POST COVID-19 NATIONAL ICT ROADMAP OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES AND LEVERAGING NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR ICT INDUSTRY
Developing the National ICT Roadmap of Bangladesh for ICT Division to combat the effect of COVID-19 through ICT
Project objective:
The overarching objective of this project is to develop a comprehensive Post-COVID-19 National ICT Roadmap for Bangladesh to mitigate the negative impacts of the pandemic on the ICT sector and leverage evolving opportunities for digital transformation across various key sectors.
This includes:
- Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on the ICT industry and related sectors (Startup Ecosystem, Digital Commerce, Agriculture and Food Security, Health, Education, Employment and Skills, Labor Migration and Remittance, Social Protection, Financial Inclusion, Supply Chain, Private Sector Transformation, Public Sector Transformation and Innovation).
- Identifying systemic constraints hindering the growth and resilience of these sectors.
- Proposing immediate, mid-term, and long-term policy measures and actionable agendas to foster recovery, growth, and digital integration.
Project outcome:
- Detailed COVID-19 Impact Assessment: A comprehensive understanding of the specific negative impacts of COVID-19 on various sub-sectors within ICT (Software, Emerging Tech, BPO, Freelancing, ISP/Infrastructure, Digital Devices), as well as on key economic and social sectors (e.g., fall in revenue, productivity, investment, rise in unemployment, disruption of supply chains).
- Identification of Systemic Constraints: A clear articulation of the underlying systemic constraints within the overall ICT industry and its sub-sectors, and how these were exacerbated by the pandemic.
- Identified Evolving Opportunities: A catalog of new opportunities for ICT response and digital transformation that emerged in the COVID-19 context across all covered sectors.
- Developed ICT Roadmap: A strategic roadmap with proposed immediate, mid, and long-term policy measures, including potential action agenda items tailored for each ICT sub-sector (Software, Emerging Tech, BPO, Freelancing, ISP & Infrastructure, Digital Device).
- Sector-Specific Thematic Papers and 2-Pagers: In-depth analysis and concise summaries for each identified sector (Startup Ecosystem, Digital Commerce, Agriculture and Food Security, Health, Education, Employment and Skills, Labor Migration and Remittance, Social Protection, Financial Inclusion, Supply Chain, Private Sector Transformation, Public Sector Transformation and Innovation), outlining their situation before and after COVID-19, estimated impacts, opportunities, and tailored roadmaps/action agendas.
- Operational Plans for Action Agendas: Concrete operational plans for specific initiatives, such as “Cattle Kiosks on Mobile application,” “uber-like system for agri-machinery rentals,” “digital query response and e-training for farmers,” “digital marketplace and commodity exchange,” “crisis management system for migrants,” and “integrated service delivery platform for migrants.”
Locations the project served: Nationwide
Impact:
- Resilience and Growth of the ICT Sector: The ICT sector in Bangladesh becomes more resilient to future shocks and achieves sustained growth, potentially exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
- Digital Transformation Across Key Sectors: Widespread adoption and effective utilization of ICT solutions in critical sectors like agriculture, health, education, commerce, and public services, leading to increased efficiency, accessibility, and innovation.
- Improved Livelihoods and Employment: Creation of new job opportunities, reskilling of the workforce, and enhanced income stability, particularly for freelancers and vulnerable populations affected by the pandemic.
- Enhanced Food Security: Improved agricultural practices, market linkages, and supply chain efficiency through ICT interventions, contributing to better food security and dietary diversity.
- Strengthened Healthcare System: Leveraging ICT to improve health service delivery, disease identification, and overall health outcomes, especially in response to public health crises.
- More Inclusive Education: Broader access to quality education through digital learning platforms and methodologies, bridging educational disparities.
- Better Managed Labor Migration and Remittances: Improved support systems and digital financial services for migrant workers, potentially enhancing remittances and reintegration efforts.
- Strengthened Social Protection Programs: More efficient and targeted delivery of social safety net programs through ICT integration, reducing exclusion errors and improving grievance handling.
- Increased Financial Inclusion: Expansion of digital financial services and improved financial literacy, leading to greater access to financial resources for individuals and SMEs.
- Resilient and Efficient Supply Chains: Modernization and digitalization of supply chains, reducing disruptions and improving efficiency in the movement of goods.
- Transformed Private Sector: The private sector adapts to the new normal, leveraging digital technologies for business expansion, innovation, and resilience.
- Modernized and Innovative Public Sector: Public services become more citizen-centered, paperless, and data-driven through institutionalization of innovation and enhanced administrative capacity.
- Reduced Negative Economic and Social Consequences of Future Crises: Bangladesh is better prepared to handle future crises by having a robust digital infrastructure and responsive policy frameworks in place.
Project timeline:
| Jan, 2020- Apr, 2021 |
Partners:
- Windmill Advertising Ltd.
- Aspire to Innovate Programme
- ICT Division
- LightCastle Partners
- Innovision Consulting
- Startup Bangladesh Limited
- University of Dhaka
- shujog.xyz