"Panama Solidario" Program wins ExcelGOB 2020 Award November 19, 2020

Panama has become a reference in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic thanks to the technological advances developed by AIG professionals.
Panama has been awarded the Excellence Award of the Electronic Government Network of Latin America and the Caribbean, organized by the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in the category “Digital Government versus to COVID-19 ”, with its“ Panama Solidario ”program.

The recognition was received by Eng. Luis Oliva, general administrator of the National Authority for Government Innovation (AIG), who participated in the framework of the VI Ministerial Meeting of Digital Government of the GEALC Network, a group that brings together the authorities of the digital government agencies of the countries of the region, in order to promote horizontal cooperation in the field of technology and innovation.

For Eng. Luis Oliva, digital transformation and technological innovation in our country are the fundamental pillars to achieve social inclusion and equity, where teamwork by various state entities has been fundamental to the achievements obtained.

 Digital Challenge

Technology became a key response to the emergency.

The first challenge was to deliver technological products or services in a few weeks that in a natural environment would take years to produce for a population of more than 4 million inhabitants. To achieve the objectives set, commitments were met facing high uncertainty, with time as the main constraint, which prompted the Panamanian professionals of the AIG to work extended hours every day, to fulfill these responsibilities.

Through the Panama Solidario Program, the administration of President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen has provided aid such as food bags, physical vouchers and digital vouchers to the most socially and economically vulnerable groups affected by the pandemic.

This technological platform, developed by professionals from the National Authority for Government Innovation (AIG), includes the delivery of more than 3,942,905 solidarity bags and 2,098,138 physical bonds, as well as more than 6,378,678 digital voucher transactions to the economic cards of Panamanians affected by suspension of employment contracts, or who have not received any income since before the pandemic.