Today, Administrator Samantha Power announced that USAID is exploring ways in which partner countries, including Colombia, Kosovo, and Zambia, can transform the way people connect with their government through the adoption of e-government tools.
This announcement follows Administrator Power’s commitment in January 2023 that the United States would provide at least $650,000 to help jumpstart the adoption of systems like Ukraine’s Diia platform, which connects more than 19 million Ukranians with more than 120 government services, and the digital technology services that underpin them. It launches the first phase of USAID’s effort to support partner countries in completing technical assessments and other steps necessary to develop a one-stop shop app for government services, and potentially scale components of the Diia infrastructure.
Today’s announcement was made at the first-ever Diia in DC event, where Administrator Power and Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov highlighted Diia and spoke about USAID’s longtime support and investment in Ukraine’s digital transformation. They were joined by Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova, Visa’s Chairman of the Board of Directors Al Kelly, Editor-at-Large for New York Magazine Kara Swisher, and Chair of Eurasia Foundation’s Board of Trustees Pamela Spratlen.
Launched in February 2020, Diia is Ukraine’s award-winning mobile application and online portal that has transformed how its citizens engage with the government – providing over 19 million Ukrainians with one-stop access to more than 120 government services. Connection to these services has become even more critical following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and Diia has also been used to support displaced Ukrainians and others impacted by the war.
Starting in 2016, the Government of Ukraine, in close partnership with USAID, laid the groundwork for Diia to become what it is today – through investments in digital public infrastructure, cybersecurity and data privacy, laws and regulations, strengthening and expanding the skills of government officials, and engagement with citizens and civil society. Diia has distinguished Ukraine as a world leader in e-government innovation, and together with USAID, Ukraine is now sharing this technology with other countries, including the underlying infrastructure, process, systems, and approaches that have made it possible.
The expansion of Diia-like systems is part of USAID’s commitment to advance access to digital public goods and encourage countries to adopt technologies that provide safe, trustworthy, and inclusive public and private services, reduce corruption, and foster citizen engagement in political processes. USAID and partner countries – like Colombia, Kosovo, and Zambia, among others – are exploring ways to accelerate progress on digital public infrastructure in their countries in order to provide citizens with more efficient and effective services. USAID will also continue to work closely with Ukraine on both modeling Diia and facilitating partnerships with nations who want to jumpstart progress by adopting parts of Diia.
“Together, we are sending the world a clear message. When democracies are challenged – when we are tested – we work together, share great ideas, and invest in each other’s futures,” said Administrator Power. “We unleash the incredible innovation and insight of our citizens to solve tough problems and make people’s lives better. And in so doing, we emerge stronger than ever.”
“More than three years ago, the team of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine set a goal to digitize 100% of the most popular public services by 2024. Thus, the Diia app was created, which is now used by more than 19 million Ukrainians and has simplified the interaction between people and the state. We launched many important services with the support of USAID. From the very first days of the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the agency has become our reliable partner, enabling Ukrainians to receive public services in a few clicks. I am grateful to USAID for supporting our digital initiatives that have already been implemented and for helping us implement future projects," said Vice Prime Minister Fedorov.
“I am proud of Visa’s work with Vice Prime Minister Fedorov and Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation, in developing Diia into the groundbreaking platform it is today, and credit our collective success to USAID’s partnership and Administrator Power’s leadership in supporting e-government innovation globally,” said Alfred F. Kelly Jr., Executive Chairman, Visa. “We believe Diia can be a model for how governments approach digital transformation, effectively leveraging public and private partnerships – and putting Visa’s unrivaled technology to work – to help bring digital access to more citizens, small businesses, and government partners around the world.”
Diia in DC
