Level of Development of Digitalization Policies:
National Digital Agendas and Sectoral Digital Strategies, May 2023
Nota:The review of sectorial strategies does not include Internet governance or emerging technologies topics
Source: Own elaboration based on SMC+.
Barometer on the level of development of policies related to the digital transformation process. For its construction, two types of instruments were evaluated evaluated that play complementary roles in the strategic planning of the digital transformation process in a country. On the one hand, digital agendas, which are comprehensive strategies to drive digital transformation in all aspects of society and the economy, in order to promote productive, inclusive, and sustainable development; and, sectoral strategies or programs, which translate the guidelines of the national agenda into objectives and actions to be applied in specific areas.
In each instrument, three aspects were evaluated using a scale from 0 to 3:
- Existence of the Instrument: If the country has a current digital agenda or strategy
- Scope of intervention areas: Addressing relevant topics and subtopics:
- • Digital infrastructure: 5G, universal access, devices and other infrastructure.
- • Digital Education: Access to devices and broadband, digital educational content, digital platforms for teachers and students, and teacher training.
- • Digital Health: Telemedicine, electronic medical records, transfer and management of clinical data, and promotion of the use of 4.0 technologies in healthcare.
- • Digital Government: Online services, citizen participation, digital skills training programs.
- • Productive digital transformation: Promotion of digital innovation, digitization of SMEs, Industry 4.0 (I4.0), development of human capital in I4.0, and e-commerce.
- • Gobernanza del Internet: Data protection, cybersecurity, open data, data regulation, digital competition regulation, and data flow.
- • Tecnologías emergentes:Artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and robotics.
- Institutional aspects: Definition of coordination mechanisms, strategic and operational direction, budget allocation, and monitoring mechanisms. Gender perspective promotion was also considered.
Thematic intensity of digital policies by instrument, May 2023
Explore the situation of each country
Note: The review of sectoral strategies does not include the topics of Internet governance or emerging technologies.
Source: Own elaboration based on SMC+.
Of the 18 countries analysed, 14 have an active digital agenda. However, most lack concrete roadmaps, designated operational leads, and allocated budgets,, making these agendas largely declarative instruments.
Digital agendas are primarily focused on three areas: digital government (0.8), digital transformation of production (0.58), and Internet governance (0.55), followed by digital infrastructure. The least developed topics are digital education, digital health, and emerging technologies.
With respect to sectoral digital strategies, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and Jamaica are the countries that address the greatest number of topics through these instruments.Digital government, education, and health are the areas with the most specific programmes, while ldigital infrastructure and productive digital transformation are typically covered within broader agendas, lacking dedicated programmes.
Therefore, the strongest digital policy efforts appear to be concentrated in the development of digital government, as it is addressed most comprehensively across both types of instruments.
Thematic Depth of Digital Policies by Instrument, May 2023
Explore the situation in each country
Note: The review of sectoral strategies does not include the topics of Internet governance or emerging technologies.
Source: Own elaboration based on SMC+.