Digital Ecosystem Country Assessment (DECA): Moldova
USAID, Digital Frontiers Project (2022), 104 pp.
Contains 22 figures, 20 boxes, 3 tables, acronyms pp. 7-8
"Key findings include: Moldova is home to a competitive telecommunications market, affordable internet, and well developed internet infrastructure, much of which has been achieved over the last 10 years; cybersecurity implementation and capacity have not kept pace with policy development. The government introduced regulatory and policy measures on cybersecurity in an effort to harmonize with EU protocols. However, implementation requires support due in part to a fragmented cybersecurity ecosystem, a shallow cybersecurity talent pool, and gaps in government technical capacity; digital literacy is a clear policy priority and Moldova is on par with its regional counterparts when it comes to the public’s general digital skill levels; Moldova’s digital government systems and services are advanced with more than 200 public services partially or fully digitalized; Moldova has a relatively open environment in terms of internet freedom but gaps persist with regard to key legislation on data protection, access to information, and the protection of children and youth from digital harms; The ICT sector is experiencing exponential growth, but it is afflicted by an undersupply of technically skilled talent and a shortage of promising technology startups; while the National Bank of Moldova does not have a dedicated financial inclusion unit or a strategy to improve outcomes, e-commerce is at the forefront of the government’s agenda." (https://www.usaid.gov/digital-development)
SECTION I: ABOUT THIS ASSESSMENT, 13
SECTION II: DECA FINDINGS, 14
Pillar 1: Digital Infrastructure and Adoption, 14
Regulatory, legislative, and policy context -- Competitiveness of the telecommunications sector -- Strong connectivity infrastructure -- Affordable and competitively priced internet -- Private sector displays lukewarm interest in 5G rollout due to low market demand -- Cybersecurity policy, capacity, and threats: gaps persist -- Protection of safety of children online is gaining ground -- Digital media and information literacy -- Digital inclusion: unpacking an inverse gender gap
Pillar 2: Digital Society, Rights, and Governance, 36
Policies, regulation, and legislation -- Digital government: Advanced delivery and slow uptake of digital government services -- Digital government: Enablers for transparency, accountability, and participation -- Guarantees for internet freedom and digital rights
Pillar 3: Digital Economy, 59
The persistent skills gap -- A tech startup ecosystem in early stages of development -- Digital financial services: A missing agenda -- Room to grow in e-commerce
SECTION III: RECOMMENDATIONS, 76
1. Strengthen cybersecurity resilience by supporting adoption of a whole-of-government approach, 79
2. Promote demand based proof of concept initiatives in support of a safe, secure, and inclusive rollout of 5G, 79
3. Enhance digital literacy and inclusion initiatives through the development of baseline research and strategic partnerships, 80
4. Bolster government capacity for data protection policy implementation and civil society capacity for holding the government accountable, 81
5. Enhance local efforts for e-democracy through tailored trainings on the development of participatory digital tools, 81
6. Strengthen local government capacity to integrate digital systems that increase transparency and data-driven decision-making, 82
7. Increase awareness of digital rights protection best practices in partnership with the Internet Governance Forum, 82
8. Coordinate with other donors to expand government digital services with a focus on supporting SME growth, 83
9. Use innovative approaches to build, attract, and retain technical talent, 83
10. Strengthen the technology innovation ecosystem by attracting qualified talent and increasing the inflow of capital, 84
11. Expand the focus on financial inclusion, especially the digital kind, by supporting research, enabling FinTechs, and digitalizing remittances, 84
12. Strengthen e-commerce infrastructure to support growth and integration, focus on rural market development, 85
APPENDICES, 87
SECTION II: DECA FINDINGS, 14
Pillar 1: Digital Infrastructure and Adoption, 14
Regulatory, legislative, and policy context -- Competitiveness of the telecommunications sector -- Strong connectivity infrastructure -- Affordable and competitively priced internet -- Private sector displays lukewarm interest in 5G rollout due to low market demand -- Cybersecurity policy, capacity, and threats: gaps persist -- Protection of safety of children online is gaining ground -- Digital media and information literacy -- Digital inclusion: unpacking an inverse gender gap
Pillar 2: Digital Society, Rights, and Governance, 36
Policies, regulation, and legislation -- Digital government: Advanced delivery and slow uptake of digital government services -- Digital government: Enablers for transparency, accountability, and participation -- Guarantees for internet freedom and digital rights
Pillar 3: Digital Economy, 59
The persistent skills gap -- A tech startup ecosystem in early stages of development -- Digital financial services: A missing agenda -- Room to grow in e-commerce
SECTION III: RECOMMENDATIONS, 76
1. Strengthen cybersecurity resilience by supporting adoption of a whole-of-government approach, 79
2. Promote demand based proof of concept initiatives in support of a safe, secure, and inclusive rollout of 5G, 79
3. Enhance digital literacy and inclusion initiatives through the development of baseline research and strategic partnerships, 80
4. Bolster government capacity for data protection policy implementation and civil society capacity for holding the government accountable, 81
5. Enhance local efforts for e-democracy through tailored trainings on the development of participatory digital tools, 81
6. Strengthen local government capacity to integrate digital systems that increase transparency and data-driven decision-making, 82
7. Increase awareness of digital rights protection best practices in partnership with the Internet Governance Forum, 82
8. Coordinate with other donors to expand government digital services with a focus on supporting SME growth, 83
9. Use innovative approaches to build, attract, and retain technical talent, 83
10. Strengthen the technology innovation ecosystem by attracting qualified talent and increasing the inflow of capital, 84
11. Expand the focus on financial inclusion, especially the digital kind, by supporting research, enabling FinTechs, and digitalizing remittances, 84
12. Strengthen e-commerce infrastructure to support growth and integration, focus on rural market development, 85
APPENDICES, 87
