Problem Statement and Purpose
The conflict in Palestine has significantly impacted the public sector in various ways. It has conflict has led to a deterioration of living standards, decreased economic opportunities, and increased dependence on foreign aid, placing considerable stress on the Palestinian public sector (World Bank, 2023). In light of the prolonged conflict, Palestinian government should have to ensure that the flow of development-oriented services is stable and invulnerable to disruptions by any risk, which require enhancing the ability of digital technology to respond to challenges and reducing the social costs associated with delayed digitization of services. Therefore, the study’s objective is to assess the readiness of the public sector, in terms of enhancing the quality of services provided to the Palestinian public, focusing on healthcare, education, and social services. This is in light of the urgent need for digitization imposed by the Corona crisis and political instability. The study formulates a framework that clarifies digital gaps in education, healthcare, and social services for those authorities (ministries) responsible for providing these services. Therefore, the study developed a set of recommendations that aim to bridge digital gaps in targeted sectors, thereby enhancing the level of services provided to citizens. Among the most prominent recommendations are strengthening legislation that allows the use of digital signatures, digital identities, digital transactions, and electronic certification, as well as automated data management.
Methodology
This study relies on descriptive and analytical methods that include collecting primary and secondary. First, we collect data from sources like governmental reports and national sources. Second, semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders in the Palestinian public sector to gather firsthand insights on the current state of ICT-linked public services. Then, we will design a comprehensive analytical framework for digitizable educational, health, and social services at the level of each of the common services between all centers of responsibility, through the central government on the one hand, and the sub-services provided through each center of responsibility on the other hand. Thematic analysis will be used in order to identify recurring themes from interview transcripts and survey responses related to the need for modern ICT-linked public services in conflict-affected areas.
Findings
The study showed that the legislative and legal environment is still hindered by the absence of the legislative council and the lack of a comprehensive and integrated national digitization strategy, which has led to distortions in the legislative environment regulating the comprehensive digital transformation process. In addition to the weak data governance, digital transformation plans are mainly based on external funding, which is usually unstable and irregular, leads to delaying and disrupting the transition plans and projects. Palestine also lacks the fourth generation broadband services (4G) as a result of the occupation’s practices and obstacles imposed on the digital infrastructure.
Proposals
data governance should be strengthen through establishing a central national data center that serves ministries and the public. This is considered a very important step that could fulfill the needs of the government in obtaining the necessary data, analyzing it for informed decision making, and developing electronic government services, in addition to being useful for citizens in processing digital transactions. In addition, it is crucial to establish a unified database (used in real-time), and electronic interconnection between the ministries with overlapping tasks and mandates, and determining which data and information will be exchanged.
References
Larsson, A and Teigland, R. (2020). Digital Transformation and Public Services. Routledge – Taylor & Francis Group Ricciardi, Walter and others. (2019). How to govern the digital transformation of health services. European Journal of Public Health, Volume 29, Issue Supplement_3, October 2019, Pages 7–12, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckz165
Subhash, B. (2014). Public Service Delivery: Role of Information and Communication Technology in Improving Governance and Development Impact. Asian Development Bank Economics Working Paper Series, No. 391.
