it’s also a signal, an indicator of how much work and care is needed before AI starts convincingly scaling to the public sector. Because while it is true that technological advancement can unlock new levels of digital governance, the great reliance of AI models on enormous amounts of i...
How to constantly develop and improve digital services
May 03, 2023 09:00 - 22 minutes - 15.8 MBNot just talks and panels, at the upcoming 2023 e-Governance Conference. As always, we didn’t forget about the practical side of things – workshops. One of them will focus on the design of public e-services. Designing and re-imagining public services takes effort and knowledge, but it becomes less intimidating when expert show how much common sense actually goes into it. Piret Saartee, Senior Expert on Smart Governance at eGA, joins us for today’s episode of the Digital Government Podcast, ...
All the lessons from cyber warfare in Ukraine
April 25, 2023 13:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBWe are well over one year into Russia’s ongoing threat to Ukrainian state sovereignty. And from terrain to the digital sphere, it is now more evident than ever before that the aggression has been total. If, in the beginning, the war seemed to take on a more traditional, kinetic shape, cyberattacks have intensified with the passing of the months – and with the staunch resistance of Ukraine’s forces. This postulates the key takeaway, for international observers and governments alike, that mod...
Digital vulnerability cannot be fixed in a boardroom
April 19, 2023 06:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MBNothing about us, without us. From foundational principle of representative democracy, to inclusive approach to service design. The journey of this quote is long and spans across centuries, but gains renewed relevance today – when digitalization is ubiquitous, and public services must be designed for all, not just the ‘most’. Margus J. Klaar is a strategist, service designer, and founding partner of agency Brand Manual. Services that are accessible to the most vulnerable, improve usability ...
20 years of technological change and transformation
April 12, 2023 08:00 - 34 minutes - 24 MBA review of technological change in the past 20 years, applications and narratives, sweet birthday wishes. We have it all in this week’s episode of the Digital Government Podcast, where we head to distinguished technology experts of e-Governance Academy (eGA) for another expert chat dedicated to eGA’s 20 years anniversary. Programme Director Heiko Vainsalu meets Mark Erlich, Senior Expert on eID. From popularizing tech talk in government and society, to novelties and black boxes to unpack, ...
Building a crisis-proof digital society in Costa Rica
April 05, 2023 12:00 - 29 minutes - 20.4 MBCosta Rica is all but new on the world map of countries that took digital transformation as a priority. Over there, in Central America, this relatively small nation started investing in digital-related development and education already more than 20 years ago. Almost similarly to Estonia – and as similarly, they have come to create a crisis-proof digital society. Jorge Mora Flores, now expert consultant and account manager in cybersecurity, is the former Director of Digital Governance in Cos...
Digital innovation as catalyst for social change
March 29, 2023 09:00 - 29 minutes - 20 MBPreparations for the 9th e-Governance Conference are well under way, for what has come to be one of the highest level e-governance events globally. In the past few years, we addressed ever-so-salient topics such as resilience and crisis management, with the pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine inevitably driving the agenda. In the 2023 edition we look at what are the sustainable and distributed societal returns that come from technological development. “Digital Innovation as Catalyst for So...
Two decades of lessons in digital engagement and new horizons
March 22, 2023 07:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MBDigital development has gone fast in the past two decades. Largely on its own momentum, as tools and their applications come to impact both more deeply and extensively different spheres of life. Also, due to unprecedented events and circumstances – see, the pandemic – that sped up digital adoption. The question is, what fell in the cracks of such transformation? Who, if at all, has been left behind? Two of e-Governance Academy’s top e-democracy experts come together in this podcast episod...
Internet voters are now the majority in Estonia
March 08, 2023 09:00 - 29 minutes - 20.2 MBThe last time we started with a question “Is i-voting here to stay?”; this one around, we move on from a strong statement. One week ago, national elections were held in Estonia, and more than a few important records have been set. Among these, the highest ever overall turnout, and the highest ever amount of people casting their ballots through the national i-voting system. In this episode of the Digital Government Podcast, we welcome back Priit Vinkel, Senior Expert on Smart Governance. He ...
Resilience, protection, freedom – what the future holds for cybersecurity
March 01, 2023 06:00 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MBHow long do 20 years of cybersecurity actually feel? Quite intense and intensive, for sure. It’s unlikely that anyone thought that with the internet and ICTs would come no risks, no maliciousness, no actors aiming to exploit vulnerabilities of digital systems. Two of e-Governance Academy’s own cybersecurity experts are here to remind us how far we’ve come. With them, we recap events and lessons learned on safeguarding digital spaces from two decades of activity. But also, how future strate...
Digital government in Sweden is like a doughnut
February 14, 2023 12:00 - 29 minutes - 20.1 MBSweden is perhaps one of those countries that, in international rankings on government and digitalization, you sort of expect to do well – and indeed, so they do. Estonia figures among them as well, and we regularly see the interest this draws in understanding how development takes place, where, what’s next. To take us there, and discover lessons learned, today we invite Johan Magnusson – professor, author, and Director of the Swedish Center for Digital Innovation (SCDI) in Gothenburg. Tune...
Limited internet access can’t stop e-service development
January 31, 2023 10:00 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MBIt may sound like a paradox, but there is much, much more to it. In this episode of the Digital Government Podcast, we return to the Asian islands – southeast in the continent – to address public service development in Timor-Leste. Piret Saartee, a Senior Expert on Smart Governance, was part of the team that drew up our study on the path to creating effective service centres in the country. With her, we dig into why limited network reach shouldn’t hold back e-governance projects, and how Ti...
All that matters to make Tonga’s cyberspace more secure
January 18, 2023 07:00 - 25 minutes - 17.4 MBMaking national cyberspace more secure does not pertain only to protecting it from cyber-attacks. It is a day-to-day job, a commitment to small best practices too that do make a difference – and help prevent disruptions in our work activities, and the functioning of the public sector. Epp Maaten, Team Lead on Cybersecurity, joins us from Chișinău, Moldova, to explore how e-Governance Academy assisted Tonga in its digital recovery from a natural disaster and the place of cybersecurity within...
20 years of e-Governance Academy
January 04, 2023 07:00 - 15 minutes - 11 MBThat’s right. e-Governance Academy is turning 20 years old this year! Two decades of digital transformation; of understanding societies through the lens of technology; of advising governments worldwide on how to reap the benefits of digital development. And who better than Hannes Astok, Executive Director at eGA, to draw a bit of a retrospective. In this episode, we take a look back, between personal memories and organizational milestones, to what has been a two-decade journey into the futu...
Let’s sum up the year 2022!
December 20, 2022 11:00 - 23 minutes - 16.2 MBAnother year has passed. Another year in which e-Governance Academy has been involved in digital transformation projects worldwide. Most might have expected calmer waters after exiting the emergency situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, with 2022 came a number of events that saw our experts at the centre of the international scene. Executive Director Hannes Astok joins us to paint a picture of what year 2022 has been for our centre of excellence, and what topics defined it in the dig...
Digital skills for full-fledged digital society
December 06, 2022 18:00 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MBDigital skills are essential for the development of a full-fledged digital society. We can – and should – expect both companies and governments to develop their services in the most user-friendly way, to actually serve customers and citizens. But how to empower people further, and give them the tools to navigate effectively the information age? Kristi Kivilo, in-house Senior Expert on Smart Governance, joins today’s episode of the Digital Government Podcast to talk the skills people need in...
Digital skills
December 06, 2022 18:00 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MBDigital skills are essential for the development of a full-fledged digital society. We can – and should – expect both companies and governments to develop their services in the most user-friendly way, to actually serve customers and citizens. But how to empower people further, and give them the tools to navigate effectively the information age? Kristi Kivilo, in-house Senior Expert on Smart Governance, joins today’s episode of the Digital Government Podcast to talk the skills people need in...
Digital transformation in Brazil, and how Estonia can help
November 23, 2022 10:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MBBased on essentially all wiki facts and general information, Brazil and Estonia could not be more different. Geographically, culturally, and socially. And still, as we luckily very often saw happen in the past years, these too have a joint meeting point – digital transformation. Interest in Estonia’s digital journey remains constant among policy and changemakers from the Latin American country, while Brazil’s own digital development probably picks up pace probably more than ever before. Rap...
Cyber attacks in the Western Balkans and the way out
November 09, 2022 03:00 - 27 minutes - 18.8 MBIt was just June that we were talking about improving cybersecurity capacity in the Western Balkans area. And a few months later, between August and September, the countries of Albania and Montenegro respectively suffered disruptive cyber attacks. Merle Maigre, Programme Director on Cybersecurity at eGA, joins us again to take stock of the situation. Together with Klaid Mägi, Cybersecurity Strategist at Estonian company RaulWalter, we explore the importance of investigating the attribution ...
Digital identity – usage across borders, in the EU and beyond
October 20, 2022 07:00 - 28 minutes - 19.3 MBDigital citizens in a digital Europe? We are not quite there yet, but significant steps forward have been made in recent years with eIDAS. And progress doesn’t stop at the borders of political Europe, as a bilateral agreement between the Union and Ukraine is set to enhance the mutual recognition of trust services. We hear all the latest from Mark Erlich, eGA’s Senior Expert on Digital Identity, and Business Architect at the Electronic Identity Department of the Information System Authority ...
Digital identity – types, approaches, lessons learned
October 11, 2022 15:00 - 29 minutes - 20.2 MBWe could never say it enough – digital identity is a must-have to make societies more digital. It has been around for some time already, so it is natural that types and approaches to its development vary, between contexts and country specificities. To explore these, Mark Erlich is the speaker of choice for a mini-series of podcast episodes on digital identity. He is the Senior Expert on Digital Identity at e-Governance Academy. And with his 15-some years’ experience on the matter at Estonia...
Building a future-ready society in Sarawak, Malaysia
September 28, 2022 03:00 - 25 minutes - 17.4 MBIn Borneo Island, Malaysia, the largest of the 13 states making up the country has an ambitious plan – to turn the region into a digital economy powerhouse of the area. Through the works of the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) as its implementing agency, the government in the region is driving initiative to give the state a digital economy and society. During his last visit to Tallinn, we caught up with the Chairmen of the SDEC, Mohamad Morsidi, to hear about the premises and prior...