USAID produces Digital Ecosystem Country Assessments (DECAs) to identify development opportunities and risks in a country’s digital ecosystem. DECAs inform decision-making about digital programming and investments for USAID and partner governments, donors, the private sector, and civil society.
Each DECA is approximately a five-month research process that utilizes a step-by-step guide designed to provide Missions and research teams with the tools and information needed to independently conduct a DECA.
What Do 2024 DECAs Say About ICT4D?
USAID completed 8 Digital Ecosystem Country Assessments in 2024 so far – for Armenia, Central America, Egypt, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Panama, Tunisia, and Pacific Island Countries. What can we learn from looking at these DECAs?
5 Common Themes Across DECAs
- Digital Infrastructure and Access: All reports emphasize the critical need for improved digital infrastructure, with many nations facing challenges in ensuring reliable internet access, especially in rural and underserved regions. Mobile internet is widely used across these countries, often due to the limited reach of wired infrastructure.
- Digital Divide and Inclusion: The digital divide, particularly the disparities between urban and rural areas and among marginalized communities, is a reoccurring theme. Limited digital literacy and lack of content in local languages were repeatedly noted as barriers to digital adoption.
- Cybersecurity and Digital Rights: Across the board, countries struggle with cybersecurity and safeguarding digital rights. Most countries are in the early stages of developing robust cybersecurity frameworks, often due to limited resources and knowledge of cyber risks among the population.
- Digital Economy and Financial Services: Digital financial services and financial inclusion are areas of development for many countries, with mobile money as a proven driver for economic growth. However, regulatory barriers, affordability issues, and limited infrastructure often hinder full adoption.
- Policy and Governance: Many countries have national digital strategies, but implementation is often slowed by lack of coordination among government agencies, insufficient funding, and political instability. Internet governance and data protection laws are emerging areas of focus, yet many of these frameworks remain underdeveloped.
3 Key Differences Among Countries
- Armenia vs. Ghana: Armenia benefits from a strong foundational infrastructure, with relatively high internet penetration and local tech talent, whereas Ghana faces deeper infrastructural challenges and a significant digital divide between rural and urban areas.
- Pacific Islands vs. Tunisia: The Pacific Islands’ geographic fragmentation poses unique connectivity challenges, with heavy reliance on mobile internet and limited last-mile infrastructure, making it particularly susceptible to climate-related disruptions. In contrast, Tunisia has more consistent infrastructure but faces significant cybersecurity threats and government limitations that impact digital freedoms.
- Panama vs. Kazakhstan: Panama’s digital economy is advancing, bolstered by relatively mature infrastructure and governmental support for digital initiatives. Kazakhstan, while progressing in infrastructure, is constrained by regulatory barriers and a pronounced urban-rural digital divide.
Greatest Challenges in the Pacific Islands
The Pacific Island countries face perhaps the most daunting digital ecosystem challenges. The region’s geographical distribution across numerous small islands makes infrastructure development and maintenance costly and complex.
Frequent natural disasters, limited local technical expertise, and high dependence on mobile internet exacerbate connectivity issues. Additionally, data protection, cybersecurity, and digital rights frameworks remain underdeveloped, often leaving residents vulnerable to cyber threats and misinformation.
Panama is the Most Mature Digital Ecosystem
Panama emerges as one of the more digitally mature ecosystems among the assessed countries. The country has developed a robust infrastructure with relatively high internet penetration and supports a growing digital economy through government-backed initiatives and strategic international partnerships.
Panama’s government has implemented a digital strategy that includes cybersecurity protocols, fostering fintech innovations, and promoting digital literacy, positioning the country as a regional leader.
Most Common Recommendation for Countries
A recurring recommendation across assessments is for countries to invest in enhancing digital literacy and increasing capacity. Many reports stress that improving digital skills among citizens, government officials, and small businesses is essential for a digitally inclusive ecosystem.
Additionally, promoting locally relevant content and strengthening cyber hygiene practices are universally recommended to ensure that digital transformations benefit entire populations, not just urban centers or affluent communities. Finally, every country needs to enhance telecommunications infrastructure for sustainable digital growth.
It’s encouraging to see that a universal recommendation for fostering open, inclusive, secure, and rights-respecting digital ecosystems worldwide is to enhance digital literacy for *all* users and promote locally relevant content. This reinforces the fundamental fact that any system is only as solid as the people within it. If I know how to use it, have a reason for using it, benefit from using it, and do not lose from using it, then I will more likely use it.