Strengthening Public Service Delivery through E Government Development in Somalia

In many parts of the world, the relationship between a citizen and their government is defined by long lines, lost paperwork, and the quiet frustration of trying to reach an official who may not be there. For a nation rebuilding itself after years of conflict, this friction is not just an inconvenience; it is a barrier to trust. The concept of e-government offers a different path. It is the idea that a country can use digital tools—computers, internet connections, and secure databases—to handle public tasks like registering births, collecting taxes, or awarding contracts. When these systems work well, they can make government faster and more honest. However, the success of such a shift depends on more than just buying computers. It requires a foundation of trust, a network of roads that carry data as well as people, and laws that protect the privacy of everyone involved. Without these, a digital government risks becoming a tool that only the wealthy or the well-connected can use, leaving the most vulnerable behind.

A team of researchers from universities in Mogadishu and the Somali National University has examined how this digital transition is unfolding in Somalia. They looked at the current state of affairs to understand why progress has been slow and to propose a way forward that actually helps ordinary people. Their work suggests that while Somalia has started to introduce digital systems, the effort is currently uneven and fragmented. The researchers found that the country has made early steps in areas like civil registration and tax collection, but these efforts often exist in isolation. One department might have a digital system that does not talk to another, forcing citizens to repeat their information or visit multiple offices. This lack of connection means that the potential for efficiency is lost, and the promise of transparency remains unfulfilled.

The study highlights that the problem is not a lack of technology, but a lack of readiness across the whole system. In cities like Mogadishu, where internet access is better, digital tools show promise for making procurement and oversight clearer. Yet, the researchers point out that these gains are fragile. They are constrained by a patchwork of infrastructure, where rural areas lack the basic connectivity needed to participate. Furthermore, many citizens and even government workers lack the digital skills required to navigate these new systems. The authors argue that if the government simply moves services online without fixing these underlying issues, it will not solve the problem of exclusion; it will merely move the barrier from a physical office counter to a smartphone screen. This shift could deepen the divide between those who can access the digital world and those who cannot, eroding trust in public institutions rather than rebuilding it.

Drawing on evidence from other nations in Africa, the researchers note that successful digital transformation requires a strategy that fits the local reality. In places like Kenya, digital platforms have reduced delays and corruption, but those successes were often weakened by poor system integration and high costs for data. The Somali team observes that the country faces similar hurdles, including weak coordination between different government agencies and a lack of legal frameworks to protect citizen data. They warn that without strong laws on privacy and cybersecurity, people will be afraid to use digital services, fearing their personal information could be stolen or misused. Trust, they emphasize, is built on safety and transparency, not just speed.

To move forward, the authors propose a careful, step-by-step approach that prioritizes the needs of the people over the purchase of new technology. They suggest that the government should focus first on building core systems that can talk to one another, specifically for high-value tasks like birth registration and tax collection. This would prevent the duplication of records and the confusion that comes from siloed projects. At the same time, efforts must be made to expand internet access to underserved areas so that digital services do not remain confined to urban centers. The researchers also stress the importance of training, both for the civil servants who run these systems and for the citizens who use them. Finally, they call for a participatory process, where the government tests small projects, listens to feedback, and adapts the services to fit the actual lives of Somalis.

The researchers conclude that the path to a stronger Somalia lies in treating digital transformation as a governance reform, not just a technical upgrade. If the country builds a digital state that is inclusive, secure, and connected, it can lay a practical foundation for stronger public institutions. However, if the effort is rushed or poorly coordinated, it risks reproducing the same administrative weaknesses in a new, electronic form. The evidence suggests that the potential for improvement is real, but it will only be realized if the focus remains on creating a system that every citizen can access, trust, and navigate.