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Description
Slovensko digital is concerning with the functional problem and efficiency improvement of the eGovernment, and also the approval of IT project decisions in Slovakia in connection with corrupcy. A functioning online space, including the awareness of citizens about public affairs, should be part of a well-functioning state. The project, You are Slovakia.Digital Too, points out the lack of information, corrupt practices in the field of large IT orders, low quality of emerging electronic services etc.
The project is contributing to solving the unfavourable situation in Slovakia in several ways. First of all, they enable the public to know what is happening within the eGovernment, more effectively and efficiently, which is important for open communication between the government and the citizens. They are also gradually expanding the team of eGovernment experts who can responsibly create this online space.
The project helps the citizens engaging themselves in the activities of civic associations and public policymaking as simply and actively as possible, while actively engaging the IT community in creating better digital services. At the same time, they also offer the opportunity to participate in the new volunteer program, Návody.Digital (Instructions.Digital). This also shows the potential of the project not only in the scope of its implementation but also after the end of the project.
As the project promoters stated, the main goal of the project is building a community of committed, informed and participating people not only interested in events in the field of eGovernment in Slovakia but also actively involved in activities to improve the current state of eGovernment in terms of policymaking, IT project evaluation, or community IT application development. The project itself is beneficial mostly for the citizens who will have the opportunity to actively participate in the creation of a better and clearer eGovernment system and to be well informed.
Summary of project results
Thanks to the project, the organization managed to continuously inform but also to involve not only the professional and general public in the events within the eGovernment. It was realized a set of several activities, from involving citizens, experts and volunteers in specific activities and project outputs to organizing online discussions for the general public (6 discussions with more than 1000 viewers). As part of the project, it was necessary to respond to the COVID pandemic. In cooperation with the media, the project implementers not only communicated information about critical IT projects, but also presented community projects and activities in which the public could participate. The community project - Návody.Digital (Instructions.Digital) portal, which simplifies citizens'' orientation in the state''s e-services and helps to deal with various life situations through the already existing state e-services, was a great success (ITAPA award, 2nd place). Thanks to the project, the project promoters managed to connect interested actors from professional associations to become more interested in the state''s IT projects.
This is how it was created for example the tax levy working group, which actively communicates with the state and through its activities intervenes in the formation of processes, amendments to legislation in the field of tax levy issues (e.g., currently the topic of electronic invoicing). "The project enabled us to systematically inform the public about the dates of public discussions of IT projects, preparatory market consultations, public procurement, important legislative milestones and decisions at the level of state policies" stated the project promoters. The community of experts regularly participated in consultations with public decision-making bodies and actively commented on the proposals of the prepared IT services of the state, draft laws and through the created platforms the public was involved in the project activities in the field of eGovernment. As part of the Red Flags project, experts evaluated the planned IT projects of the state from various aspects, updated the data and thus the public has data on IT projects for more than EUR 800 million available in one place.