International conference “Digital Transformation for Citizens” organized by the Metamorphosis Foundation. Panel discussion: “From the citizens for the citizens – Overcoming the digital gap”; Photo: Meta.mk
The involvement of the civil society in the process of the digital transformation of the countries, but above all the training of the citizens, is particularly important, because with a greater participation of the organizations, the digital gap can be overcome more easily. This was emphasized by representatives of civil society organizations from the Republic of North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro at the panel discussion on the topic “From the citizens for the citizens – Overcoming the digital gap” that was held within the international conference “Digital Transformation for Citizens” organized by the “Metamorphosis” Foundation, writes Portalb.mk.
Speaking about the challenges of e-government support centres in the Western Balkans for providing support and empowering different categories of citizens to efficiently use the available public electronic services and increase their digital education, the participants from the civil society organizations from the Western Balkans highlighted their efforts to overcome the digital gap in their communities and promote online use of available public mechanisms.
Mila Josifovska Danilovska from the “Metamorphosis” Foundation explained that the project “Increasing Civic Engagement in the Digital Agenda – ICEDA” helped civil society organizations from the Western Balkan countries in the digital agenda and the digital transformation of the societies of these countries, but also in increasing their digital skills.
Liljana Jonoski, Executive Director of “Rural Coalition” from North Macedonia emphasized that “ICEDA” enabled them to continue their activities towards digitalization. As she pointed out, the pandemic forced them to start and provide support in this field.
“It was time to open these processes. With the opening of this centre, it became clear that civil society organizations are here and support the institutions we are talking about. We can say that in the last two years we have made great progress”, said Jonoski.
Among other things, she pointed out that one of the main lessons they learned from field experiences is that the farmers themselves, as well as the residents in rural areas, realized that the digitalization of services is good for them and how important it is to make this digital transformation.