2019 Digital Inclusion Action Plan — Building the Foundations
This work is led by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).
Timeline
The Digital Inclusion Action Plan (Action Plan) is the first stage in the high-level timeline outlined in the Digital Inclusion Blueprint (the Blueprint). The timeline, outlined below, provides the steps for how government can make strong and sustainable progress towards digital inclusion in New Zealand.
This graph shows the high-level timeline from 2019 to 2024 for the digital inclusion work programme.
The year 2019 is labelled ‘Building the foundation’. The work planned for this year is to agree on outcomes and measures, identify priority areas to focus on, and identify gaps and test small-scale initiatives.
The years 2020 to 2021 are grouped together and labelled ‘Filling the gaps’. The work planned for this period is to scale successes, develop new approaches and measure progress.
The years 2022 to 2024 are grouped together and labelled ‘Adapting to the future’. The work planned for this period is to review digital inclusion goals and priorities, check these are still relevant, and continue to work towards digital inclusion.
Vision for digital inclusion
The government’s vision for digital inclusion is that everyone in New Zealand has what they need to participate in, contribute to, and benefit from a digital world. In 2019 we want to build the foundations to make sure this vision can be realised.
Building the foundations
To make the greatest impact, we need a clear, cohesive understanding of what digital inclusion will look like, a road map to get there, and measures and supporting data to show progress. We also need to set key priorities and know where the gaps are, so investment can be directed to where it’s most needed.
Focusing on building the foundations enables us to:
create the conditions that will advance digital inclusion
measure what success looks like
focus investment so everyone benefits — particularly those who are regarded as digitally disadvantaged.
The Action Plan below establishes the foundational actions that are needed to achieve digital inclusion.
It does not list all the initiatives already happening across government that directly impact one of the 4 interdependent elements (motivation, access, skills and trust) needed for a person to be digitally included. The following are some examples of such initiatives:
Connectivity: The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is leading work on connectivity, a key component of the access element.
Digital learning: The Ministry of Education is leading work on digital learning, an important aspect of the skills element.
Data sovereignty: Stats NZ is working with Māori on data sovereignty in New Zealand, a key component of the trust element. Māori data should be respected, understood and protected in a digital world.
Digital safety: A number of agencies, including DIA, are leading work on digital safety, a key component of the trust element.
These initiatives will be captured as part of the stocktake of digital inclusion activities across government, which will be completed in May 2019.
Government’s 4 key roles in the digital inclusion Action Plan
The Blueprint identifies 4 key roles government must fill if it is to realise the vision for digital inclusion. These are to lead, connect, support and deliver.
The government’s role in leading involves:
being trusted subject matter experts in digital inclusion
collaborating inside and outside government to determine priority areas and future direction
leading by example by making sure government’s digital content is accessible and online services can be used by everyone
collating data to measure the progress towards digital inclusion.
The government’s role in connecting involves:
bringing visibility to the work being done to address aspects of digital inclusion
making links between people, funders, initiatives and communities working on digital inclusion, both inside and outside government.
The government’s role in supporting involves:
providing support and information to communities, organisations and businesses working to address digital inclusion issues
making a case for investment to address identified priority areas.
The government’s role in delivering involves:
delivering services that address aspects of digital inclusion (across a range of agencies)
collaborating with communities, other agencies and the wider sector to solve problems and increase digital inclusion.
The Action Plan groups government action in 2019 under each of these responsibilities.
Lead: Areas for government action
Continue to build an evidence base for digital inclusion in New Zealand
This action involves 2 activities.
Activity 1. Work with academia, agencies and other interested groups to develop advice on a New Zealand research agenda for digital inclusion
Date to be completed:
July 2019 (completed)
Purpose:
To create a document (the research agenda) that will guide the government’s future priorities for digital inclusion research
To begin to build a consensus among government agencies on what New Zealand’s digital inclusion research priorities are
To initiate the engagement with researchers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) about future digital inclusion research
What success looks like:
The research agenda:
is developed with buy-in from the digital inclusion sector
includes a focus on Māori needs and aspirations for digital inclusion
contributes to future work that generates timely and relevant evidence to inform key government decisions.
Activity 2. Create a user experience map to better understand the implications for people of being digitally included or digitally excluded
Date to be completed:
2020
Purpose:
To understand the user needs of specific communities
To understand the impact that not being digitally included has on an individual (looking at different personas)
To develop an understanding of any negative impacts on people of the work to advance digital inclusion. For example, privacy issues, lack of face-to-face interactions, and possible health issues such as the impact on eyesight
What success looks like:
Insights are used to develop actions that help people to mitigate and minimise the negative impacts of not being digitally included.
Agree on desired outcomes for digital inclusion and how to measure them
This action involves 2 activities.
Activity 1. Develop an outcomes framework
Date to be completed:
April 2019 (completed)
Purpose:
To clarify what digital inclusion outcomes are, what the aims of the work are, and what we think will lead to change
To have an agreed tool to create a baseline measurement of the current state of digital inclusion in New Zealand
What success looks like:
There is buy-in and use of the framework from inside and outside government.
The outcomes framework will inform how we measure digital inclusion.
Activity 2. Develop a measurement approach for the outcomes framework
Date to be completed:
December 2019
Purpose:
To develop a plan for collecting data to measure digital inclusion outcomes
To understand and measure progress towards digital inclusion
To help inform how we measure the success of government digital inclusion initiatives
To continue to build an evidence base for digital inclusion in New Zealand
What success looks like:
There are robust measures that are reported on and well understood.
The desired outcomes for digital inclusion and how to measure them are in place.
Undertake a gap analysis to see what’s missing in order to deliver on agreed priorities
This action involves 1 activity.
Activity 1. Conduct a gap analysis of what is working and not working to achieve digital inclusion outcomes
Date to be completed:
December 2019
Purpose:
To understand current digital inclusion initiatives and what is missing, and to inform the future development of initiatives
To set criteria and priorities for future investment and effort
To understand the current digital inclusion initiatives inside and outside government, and what is working well in addressing each of the 4 elements (motivation, access, skills and trust)
What success looks like:
A gap analysis is undertaken with advice and buy-in from the public sector.
Analysis is used to inform priorities and future areas of investment.
Investigate how to measure the success of government digital inclusion initiatives
This action involves 1 activity.
Activity 1. Develop evaluation advice
Develop evaluation advice on:
shaping the system so that it provides incentives and support for evaluation of digital inclusion initiatives
how to evaluate the outcomes produced by digital inclusion initiatives.
Date to be completed:
April 2019 (completed)
Purpose:
To help organisations track and measure the success of digital inclusion initiatives
To build an evidence base for digital inclusion in New Zealand
To understand the current digital inclusion initiatives inside and outside government, and what is working well in addressing each of the 4 elements (motivation, access, skills and trust)
What success looks like:
Evaluation guidance is used to:
input into funding decisions
measure the success of digital inclusion initiatives.
Work towards making sure all government online content and services are accessible
This action involves 2 activities
Activity 1. Work with the Ministry of Social Development to scope how we can support agencies to increase uptake of the New Zealand Government Web Standards and deliver accessible online services
Date to be completed:
Ongoing
Purpose:
To increase the accessibility of online services
What success looks like:
Government content and services meet the Web Accessibility Standard.
We can implement the suggested approach from the recommendations gathered in the scoping work.
Activity 2. Work across the system to increase uptake of accessible online services across government
Date to be completed:
Ongoing
Purpose:
To increase the accessibility of online services
What success looks like:
Accessibility of government content and services increases.
Connect: Areas for government action
Understand the current digital inclusion initiatives inside and outside government, and what is working well to address each of the 4 elements that make up digital inclusion (motivation, access, skills and trust)
This action involves 3 activities.
Activity 1. Carry out a stocktake of digital inclusion activities across government and publish findings
Date to be completed:
May 2019 (completed)
Purpose:
To understand what digital inclusion looks like in a New Zealand context
To understand who is leading what across government
To provide a cohesive view of digital inclusion initiatives across government
What success looks like:
There is a cohesive view of all digital inclusion initiatives across New Zealand.
The outcomes framework and evaluation guidance are used in relevant government initiatives.
We are able to identify gaps in initiatives working towards digital inclusion outcomes.
Activity 2. Establish and run a digital inclusion cross-sector forum
Date to be completed:
November 2019
Purpose:
To understand what is working well across the 4 elements of digital inclusion) for different groups
To share the learning on evaluation and measurement of digital inclusion, and work towards some shared measurement goals
To identify how the private sector can support digital inclusion
To identify how government and NGOs and philanthropic organisations can work together to support Digital Inclusion
What success looks like:
There is collaboration on initiatives.
Valuable insights are shared widely across academia and the digital inclusion and public sectors.
Activity 3. Carry out a stocktake of digital inclusion initiatives within New Zealand communities
Date to be completed:
May 2019 (completed)
Purpose:
To understand what current digital inclusion initiatives look like in a New Zealand context
To analyse providers’ data on digital inclusion initiatives to identify gaps and join up similar initiatives
To work with providers who have done extensive work in mapping digital inclusion activities to make findings visible
What success looks like:
The stocktake of government work programmes that advance digital inclusion is up to date.
There is a cohesive view of all digital inclusion initiatives across New Zealand.
Communities use and actively maintain a map of digital inclusion activities.
Connect government initiatives to increase digital inclusion outcomes for New Zealand
This action involves 2 activities.
Activity 1. Continue to connect across government through a digital inclusion cross-agency forum
Date to be completed:
Ongoing
Purpose:
To connect government agencies working on digital inclusion
To work together to fill gaps (including service delivery and policy development)
To collaborate with lead agencies to achieve digital inclusion outcomes
To bring visibility to key government projects
What success looks like:
We can identify gaps in initiatives working towards digital inclusion outcomes.
There is collaboration on initiatives.
Valuable insights are shared across the public sector.
Activity 2. Develop a plan to showcase digital inclusion success stories across New Zealand
Date to be completed:
October 2019 (completed)
Purpose:
To celebrate digital inclusion success stories
To provide opportunities for people to learn from others who have been successful
What success looks like:
People are aware of what is going on to make New Zealanders digitally included.
Information and stories are used and valued.
Make sure information and stories about digital inclusion initiatives across New Zealand are publicly available so providers, users and funders can make connections and increase positive impact
This action involves 1 activity.
Activity 1. Implement the plan to showcase digital inclusion success stories
Date to be completed:
Ongoing
Purpose:
To celebrate digital inclusion success stories
To provide opportunities for people to learn from others who have been successful
What success looks like:
People are aware of what is going on to make New Zealand digitally included.
Information and stories are used and valued.
Support: Areas for government action
Set criteria and priorities for future investment and effort
This action involves 4 activities.
Activity 1. Develop an investment framework
Develop an investment framework to support the setting of priorities and make decisions on:
how to invest
what to invest in – with a focus on groups that are currently at risk of not being digitally included
when to invest.
Date to be completed:
Work on an investment framework will be delivered through 2 other pieces of work:
a budget bid for digital inclusion, and
a research agenda (see Lead: Activity 1 above).
The budget bid for the financial year 2020/2021 will seek funding for:
targeted support for excluded groups, and
the research agenda.
The research agenda will help us identify groups who are most excluded.
Purpose:
To support effective investment decision making
To guide funding and resource allocation appropriately
To promote consistency of investment practice amongst funders
To align to digital inclusion outcomes and makes it easier for measurement
To support funders to achieve and measure digital inclusion initiatives
What success looks like:
Criteria is transparent, understood and consistently applied.
Criteria is used to inform long-term sustainable investment inside and outside government.
Activity 2. Work with the private sector to identify how they can support communities that are at risk of not being digitally included
Date to be completed:
Ongoing
Purpose:
To identify what communities need from the private sector to support digital inclusion
To understand what the government’s role is in private sector / community relationships
To understand the private sector’s role in supporting communities
What success looks like:
Communities get what they need from government and the private sector.
Stronger relationships are built between the private sector and government.
We are able to identify gaps, fill gaps and develop initiatives that increase digital inclusion in at-risk communities.
Activity 3. Develop a digital inclusion investment strategy to guide government decisions based on the outcomes and investment frameworks
Date to be completed:
Work on an investment strategy will be delivered through 2 other pieces of work:
a budget bid for digital inclusion, and
a research agenda (see Lead: Activity 1 above).
The budget bid for the financial year 2020/2021 will seek funding for:
targeted support for excluded groups, and
the research agenda.
The research agenda will help us identify groups who are most excluded.
Purpose:
To make sure there is a single view of investment that addresses digital inclusion and builds capability
What success looks like:
The strategy is understood and has wide external buy-in from inside and outside government.
Activity 4. Scope the possibility of developing a digital inclusion partnership fund with the private sector
Date to be completed:
2019/2020
Purpose:
To coordinate and develop new funding opportunities for digital inclusion initiatives
What success looks like:
The scope of the digital inclusion partnership fund is clearly understood.
The feasibility of the partnership fund is fully understood, and recommendations for next steps are provided.
Make a case for investment to achieve the agreed priorities
This action involves 1 activity.
Activity 1. Make a case for investment in the 2020 budget
Date to be completed:
December 2019
Purpose:
To coordinate and develop further funding opportunities for digital inclusion
What success looks like:
The bid for investment is delivered and supported by Ministers.
The outline for the budget is developed and supported by Ministers.
Establish Te Whata Kōrero in partnership with tāngata whenua (the Māori people)
This action involves 2 activities.
Activity 1. Engage agencies such as Te Puni Kōkiri and Crown Māori Relations to better understand how government can play a role in supporting the Māori digital inclusion agenda
Date to be completed:
April 2019 (completed)
Purpose:
To identify initiatives that support and connect with Māori
What success looks like:
The aspirations and culture of tāngata whenua in a digital world, both collectively and as individuals, are supported.
Initiatives are identified, supported and aligned with the outcomes framework and with evaluation advice.
Activity 2. Engage with Māori experts and agencies with an invested interest in digital inclusion for Māori to better understand how government can play a role in supporting the Māori digital inclusion agenda
Date to be completed:
Ongoing
Purpose:
To access expertise and experience of Māori digital inclusion champions
To understand and support Māori aspirations
To provide visibility for Māori to tell the stories that relate to their own people
What success looks like:
Tāngata whenua have input into decisions relating to digital inclusion.
Māori stories about digital inclusion are visible and relate to Māori.
The work towards digital inclusion supports the aspirations and culture of tāngata whenua.
We can implement suggested initiatives for government.
We can support Māori to implement suggested approaches.
Deliver: Areas for government action
Test small-scale initiatives to address barriers to digital inclusion in collaboration with communities
This action involves 1 activity.
Activity 1. Identify 2 to 4 projects / providers to co-design initiatives, and build our understanding on what works
Date to be completed:
November 2019
Purpose:
To understand what works in different regions and communities and build evidence
To test the alignment to the outcomes framework
What success looks like:
Providers are contracted to co-design initiatives.
We are working with agencies to commission new initiatives to achieve digital inclusion.
Continue to deliver services that address the elements of digital inclusion for New Zealanders
This action involves 2 activities.
Activity 1. Capturing activities already happening across government
We will be capturing activities already happening across government in the stocktake of digital inclusion initiatives (to be published in May 2019). See some examples of these initiatives.
Activity 2. Develop an action plan for 2020
Date to be completed:
December 2019
Purpose:
To continue progress towards a digitally included New Zealand
To fill the gaps identified in 2019
To develop new approaches
To measure success
What success looks like:
There is increased understanding of digital inclusion in New Zealand.
Digital inclusion initiatives are aligned to the outcomes framework.
