Kyrgyzstan's Digital Public Infrastructure Journey: Insights and Lessons

This video provides an overview of Kyrgyzstan’s journey in developing and implementing Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), shared by the Minister of Digital Development and the co-founder of the Kyrgyz Internet Society. It details key initiatives like biometric elections, the Tunduk interoperability platform, and the move towards mobile-first services, offering practical insights and lessons for other nations embarking on similar digital transformations. The discussion highlights successes, challenges (particularly legal frameworks and mindset shifts), and the importance of collaboration.

Synthesized Summary

Kyrgyzstan’s digital transformation journey, initiated around 2014, focused on building foundational DPI layers. A core early step was establishing the principle of a unique identification number for each citizen [02:20]. Significant progress includes the 2016-17 introduction of biometric elections using fingerprint verification, which enhanced transparency and enabled same-day result tabulation [00:11, 15:39]. In 2018, Kyrgyzstan launched “Tunduk,” an interoperability system modeled after Estonia’s X-Road, facilitating secure data exchange between government agencies and, increasingly, with the private sector, reducing the need for paper documents and streamlining processes [03:10, 04:55].

The country is pursuing an agile, simultaneous development strategy across infrastructure, digital solutions (like online registration for residence, vehicles, property [15:10, 15:23]), legal frameworks (including a new Digital Codex to address outdated laws [13:18]), and mobile applications. The goal is to consolidate all public services into a single mobile app, leveraging widespread mobile phone ownership (7-8 million phones for 7 million people) and affordable internet access [06:45, 09:16, 10:02]. Digital documents are now legally binding, allowing citizens to use their mobile phones as valid ID for various services [16:41, 17:33]. Key challenges involve integrating legacy IT systems (“zoo of IT systems” [11:26]), updating legislation, and fostering a digital-ready mindset among officials and the public [10:35, 24:21]. Success hinges on strong collaboration between government, civil society, the private sector, and international partners [18:33, 25:47].

Key Learnings & Recommendations

• Foundational ID is Crucial: Implementing a unique digital ID per citizen early on (2014) provided a base for subsequent digital services [02:20].
• Biometrics Enhance Trust: Using biometric data (fingerprints) for elections significantly increased transparency and efficiency in the voting process [00:11, 15:39].
• Interoperability Unlocks Value: The Tunduk (X-Road based) platform enables seamless and secure data sharing between government agencies and the private sector, reducing bureaucracy and paper usage [03:10, 03:55, 04:55].
• Mobile-First is Key: Leveraging high mobile penetration and affordable internet, consolidating services into a single mobile application makes services highly accessible [06:45, 09:16, 08:10].
• Digital Documents Simplify Life: Making digital versions of IDs, driver’s licenses, and other documents legally valid simplifies interactions with both public and private entities [16:17, 17:41]. Approximately 1.5 million digital IDs were issued remotely in the first year [18:13].
• Legislation Must Evolve: Outdated laws are a major impediment; developing a comprehensive Digital Codex can address this more effectively than piecemeal changes [12:30, 13:18].
• Agile Development Works: Pursuing multiple DPI components (infrastructure, services, legal) simultaneously using an agile approach can accelerate progress [20:18].
• Collaboration is Essential: Active engagement and support from civil society, the private sector, and international partners are vital for driving adoption and ensuring relevance [07:36, 18:33, 25:47].
• Mindset Change is Hard but Necessary: Overcoming resistance to change and fostering a digital mindset across government and society is a critical, ongoing challenge [24:21].
• Digitization is a Continuous Journey: DPI implementation is not a project with an end date but an ongoing process of improvement and adaptation [23:42].

Key Visual Information

• Fingerprints: Icon used to represent biometric authentication for voting [00:25, 15:53].
• News Article: Visual showing a headline about Kyrgyzstan using biometric registration for elections [03:06].
• Tunduk Logo: Logo for the Electronic Interoperability Center “Tunduk” [03:24].
• Yurt: Image of a traditional Kyrgyz yurt, explaining the origin and symbolism of the name “Tunduk” (the yurt’s capstone, bringing elements together) [03:35, 07:27].
• Tunduk Mobile App: Screenshot of the Tunduk mobile application interface showing various service categories [07:23, 10:19, 18:50].
• Population Statistic: Graphic showing Kyrgyzstan’s population as ~7 million [09:24].
• Mobile Phone Statistic: Graphic indicating ~8 million mobile phones in use [09:32].
• Internet Cost Rank: Graphic stating Kyrgyzstan has the 17th cheapest internet rates globally [09:50].
• Internet Coverage Statistic: Graphic showing 99% of the territory covered by mobile internet [10:06].
• Paper Certificate: Example of a physical certificate previously required by citizens [05:51].
• Service Icons: Visuals within the mobile app screenshots representing categories like Business, Health, Family, Property, Social Payments, Culture, Education [08:50, 10:19].
• Other Icons: Visuals representing Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Deep Fakes [14:42], World Bank logo [20:37].

Key Questions Addressed or Raised

• Overview of Kyrgyzstan’s DPI journey? [01:39]
• Details about the Tunduk interoperability system? [06:38]
• Challenges faced during DPI implementation? [10:29] (Legacy systems, legal framework, communication, mindset)
• Successes in implementing the DPI approach? [15:04] (Biometric elections, digital documents, online services)
• Impact on the community and feedback? [18:26] (Increased transparency, civil society support, favorable citizen view)
• Future plans in the DPI journey? [19:49] (Agile development, mobile app expansion, data centers, business integration, legislation)
• Suggestions for other countries adopting DPI? [23:31] (Understand context, enable legal environment, involve stakeholders, partner internationally, view it as a journey, change mindsets)

Stated or Implied Applications

• Elections: Biometric verification and automated tabulation [00:11].
• Digital Identity: Unique citizen ID number, mobile phone as digital ID [02:20, 16:41].
• Inter-agency Data Exchange: Secure data sharing via Tunduk [03:55].
• Business Services: Accessing public agency data via Tunduk [04:55].
• Online Registration: Residence registration, vehicle re-registration, property re-registration [15:10, 15:23].
• Accessing Services: Using digital ID for banking, notary services, police interactions, internal air travel [17:15, 17:33].
• Mobile Government: Delivering all public services via a central mobile application [06:45, 08:10].

Key Terminology Defined

• DPI (Digital Public Infrastructure): The foundational systems (digital ID, payments, data exchange) enabling digital services. Implicitly defined through examples.
• Tunduk: Kyrgyzstan’s national interoperability platform, based on Estonia’s X-Road, enabling secure data exchange [03:18]. Symbolically represents bringing government, private sector, and civil society together [07:24].
• X-Road: The Estonian interoperability platform model used for Tunduk [04:25, 12:05].
• Biometric Elections: Elections using biometric data (like fingerprints) for voter verification [00:11, 15:39].
• Digital Document: Legally recognized electronic versions of official documents (ID card, driver’s license, pensioner ID) accessible via mobile app [16:25].
• Digital Codex: A comprehensive legislative act being developed to modernize Kyrgyzstan’s legal framework for the digital era, replacing outdated laws and incorporating principles for new technologies like AI [13:18, 14:02].
• Taza Koom: Name of the initial digital transformation strategy, translating to “Transparent or Open Society” [11:00].

Timestamped Outline / Chapters

• [00:00] - Introduction & Speaker Introductions
• [01:39] - Can you share with us an overview of your DPI journey?
• [06:38] - Can you tell us more about Tunduk?
• [10:29] - Challenges faced during the implementation of the DPI solutions?
• [15:04] - What have been your successes in implementing the DPI approach?
• [18:26] - What has been the impact on the community and what is their feedback?
• [19:49] - Future plans in your DPI journey
• [23:31] - Suggestions to other countries who are looking to adapt DPI approach
• [26:42] - End Credits

Related Resources Mentioned

• X-Road (Estonia): Mentioned as the model upon which the Tunduk system is based [04:25, 12:05].
• World Bank: Mentioned as a partner in several current large projects [20:36].
• United Nations (UN): The Digital Codex was presented at the UN [14:13].