Putting Saudi Arabia on the 'e-Map' : Note on United Nations Public Administration Network e-Government Index

Abstract

E-mapping covers various layers of data and indicators useful to achieve the above-mentioned objectives. The concept is hence both of an analytical and operational nature, and serves domestic as well as external purposes. This report focuses on the UNPAN e-government index, and constitutes the fourth deliverable of the e-mapping activity offered by the World Bank in the context of its cooperation activity with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MOCIT). The text of the report is divided in four main sections: the introduction sets up the context and rationale against which the e-mapping activity has been designed for Saudi Arabia, and how the UNPAN e-government index fits in it; section two provides some background and methodological consideration regarding the importance of e-government efforts in Saudi Arabia, and the value of tracking such efforts through an index such as UNPAN's e-government index; section three offers a direct analysis of Saudi Arabia's past and current rankings in the UNPAN e-government index, including the identification of gaps (e.g. for data) and possible recommendations to improve the country's ranking in the future; and finally, section four contains a summary of findings and recommendations for future action.