Nestled in Central America, Costa Rica is renowned for its lush landscapes, biodiversity, and commitment to digital governance. The digital government of Costa Rica has actively worked towards providing digital access to its citizens, promoting e-government services, and creating a tech-friendly environment.
Efforts have been made to improve digital literacy and connectivity, facilitating better communication between the government and its people. But, have these efforts been repaid?
International ranking in e-governance
The country boasts a very high E-Government Development Index (EGDI), primarily driven by impressive levels of the Human Capital Index (HCI) and Telecommunication Infrastructure Index (TII). However, there’s a notable area that warrants attention – the provision of online services.
The digital government of Costa Rica secured the 56th position in the 2022 EGDI ranking among 193 assessed countries.
While this is a respectable standing, it’s noteworthy that the country hasn’t seen improvement in its ranking since 2018. This indicates a plateau in its digital development progress over the years.
Diving into the specifics, the Online Service Index for Costa Rica was measured at 0.68120 in 2022. While this reflects a considerable achievement, there’s room for improvement, especially when compared to the Central America leader, Mexico, which has a higher value of 0.8245.
Data-driven public sector?
In examining the digital government of Costa Rica and its approach to data interoperability, there’s a noteworthy reliance on the European Interoperability Framework (EIF) as reported in the OECD’s“Digital Government Review of Latin America and the Caribbean.”
The use of well-established frameworks like the European Interoperability Framework (EIF) for self-assessment is a commendable practice. The report indicates that Costa Rica stands out as the only country in the region actively employing EIF to advance its public sector interoperability efforts.
However, my observation raises a concern regarding the absence of specific regulations on open data in Costa Rica. The roles of Access to Information Officers, outlined in the 2017 Decree 40200 on Transparency and Access to Public Information, become necessary. These officers (in practice) are the key implementers of open data initiatives across the public sector. This de facto responsibility, reported by the digital government of Costa Rica, shows a potential gap in regulatory frameworks specifically dedicated to open data.
On the other hand – in terms of existing regulatory instruments related to data in Costa Rica, several key documents are in place. Such as:
- 2018 Executive Decree 41190 on the Reform of Executive Decrees No. 38994, “Promotion of Open Government in Public Administration and Creation of the National Commission for Open Government”, No. 40199, and Decree No. 39372
- Decree 40200 on Transparency and Access to Public Information of 2017
- Decree 40199 on Open Data Publication of 2017
- The Regulations of the Law on Personal Data Protection in 2012
- The Law 8968 on Personal Data Protection in 2011.
Public services design and delivery in digital Costa Rica
Costa Rica has made great progress in digital service delivery through its central platform (http://gob.go.cr/). This platform serves as a hub for both informational and transactional services (yes, there are countries that still don’t offer transactional services in their central platforms).
It even has a service catalogue covering between 10% to 50% of services. While this range is modest, having a service catalogue is a positive step. These catalogues play a very important role in mapping government services and streamlining interactions, contributing to a more cohesive and user-friendly experience.
In terms of guidelines and standards for service design and delivery, the digital government of Costa Rica demonstrates a solid foundation. It has at least one written central or federal guideline supporting these aspects, aligning with practices observed in surveyed Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) governments.
However, there’s a notable gap in having specific guidelines regarding the engagement of users in the service and policy design process.
This gap represents an area where Costa Rica could focus its efforts to enhance its digital services further. Inclusive user engagement is key for designing services that truly meet the needs and preferences of the citizens.
While Costa Rica has made progress in providing services through digital channels, incorporating user input in the design process can elevate the effectiveness and user satisfaction of these services.
Final thoughts
I believe the digital government of Costa Rica could benefit from strategic efforts to refine and expand its online service offerings.
This might involve streamlining existing services, introducing new ones, and ensuring a user-friendly interface.
By doing so, the country can elevate its digital service provision and potentially (and finally) improve its global ranking in the coming years.
Sources:
https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/en-us/Data/Country-Information/id/40-Costa-Rica
