Ecuador is strengthening interoperability: First steps are underway
More than 50 specialists from around 30 public sector institutions in Ecuador participated in a two-day co-creation workshop aimed at strengthening interoperability across government. The workshop was part of the EU’s Global Gateway-supported Tinkuy project.
Like many countries advancing their digital transformation agendas, Ecuador faces challenges related to fragmented information systems, limited data exchange, and coordination across institutions. Strengthening interoperability is seen as a key enabler for addressing these issues and improving public service delivery.
Facilitated by the experts from the e-Governance Academy (eGA), the event brought together representatives from different public institutions to build a shared understanding of interoperability, identify key challenges, and define practical steps towards a more connected and efficient digital government.
Guided by open and in-depth discussions and interactive exercises, participants moved closer to a common understanding of interoperability as a cornerstone of Ecuador’s digital transformation.
“The workshop helped strengthen technical and institutional dialogue, facilitate the exchange of experiences, and generate contributions aimed at enhancing the interoperability governance framework,” said Patricia Rosero Rivadeneira from the National Directorate of Public Registries (DINARP).
Participants also highlighted the value of bringing different institutions together to exchange experiences and discuss common challenges.
“The atmosphere throughout the workshop was highly collaborative. Participants worked together to define roles and responsibilities that can support better coordination, ownership, and accountability across the interoperability ecosystem,” said Kristina Reinsalu, Project Team Lead at eGA.
The discussions revealed a strong demand for clearer governance arrangements, improved coordination mechanisms, greater data sharing, and stronger technological foundations. During one exercise, participants were asked to allocate limited resources across different priorities, reflecting real-world implementation constraints. Security requirements emerged as the highest priority.
“The TINKUY project is supporting the development of a new interoperability framework for Ecuador, built on strong data governance and data interoperability principles. Responsible and efficient data governance is essential for effective personal data protection,” said Luis Enríquez from Ecuador’s Personal Data Protection Authority.
The workshop outcomes will contribute to the development of a coordinated national approach to interoperability and support Ecuador’s ongoing efforts to modernise public services and strengthen institutional cooperation. The next steps include finalising the interoperability situation analysis, continuing work with key stakeholders on governance, architecture, and institutional responsibilities, and identifying potential technical solutions to support implementation.
Strengthening interoperability is one of the core components of the Tinkuy project, which is supported by the European Union through the Global Gateway initiative. Through its activities, eGA supports the improvement of digital public services in Ecuador by helping redesign public services, enhance the national digital service platform GOB.EC, and strengthen interoperability across government institutions.
Photos by DINARP.
