e-Governance Academy Consults the European Union and Spanish Project Partner on the Cuba Project
With funding from the European Union and in cooperation with the Spanish development cooperation organisation FIAP, the e-Governance Academy has provided advisory support for Cuba’s digital development within the framework of the “Cuba Digital” project. In light of the public debate related to the hardware procurement in Estonia, the e-Governance Academy is consulting with the European Union and its Spanish project partner on the Cuba project.
“The e-Governance Academy works with developing countries where the security and domestic political situation can change rapidly. As the Cuba project is funded by the European Union and stems from the EU’s cooperation with Cuba, we have considered this a sufficient basis for participating in the project. Should the European Union or the Estonian government update its Cuba policy, the e-Governance Academy will adapt its approach accordingly. We are consulting with our project partners regarding the Cuba project,” said Hannes Astok, Executive Director of the e-Governance Academy.
The Cuba project began in 2024. It is based on the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement concluded in 2016 between the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Cuba, which establishes a framework for modernising Cuba’s public administration. In particular, Article 25 of the Agreement defines areas of cooperation, including improving organisational efficiency, enhancing the quality of service delivery, and promoting digital government initiatives.
Within the project, the e-Governance Academy’s role is to support Cuba’s Ministry of Digital Affairs in creating an e-services portal, developing e-services, and implementing data exchange, with the aim of improving Cuban citizens’ access to public services. To carry out these activities, a hardware procurement has also been initiated. Under this procurement, the e-Governance Academy is acquiring the necessary hardware to establish secure data exchange for the development and provision of e-services in Cuba. “The hardware is intended exclusively for the implementation of the project activities,” Hannes Astok emphasised.
The e-Governance Academy is a non-governmental foundation dedicated to implementing development cooperation projects. Its activities focus on supporting countries in their digital transformation.
“Working with developing countries is an opportunity to support their transition towards greater democracy and openness. By exporting Estonia’s digital state experience, we encourage developing countries to move towards more transparent public administration, which reduces corruption and creates the conditions for democratic development. The efficient and transparent functioning of the Estonian state has also inspired developing countries to start with similar digital initiatives. For developing countries to truly understand the European way of life, we must do something tangible in those countries,” said Astok.
Since 2003, the e-Governance Academy has advised over 300 organisations in more than 145 countries worldwide. The e-Governance Academy is among the project partners accredited by the European Union. In EU-funded projects, the e-Governance Academy does not represent the Estonian state and acts as an implementing organisation. In recent years, the European Union has financed more than 80% of the e-Governance Academy’s digital development projects.