In an era where digital technology is rapidly reshaping societies, the Joint SDG Fund is harnessing this potential to drive sustainable development. With initiatives that extend across continents, the Fund is leading digital transformation projects aimed at revolutionizing public services and enhancing the lives of millions in Kenya and Guatemala.
Central to this effort is the High Impact Track (HIT), a strategic initiative designed to generate rapid, far-reaching change. HIT focuses not only on implementing new technologies but also on creating systemic changes that benefit the most vulnerable populations. This approach enables the Fund to leverage emerging opportunities, secure government support, and foster long-term commitments to digital advancement.
Kenya: Advancing Digital Inclusion and Innovation
In Kenya, the Joint SDG Fund's programme aims to impact two million people by developing digital infrastructure and supporting digital innovation. The joint programme focuses on upgrading digital hubs, fostering entrepreneurship, and facilitating regulatory shifts to create a secure environment for digital growth. This holistic approach is designed to build a dynamic digital economy, addressing the digital divide through comprehensive literacy programmes and a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) for government officials and civil servants.
The investment in digital literacy aims to empower government officials with the skills required to manage the evolving digital platform economy effectively. In partnership with the Kenya School of Government, the joint programme will train 20,000 officials, enhancing governance capabilities and ensuring that the digital transformation safeguards fundamental human rights. Additionally, by promoting local digital innovation hubs and improving access to capital, the programme aims to facilitate the growth of digital platforms that address local needs, generate employment, and drive economic development.
Guatemala: Transforming Public Services Through Digitalization
In Guatemala, the Joint SDG Fund's strategy focuses on accelerating the digital transformation of public services, with a particular emphasis on women, youth, and indigenous communities. The joint programme aims to address existing gaps that hinder digital initiatives, promoting digital human rights and enhancing citizens' access to essential services. By integrating fragmented digital innovation efforts, the programme seeks to create a cohesive digital government agenda aligned with Guatemala's national priorities for 2024-2028.
The expected outcomes include improved digital public services for over 875,000 citizens through interoperable digital public goods, such as a digital identity platform. The programme will also benefit over 660,000 citizens by simplifying access to social security services via a one-stop online portal. Additionally, more than 96,000 individuals will be registered in the Social Household Registry, ensuring access to social protection services.
The programme involves capacity building for public officials, adoption of ethical digital technologies, and development of regulatory frameworks for inclusive digital transformation. Significant financial contributions from the Inter-American Development Bank, the Korea Infrastructure Development Cofinancing Facility, and USAID underpin this effort, ensuring its scalability and sustainability.
A Structured Approach to Digital Development
The Joint SDG Fund's investments in Kenya and Guatemala exemplify a structured approach to digital transformation, emphasizing scale and sustainability. By fostering strategic partnerships and securing substantial financial resources, the Fund is not only implementing projects but also laying the groundwork for lasting systemic change. These initiatives offer a model for how digital technology can be leveraged to address key developmental challenges.
As digital transformation continues to shape the future, the Joint SDG Fund's work in these countries highlights the potential for technology to bridge divides, foster local innovation, and enhance public services. By focusing on readiness, government engagement, and inclusive digital strategies, the Fund is creating a blueprint for digital development that has the potential to drive progress and improve lives on a broad scale.
Note:
All joint programs of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and our private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
