Published: May 2020
By Tracy Hackshaw
Post-COVID in Small Island Developing States
Tracy Hackshaw
We need to ensure we digitalize all of our business processes so as to enable the effective digital transformation of our governments, businesses, and educational institutions so that the disruptive solutions brought by the global pandemic, including remote work, digital health, e-learning, and fintech, are collectively recognized as a pivot point in our history.
Tracy Hackshaw is an ICT and Digital Economy Strategist with close to twenty-five years of experience spanning work in the public and private sectors both locally and internationally.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) economies are disproportionately affected by shifts in global economic patterns. These economies are at higher risk to be deprioritized in global supply chains, face major risk of disruption in the thrust towards a truly globalized digital economy, and continue to grapple with internet connectivity as a lingering challenge.
Businesses in SIDS are slow and often resistant to adapt to digital thinking. Schools lack resources to furnish students and teachers with the necessary skills for e-learning. The education and training paradigm should fully embrace digital transformation at multiple levels: strategy, curriculum development, technology infrastructure and e-learning platforms, data analytics, and ongoing skills development.
The path forward requires a collective commitment to digital transformation that spans government, the private sector, and civil society. Only through coordinated action can SIDS leverage the opportunities presented by the digital economy while mitigating the risks of being left behind.