This document discusses the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in shaping information and communication technology (ICT) strategies and policies in Slovenia. It provides background on Slovenia and its progress toward becoming a digital society. NGOs play an important role in addressing challenges like digital inequality and skills, but have limited resources. In 2014, a network of NGOs called NVO-VID was established to advocate for public interest in digital development and influence policies. The document argues that NGOs provide a valuable non-technical perspective and should have a role in forums on internet governance.

1. 3rd
Regional Internet Governance Forum
Creating Regional Development Environment of ICT Innovations
December 3-4, 2015, Baku, Azerbaijan
NGOs as stakeholders of ICT strategies:
the case of Slovenia
Simon Delakorda, M.Sc.
www.inepa.si/english

2. CONTENT
1. Republic of Slovenia
2. Digital Slovenia
3. NGOs as stakeholders of ICT strategies
4. Information society as a public policy
5. NGOs in relation to ICT strategies
6. NVO-VID network
7. Main activities
8. Main challenges of information society
9. Conclusion

3. 1. Republic of Slovenia

20,273 km²

2.063.000 population

1991 an independent state

2004 EU membership

2007 € currency

2010 OECD membership Pictures and data source: www.wikipedia.org

4. 2. Digital Slovenia

EU Digital Economy and Society Index (2015): rank 19 of 28

UN E-Government Development Index (2014): rank 41 of 193

OECD Open Government Data Index (2014): rank 20 of 34
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Slovenian Internet Forum (national IGF) established in 2013
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Previous highlights:
- UN E-Participation Index (2010): rank 20 of 193
- Cap Gemini eGov Benchmark (2007): rank 2nd
in the EU
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National Smart Specialisation Strategy (2015) including smart
cities and e-health

Strategic initiative Digital Slovenia 2020

5. 3. NGOs as stakeholders of ICT strategies

information society as a public policy in Slovenia

NGOs in relation to ICT strategies

National network of NGOs for an inclusive information society
(NVO-VID)
- main activities
- main challenges of information society

6. 4. Information society as a public policy

Institutional instability and fragmentation
- Ministry of information society established in 2000 and abolished in 2004
- Directorate of information society now part of Ministry of Education, Science and
Sport
- e-goverment under authority of Ministry of Public administration
- digital innovation and entrepreneurship under authority of Ministry of Economic
Development and Technology

Pluralism of interests
- institutional decision-making dominated by corporate interest groups
- individual self-promoting opinion-makers favoured by mass media
- NGOs sector atomized, collective actions are rare

Challenges
- lack of sustainable and structures civil dialogue (participatory democracy)
- implementation deficit resulting in information society setback comparing to the
EU

7. 5. NGOs in relation to ICT strategies

Limitations:
- mostly voluntary based
- low capacities to address complex policy issues
- limited funding

Advantages:
- dealing with less spectacular but very important challenges (digital inequality,
digital skills, internet access etc.)
- field work
- public interest watch-dogging
- policy advocacy and mobilization

8. 6. NVO-VID network

Network of NGOs for an inclusive information society
established in 2014 (financially supported by the ESF)

9. 7. Main activities

influencing digital society public policies and legislation

open software and on-line services (NGO cloud)

strengthening NGOs capacities (webinars, workshops)

collaboration with ICT companies (Smart cities)

rising awareness about opportunities and challenges of
information society

50 NGO members

10. 8. Main challenges of information society
Data source: NVO-VID Network, 2015

11. 9. Conclusion

NGOs are providing a valuable “the other side of the coin”
perspective on information society development and internet
governance

NGOs are traditionally sensible of societal / human (non-
technical) perspective of ICTs

“new society” is not only about internet wires but also about
values, culture, skills and social justice

it is important for NGOs to develop a collective identity
(mission) as stakeholders advocating for public interest in
digital society development

Proposal:
- adding NGOs panel to the RIGFAZ 2016 agenda

12. THANK YOU!
simon.delakorda@inepa.si
www.inepa.si
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