UNDP classifies El Salvador as having differentiated technological maturity. What does this mean?
The assessment outlines the current situation in El Salvador, identifies challenges, and suggests activities to pursue in order to advance digital maturity. /DEM
The assessment outlines the current situation in El Salvador, highlights the challenges, and suggests steps to take to advance digital maturity. /DEM
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has classified El Salvador as having “differentiating” technological maturity through a digital readiness assessment (DRA).
The DRA took into account the pillars of government, connectivity, regulations, economy, and people, as well as an “expert survey” that addressed the opinions of individuals from the state, non-profit organizations (NGOs), businesses, and academia.
The document also takes into account analyses, opinions, and studies from other organizations such as the World Bank (WB) and the GSMA Association, and was prepared with the support of the El Salvador Secretariat of Innovation.
Under the five pillars, each country’s maturity is rated on a three-level scale with a score ranging from 0.00 to 4.99, with the latter translating into a better outlook.
El Salvador was classified at the differentiator level, from 3.00 to 3.99, a rating in which digital systems are considered fundamental to operations, “driving innovation and improving service delivery.”
A “differentiator” maturity also means advanced adoption of technologies and an environment where access to digital tools is expanding “significantly.”
The results of the assessment reveal that El Salvador improved its maturity from a score of 2.00 to 2.99 in the systematic level to the differentiator level between 2022 and 2024. The UNDP says that in the last two years, the country has implemented various recommendations that were addressed in the latest report.
“According to the results of the combined methodology of stakeholder and expert surveys and external source indicators, El Salvador has been placed in the ‘differentiator’ maturity status in the assessment framework, which means that the country has surpassed the basic stages and shows substantial progress in different key pillars,” the UNDP report said.
The document notes that the country has made significant progress in its digital transformation, digital identity, interoperability, public connectivity, financial services, digital infrastructure, and updated legal framework.
The United Nations agency states that the government’s efforts are “particularly noteworthy” in strengthening digital identity, transforming payment systems, providing free internet access, protecting data, and ensuring cybersecurity.
Based on this score, El Salvador is one step away from achieving a “transformative” rating, in which systems are fully integrated into society, governance, and the economy.
At this final level, technology has equitable qualities that benefit all citizens and are continuously innovating.
Challenges
Despite the country’s progress, there are still challenges that must be addressed, such as promoting a digital culture so that the population can embrace technology, take advantage of the available infrastructure, and integrate the digital market.
El Salvador must also address challenges in digital identification systems, public service delivery, and the adaptation of processes and systems to support emerging technologies.
The UNDP representative in El Salvador, Maribel Gutiérrez, said that although technology should be used to transform people’s lives, this must be accompanied by inclusion so that the “benefits” reach the entire population.
The agency emphasized in the document the importance of consolidating progress through integration and long-term measures. If this is implemented, the country will advance more solidly and rapidly in digitization.
The UNDP said it will work together with the government, the private sector, and academia to address the challenges and turn the diagnosis into a “roadmap.”
The same assessment suggests that El Salvador should design initiatives to digitally transform public management at the government level, while encouraging people to participate in programs to develop their digital skills.
Economically, the country should strengthen ties with incubators and accelerators to promote training and financing programs that prioritize companies that want to move to digital formats.
Fuente: Diario El Mundo
