'Once-only-principle' fundamental in e-Governance Blueprint draft

Kathmandu, Feb. 25

The e-Governance Board of Nepal has published the initial draft of the 'e-Governance Blueprint' with exclusive 'National Data Strategy' and 'once only principle'.

According to the draft of the Blueprint published on Monday evening with a one-week window to seek suggestions, legal and structural arrangements will be made for the implementation of the 'Once-Only Principle' so that personally identifiable data will not be collected repeatedly.

"This principle aims to create an environment where individuals and companies do not have to provide their data again after providing it once to obtain various services from different agencies. This ensures the authenticity of the data source and establishes the basis for inter-agency data exchange," read the draft.

It said that since different agencies are responsible for storing different types of data, various types of personal identification data are not available through a single source, making them more secure from a cybersecurity perspective. For example, health service databases include health-related data such as prescriptions and operations, but not data such as the patient's name, date of birth and address.

This makes it very difficult for cybersecurity-targeted attackers to consolidate the necessary information which increases operational costs for potential cyber-attacks and reduces the likelihood of such attacks, according to the document.

The draft has also proposed formulation of the 'National Data Strategy' to make data storage, exchange, management and use more effective.

The strategy is expected to set common standards, rules and principles.

"This strategy will help to improve the quality and interoperability of data by aligning data sets across public bodies, streamline the development of new digital services and provide a framework for data management and use between the federal, provincial and local levels," read the draft.

According to the Board, there is a need for a national-level strategic document to transform the delivery of public services through digital means has been recognised. So, this Blueprint has been developed to meet the same objective by referencing international frameworks such as the Global Digital Compact, GovStack, Digital Public Infrastructure, and other established reference models.

The draft noted that while Nepal has made significant progress in ICT, with initiatives like the Digital Nepal Framework, challenges remain in fully implementing digital governance.

This Blueprint builds on existing policies such as the ICT Policy, 2072, the Government Enterprise Architecture Directives, 2076, and the Digital Nepal Framework, 2076. It aims to create a cohesive digital ecosystem, ensuring data security, interoperability, and citizen-centric services, said Dipesh Bista, CEO of the Board.

The draft of the Blueprint also mentioned that Nepal has made strides in digital governance, with policies like the ICT Policy, 2072, and the National Cyber Security Policy, 2080. However, challenges such as lack of coordination, insufficient infrastructure, and limited digital literacy persist. This Blueprint aims to address these gaps by establishing a robust digital governance framework.

It claimed that the e-Governance Blueprint provides a comprehensive roadmap for Nepal’s digital transformation. By implementing the strategies outlined in this document, Nepal aims to enhance service delivery, promote transparency and foster innovation in governance.

The draft of the blueprint aims at developing necessary digital infrastructure, establishing policy and institutional frameworks for digital service delivery, building institutional capacity for digital transformation, and promoting innovation, monitoring, and development in digital governance. 

It has covered various areas including digital transformation of government processes, simplification of public and private sector services, establishment of digital government and digital society, coordination among federal, provincial, and local governments, development of digital literacy and skills, and promotion of regional and international cooperation in digital governance. 

Likewise, the Blueprint mentions various strategic pillars of the e-governance development and implementation. They include establishing a high-level institutional framework for digital governance, developing policies and regulations for digital transformation and strengthening coordination among government agencies. 

Likewise, formulating policy and regulatory framework, setting digital enablers and service development, enhancing digital literacy and skills, setting digital standards and guidelines and forging better regional and international coordination, innovation, monitoring, and development are also the strategic pillars of the proposed policy.

It has accorded priority to the development of a national data policy to ensure data security and interoperability, expansion of affordable and accessible internet services, development of a unified digital communication platform, and establishment of a secure data exchange platform. 

Similarly, developing standards for data cataloguing and service indexing, creating guidelines for digital service delivery and cybersecurity, and establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) for digital governance are also highlighted in the draft.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 February 2025.