The economic affairs observer Rafi Al-Shawesh wrote: “The project to digitize state sectors and link them through an integrated network, aiming to improve the quality of services provided to citizens, is a massive national project and one of the strategic pillars for transitioning to a smart government.
However, despite the massive investments spent on it—estimated in the billions—its impact is still not tangible on the ground.
This is due to a set of fundamental challenges, most notably:
Legislative and political vacuum:
The absence of a clear and integrated legislative and political framework that defines objectives, regulates relations between sectors, and provides an enabling environment for the project.
Shared economic and financial identity:
The lack of a unified financial and economic vision that reflects clear national priorities and ensures investments are directed toward specific, measurable goals.
Absence of comprehensive strategic planning:
The lack of a clear strategic plan with defined phases, indicators, and outputs, which would unify efforts and mobilize resources to achieve a shared vision.
Weak governance and leadership:
The absence of a unified central authority or body with sufficient powers and high competence to assume the task of setting the digital strategy and directly supervising its implementation.
As for the current situation, it can be described by the popular saying:
“Move with the stick and give to Masoud.”
So Masoud, the struggling citizen, accepts anything.”
