We are launching the Digital Governance Framework for Romania report, commissioned by Edge Institute and produced by Digital Nation, a group of experts and leaders in digital transformation efforts in Estonia. Through this report, we aimed to answer the following questions:
- What is the main strategic issue in Romania’s digital governance?
- What would a feasible governance model look like at the central level, with roles, mandates and coordination mechanisms that can be realistically implemented in the next two years?
- How should political and strategic leadership be reconfigured under the new model and what reforms are needed to accelerate digital transformation?
Digitalization organization chart: the first leap towards the Romania of the future
Over the past decade, “digitalization” has been one of the most frequently used words in political discourse and government programs. It sounds good, it inspires modernity, it seems to solve quite a few problems.
Moreover, if you read the official documents, Romania seems like a country on the right track. We have fast internet, we have modern legislation, we even have specific projects for digital identity and electronic signature. On paper, it looks good. But the reality that the citizen or entrepreneur experiences still revolves around a counter, not a smartphone: systems that do not communicate with each other, applications that are difficult to use, public services that eat up your time, nerves and money.
Why the organizational chart?
One of the clear reasons for this gap? Something essential is missing: a clear digitalization organizational chart, the governance mechanism that transforms promises into real, integrated and accessible services.
“A mature digital government requires clear and legitimate leadership, with a mandate and strategic vision for a system-wide transformation, as well as coherence across government and the integration of decisions and activities within and across public sector organizations, while ensuring that relationships with citizens and businesses are nurtured through collaborations focused on public policies and services to increase economic productivity and improve social well-being. For this reason, it is necessary to establish governance arrangements and mechanisms that ensure strong leadership and coordination and that favor decisions based on system logic, not silos. Only in this way can governments adequately lead the digital transformation of the public sector and guarantee the continuity necessary for long-term sustainable results.”
Digital transformation is not an exercise in technology, but one of organization and governance. A well-thought-out organizational chart means clear roles and responsibilities, short lines of command, and the ability to deliver. Without it, digitalization remains fragmented. With it, Romania can define a vision, build a team, and a coherent strategy, where each institution knows what to do, and citizens begin to see the change.
Lessons from the past
The OECD warned back in 2016 that Romania suffers from a lack of coordination, fragmentation and a weak culture of “joint effort”. Their recommendations – a decisive role for the government CIO, the development of coherent policies and citizen- and business-centric services – are as valid today when we talk, as we did almost a decade ago, about the need for a leap. The difference is that in 2025 we no longer have the luxury of delaying.
- Governance and coordination. The establishment of the position of Government Chief Information Officer (GCIO) is an important step in the right direction, but the real challenges are only now beginning. Involving relevant actors, establishing public policy processes and mechanisms to ensure coordination, as well as monitoring the implementation and impact of the adopted strategy are just a few of the priorities.
- Systems thinking and a culture of joint efforts. In order to overcome the existing fragmentation in several sectors of the Romanian public administration, a culture of systems thinking supported by joint efforts should be spread more widely, based on key national vectors (e.g. eID, interoperability frameworks, government cloud strategy). Romania is today facing the challenge of developing more articulated, coherent and sustainable policies for the growth of Digital Governance, applicable to different levels and sectors of government..
- Citizen- and business-centric approaches. There is significant room for improvement in the area of digital service delivery. Romania needs to develop its platforms in an integrated way, humanizing and improving the experience of citizens and businesses in digital interactions with the administration. Integrated digital service delivery (e.g. multi-platform single windows, life event-focused approaches, accessible user guides) not only benefits citizens and businesses, but also acts as a mobilizing objective that stimulates interdisciplinary cooperation in the public sector.
- Given the efforts already underway, Romania should continue to treat digital governance as a priority integrated into the national commitment to modernize public administration and as a key element of the country's development strategy.. By fully capitalizing on the international networks of which it is a part, Romania has a unique opportunity to take a leap forward, learning from the successful experiences of other states and from the lessons learned by them..*
The OECD, at the end of 2023, also emphasized the importance of the same solid foundation, which depends on coherent governance with authority and legitimacy recognized by political actors, coupled with a digital transformation strategy and teams dedicated to this objective. We believe that there is no need for a translation for the quote below or additional arguments for the importance of the digitalization organizational chart.
„First, Romania needs to further strengthen its governance of digital government. The institution that should lead the digital transformation of the administration is not yet strategically positioned to benefit from the necessary political support and legitimacy across the public sector. In addition, a dedicated digital government strategy needs to be developed and implemented to facilitate the successful transition from e-government to digital government. At the same time, public institutions need capabilities and resources — both talent and tools — to effectively adhere to and implement digital government policy objectives..”*
About the report and methodology
Commissioned by Edge Institute and produced by Digital Nation, the report diagnoses the current state of digital governance in Romania and proposes a feasible model at the central level, with roles, mandates and coordination mechanisms that can be realistically implemented in 12–24 months. The target is a two-year actionable plan that increases coherence, leadership and execution capacity, anchored in what is politically and administratively possible today.
The methodology combined two proprietary frameworks developed by Digital Nation: (1) Digital Governance Future-Readiness Framework — a 12-pillar assessment (e.g. vision and strategy, legal framework, access to services), based on in-depth research (national and international reports, legislative and institutional frameworks, strategies and programs such as PNRR and Digital Decade, statistical indicators, EU/OECD recommendations) and field interviews with 19 key organizations from ministries, agencies, the private sector and civil society; and (2) the Digital Governance Maturity Model — which identified 14 critical governance levers, of which 8 were analyzed in depth, using research findings and a co-creation workshop with the Edge Institute.
The findings informed a three-tiered coordination framework and concrete short-term actions for key stakeholders.
*Translations of quotes from English to Romanian belong to Edge Institute.