For many years, Turkey has been actively working on enhancing its digital governance initiatives.
The country has shown a commitment to embracing digital technologies to improve public services, administrative processes, and transparency.
In evaluating Turkey’s digital governance standing, it’s notable that the country has emerged as one of the top performers in the European Union for 2023.
This achievement is underpinned by Turkey’s commendable Online Service Index (OSI) levels, which have been driven by strong human capital development and infrastructure investments.
As per the 2023 E-Government Benchmark report, Turkey secured an impressive 10th position out of 35 EU countries. This marks a noteworthy ascent, improving its ranking by 6 places compared to the previous year, culminating in a total score of 81.
Moreover, on a global scale, Turkey maintains a solid position, ranking 48th out of 193 countries in the EGDI report. I believe these rankings at both EU and global levels reflect Turkey’s focus in enhancing its digital governance.
Eleventh Development Plan
In 2019, the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye greenlit the Eleventh Development Plan (2019–2023).
I find it pertinent to discuss this plan now because it holds significance as the initial development roadmap crafted under the newly adopted Presidential Government System.
This plan, spanning from 2019 to 2023, reflects a strategic, long-term vision aimed at bolstering Türkiye’s international standing and enhancing societal well-being.
As the inaugural five-year segment of a broader fifteen-year outlook, the Development Plan charts a course for comprehensive transformation and breakthroughs across all sectors.
2023 Turkey e-government key figures
Based on the key findings of the E-Government 2023 Benchmark report, Turkey has made impressive strides in digital governance, positioning itself among the top 10 e-governments in Europe.
Here are some noteworthy aspects:
- Accessibility: A remarkable 98% of government services are available online in Turkey, surpassing the EU average of 84%.
- Transparency concerns: However, transparency remains an area of concern, as only 11% of governmental platforms disclose the use of personal data for services. This is notably lower than the EU average of 56%.
- eID login acceptance: Turkey excels in accepting eID logins, with 94% of online services accommodating this feature (compared to the EU average of 70%.) This enhances user convenience and security.
- Cross-border accessibility: Challenges persist in cross-border accessibility, with only 38% of services catering to users beyond national borders. Although slightly below the EU average of 49%, this presents an area for improvement.
- Prefilled information: Turkey is doing great in providing prefilled information, with 97% of services offering this feature. This is a significant upgrade compared to the EU average of 68%, contributing to a more user-friendly experience for all citizens.
- Overall growth: The country has demonstrated remarkable growth, with a 10-point increase in its (overall) e-government score. This places it among the top performers in European digital governance, as I mentioned at the beginning of this article.
- User-centric services: In user-centric services, the country stands out, earning 99 points(out of a total of 100), along with Malta and Finland. This is a strong commitment to providing services tailored to the needs of users.
Istanbul stands out globally when it comes to local online services
In the EU’s assessment, Istanbul, the capital city of Turkey, stands out as one of the top cities globally when measured against 146 other cities using the Local Online Service Index (LOSI).
This index evaluates various criteria such as institutional framework, content provision, service provision, participation and engagement, and technology.
Firstly, the city claims the top spot in participation and engagement, indicating a strong connection between the local government and its residents. This suggests a proactive involvement of the community in online services.
Istanbul secures the 6th position in content provision. This ranking highlights the city’s efforts to keep its digital platforms informative and engaging.
In the institutional framework category, Istanbul shares first place with 31 other cities, highlighting a strong foundation for effective local governance.
Lastly, Istanbul ranks 14th in city technology, indicating a substantial integration of technology within its urban landscape. The city’s placement highlights a praiseworthy adoption of technology to enhance various aspects of urban life.
Where to focus more?
Looking at Turkey’s performance in comparison to the European average, it’s evident that the country has generally met or even surpassed European standards.
However, there’s a notable exception in the aspect of multilingualism, indicating an area for improvement in Turkish public administrations.
From my perspective, it suggests that Turkish authorities could enhance their use of information systems and technical architectures to better accommodate multilingualism…especially when aiming to establish services that align with European standards.
This improvement could contribute to more inclusive and accessible public services for non-Turkish speakers, ensuring that language diversity is effectively addressed in digital interactions and communications.
Sources:
https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/en-us/Data/Country-Information/id/176-Trkiye
https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/egovernment-benchmark-2023
