Executive Summary
The rapid advancement of the digital transition offers wide-ranging opportunities for governments to improve public services and connect with citizens. However, the promise of the digital revolution can be undermined if policymakers prioritise technology over users and their needs. Adopting a user-centric approach to the digital transformation of government is important to harness its benefits for all while mitigating associated threats, ensuring inclusive and equitable outcomes. In this context, mature digital governments are needed to address pressing challenges in public governance (such as spending better, mitigating climate change and tackling mis- and disinformation) and meet the needs of citizens and communities. As digital tools become increasingly widespread within public administration, governments should establish a solid governance of digital government, including appropriate structures and competencies, that enables a fair, reliable, and sustainable digital transition of the public sector, grounded on democratic values and the rule of law.
The transition towards digital government in Romania follows a similar path as that of OECD Member countries. After adopting digital tools to enhance transparency and streamline internal operations, Romania is nowadays at a critical juncture in using digital government to make the public sector journey, where only a more coherent, user-centric and cohesive approach for the digitalisation of its public sector will meaningfully improve social and economic development.
Under the leadership of the Authority for the Digitalization of Romania (ADR), a public sector entity within the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization (MCID), Romania is taking concrete actions to promote the digital transformation of the public sector. This includes establishing a government cloud and national interoperability platform. However, further actions could be undertaken to secure a system-wide and human-centric digitalisation of the public sector.
First, Romania needs to further strengthen the governance of digital government. The organisation steering the digital transformation of government is not yet positioned strategically to gain necessary political support and legitimacy across the public sector. Furthermore, development and implementation of a dedicated digital government strategy is needed to facilitate the successful transition from e-government to digital government. Capabilities and resources, both in terms of talent and tools, are needed for public sector institutions to effectively adhere to and implement digital government policy goals. Romania may need to expand existing methods to manage digital government investments in the context of increasing availability of national and EU funds to support the digital transformation, as well as a clear roadmap and innovative mechanisms to address the structural challenges in attracting, retaining and developing digital talent and skills in the public sector.
Second, Romania should consider establishing clearer leadership and accountability mechanisms for achieving a data-driven public sector, along with a strategic plan to monitor progress. There is a need to transition from focusing on the adoption of legal measures to focusing on implementation, which includes supporting better alignment and allocation of resources (e.g., through the adoption of standards and guidelines), and fostering a culture that encourages innovation and collaboration. Prioritising efforts on open government data is also essential to maximise the value derived from public sector data and achieve social and economic benefits for Romanian society.
Finally, the digital age brings tremendous opportunities for the design and delivery of better public services, that can contribute to improving government reliability and responsiveness and reinforce trust in government. To fulfil this promise, Romania can strive to design and deliver inclusive and proactive services, putting users’ needs first, by developing a shared vision and strategic approach to public services for the whole government. Ensuring quality end-to-end service experience for all users is a critical success factor which requires adopting an omnichannel approach in service design to avoid further digital exclusion. Furthermore, despite ongoing advancements such as the government cloud, the National Interoperability Framework and the implementation of digital identity under the EU eIDAS, further investing in shared digital public infrastructure constitutes another priority for Romania. This includes implementing other critical digital public infrastructure systems, for instance on digital notifications and payments. Lastly, developing standards, guidelines and capacities to effectively design and deliver seamless government services is a must for service teams to be equipped with the right tools.
Governance of digital government
Empower the Authority for Digitalization of Romania (ADR) as the organisation in charge of driving the digital government agenda across the public sector by strategically positioning it within the General Secretariat of the Government (GSG) for greater political support and legitimacy.
Develop -- through an inclusive and collaborative process -- a dedicated digital government strategy with a strategic vision to facilitate the transition from e-government to digital government.
Strengthen the co-ordination and collaboration mechanism to secure engagement of all relevant stakeholders and promote knowledge sharing and institutional learning among practitioners.
Public sector digital capabilities
Establish a comprehensive framework to manage investments in digital government, from planning to execution and monitoring, to maximise the benefits of ICT/digital projects.
Strengthen the co-ordination for the management of digital talent and skills in the public sector to define and implement a dedicated digital skills strategy.
Define dedicated training and upskilling activities to support the implementation and operation of flagship digital government initiatives, such as government cloud and data interoperability.
Towards a data-driven public sector
Define clear leadership for the data-driven public sector agenda and develop a comprehensive data strategy through an open and participatory process.
Prioritise efforts to improve data management skills in the public sector and establish a data-driven culture that facilitates trust, collaboration, exchange, and experimentation with data.
Establish clearer links between the country’s open government data policy and the broader work on data and interoperability.
Service design and delivery in the digital age
Set a shared vision and strategic approach to public service design and delivery across the public sector, highlighting objectives and concrete actions to ensure a coherent approach in the use of digital tools and data.
Promote an omni-channel approach to ensure an optimal end-to-end public service experience for all users, going beyond a “digital by default” approach.
Develop a comprehensive service standard and guidelines, including on service design, user research, ICT procurement and agile management, to support service teams in the design and delivery of government services.
Promote the development of a robust and sustainable ecosystem of digital public infrastructure that includes key building blocks such as digital notification and payment systems.
Establish adequate governance and co-ordination to implement core systems of digital public infrastructure such as government cloud, data interoperability and digital identity.