E-Governance Academy

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e-Governance Academy (eGA, Estonian: E-riigi Akadeemia Sihtasutus) is a non-profit foundation that assists public sector institutions worldwide in digital transformation. [1] The organization was founded in 2002, by a joint initiative of the Government of Estonia, Open Society Institute (OSI), and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). [2]

Contents

eGA is an advisory observer to the Secure Identity Alliance (SIA), [3] member of the Estonian Roundtable for Development Cooperation [4]  and partner of the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE). [5]

Board and experts

The foundation is governed by the Supervisory Board that includes researchers, top-level managers, and senior officials of Estonia and the European Union: Siim Raie, Paul Timmers, Andre Krull, Margus Kolga, and Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the fourth President of Estonia (2006-2016). [6]

eGA’s team includes former senior Estonian government decision-makers who have taken part in the creation of e-Estonia: Linnar Viik, [7] Hannes Astok, Arvo Ott, [8] Uuno Vallner, [9] Liia Hänni. [10]

Activities

So far, eGA has provided assistance and consultations to more than 130 countries around the world, [11] including Ukraine, [12] Benin, [13] Mongolia, [14] Sierra Leone, [15] Barbados, [16] [17] the Cayman Islands, [18] Guyana, [19] [20] [21] the Faroe Islands, [22] India, [23] etc. Partnering with the Australia’s Cyber Cooperation Programme [24] and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, [25] the e-Governance Academy assessed the digital transformation capabilities and resources of the Pacific Islands. [26] Together with the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policie (FIIAP), it supports digital transformation in Ukraine and its harmonisation with the EU Digital Single Market. [27] [28]

The organisation has assisted the implementation of the Estonian origin secured data exchange platform X-Road in Benin, [29] [30] [31] Faroe Islands, [32] [33] Palestine, [34] Kyrgyzstan, [35] and Ukraine. [36] [37]

Trainings on e-democracy and cyber security have been provided for government officials in Ukraine [38] [39] and Moldova. [40]

A joint venture with Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting Co., Ltd (MURC) was established to provide digital transformation services for governments in Japan and the Asian region. [41] [42]

National Cyber Security Index

eGA created and maintains the National Cyber Security Index (NCSI). Ranking more than 160 countries, it is a detailed cyber security assessment tool, [43] that has also been listed among the International Good Cyber Stories. [44]

e-Governance Conference

The e-Governance Conference [45] [46] [47] is an annual event that brings together digital transformation makers and experts from developing countries around the world. [48] [49]

Publications

The handbook “e-Estonia: e-Governance in Practice” covers the main aspects of creating and managing digital society. [50] The handbook “e-Estonia: e-Governance in Practice” became a bestselling book in Japan. [51]

eGA has published a review on the state of e-democracy and cyber security of the Eastern Partnership countries, [52] analyzed and evaluated the current state of e-governance in African countries [53]  and compiled recommendations to develop the e-government in Australia. [54]

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