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Rabat – Morocco has secured 76th place in the 2024 Network Readiness Index (NRI), climbing one position from its ranking last year.
Released by the Portulans Institute in collaboration with the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, the NRI assesses 133 economies on their readiness to harness information and communication technologies (ICT).
Scoring nations on a scale from 0 to 100, the report evaluates four pillars: Technology, People, Governance, and Impact, supported by 54 performance indicators.
Globally, the United States retained the top spot for the third year, followed by Singapore, Finland, and Sweden.
Morocco ranks 8th in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, outperforming neighbors like Iran, Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria but trailing Gulf states, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The report’s authors, Soumitra Dutta and Bruno Lanvin, emphasize the transformative role of digital public-private partnerships (DPPPs) in shaping the global digital landscape.
Distinct from traditional public-private collaborations, they argued, these partnerships are agile frameworks designed to accelerate digital innovation and public service delivery.
“The pandemic showcased the power of digital infrastructure to revolutionize public services,” Dutta stated, citing examples like telemedicine and remote education.
The report calls for robust governance frameworks that foster transparency and shared responsibility, urging nations to leverage innovative financing models like blended funding to achieve sustainable progress.
Read also: Morocco Ranks 6th Readiness for AI Adoption in Africa
Morocco’s highest ranking was in the Technology pillar (64th), reflecting its progress in building essential digital infrastructure. The kingdom also performed well in the People category (72nd), assessing ICT adoption by individuals, businesses, and governments.
However, Morocco scored lower in Governance (83rd) and Impact (99th), indicating room for growth in policy frameworks and translating digital advancements into societal benefits.
The NRI portrays significant global disparities in digital readiness, with advanced economies excelling in AI adoption and innovation, while regions like sub-Saharan Africa face persistent challenges.
At the bottom of the rankings are Chad, Burundi, Yemen, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Governments, businesses, and civil society must unite to build trust and foster technology’s potential to enhance social and economic well-being,” Dutta added.
Initially launched by the World Economic Forum in 2002, the NRI was redesigned in 2019 to better reflect the interconnectedness of technology, governance, and human development.
Now in its sixth edition, the index serves as a roadmap for nations navigating the complexities of the digital era.
