The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has announced the ninth edition of the Gobernarte Contest: Pablo Valenti Award, aiming to recognize and reward subnational governments in Latin America and the Caribbean for their innovative applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital identification to enhance citizen services.
Focus of the 2025 Gobernarte Contest
This year's contest emphasizes two main categories:
- Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Government Services: This category seeks initiatives that incorporate AI to improve public services. Examples include:
- Development of regulatory frameworks for AI implementation.
- Training programs to equip public servants with AI skills.
- Technological solutions such as virtual assistants, chatbots, accessible digital platforms, or predictive models to aid decision-making.
- Digital Identification for Secure and Accessible Public Services: This category targets initiatives that utilize digital identification to streamline and secure public service delivery. Potential projects include:
- Biometric solutions for citizen authentication.
- Development of authentication platforms ensuring secure access to services.
- Inter-institutional coordination efforts to expedite processes and reduce operational costs.
Eligibility and Submission Details
The contest is open to subnational governments from IDB borrowing member countries, including:
- Second-level governments: States, provinces, departments, regions, or analogous divisions.
- Third-level governments: Municipalities or their equivalents.
Entries can be submitted individually or in partnership with other national or subnational governments, civil society organizations, private sector entities, or academic institutions. Importantly, the initiatives must be submitted by the government teams responsible for their design and implementation.
The submission period is from March 13 to April 10, 2025, with no associated participation fee. Detailed information regarding participation requirements, rules, and regulations is available at the official contest platform: https://openidb.brightidea.com/Gobernarte2025.
Evaluation and Award Ceremony
An international panel of experts will evaluate the submissions, selecting three winners based on the following criteria:
- One initiative from second-level governments.
- One initiative from third-level governments serving over one million inhabitants.
- One initiative from third-level governments serving less than one million inhabitants.
The winners will be announced during the 10th Smart City Expo LATAM Congress, scheduled for July 10–12, 2025, in Puebla, Mexico.
About Gobernarte and fAIr LAC Initiatives
The Gobernarte Contest aims not only to reward innovation but also to document and disseminate successful initiatives across the region. By sharing best practices, the IDB encourages other governments to adopt and adapt these innovations, fostering a culture of continuous improvement in public service delivery.
This contest aligns with the IDB's fAIr LAC initiative, which promotes the responsible use of artificial intelligence in Latin America and the Caribbean. The initiative seeks to harness AI's potential to improve public services while ensuring ethical considerations and mitigating potential risks.
AI and Digital Identification: Transforming Public Services
The integration of AI and digital identification technologies in the public sector presents significant opportunities to enhance efficiency, transparency, and citizen satisfaction. Governments worldwide are increasingly adopting these technologies to design better policies, make informed decisions, and improve service quality. For instance, AI can assist in automating administrative tasks, analyzing large datasets for policy insights, and providing personalized citizen services through virtual assistants and chatbots.
Digital identification systems, including biometric solutions, enable secure and efficient citizen authentication, reducing fraud and streamlining access to public services. These technologies ensure that services reach the intended beneficiaries promptly and securely, enhancing trust between citizens and government institutions.
Global Trends in AI Adoption in the Public Sector
Globally, the public sector is witnessing a surge in AI adoption to improve service delivery and operational efficiency. For example, the United Kingdom's government has explored the potential of AI to enhance public services and reduce operational costs. Similarly, various governments are leveraging AI to design better policies, make informed decisions, and enhance citizen engagement.
However, the optimism surrounding AI's benefits is tempered by concerns about risks such as data privacy, algorithmic biases, and the digital divide. Therefore, initiatives like the Gobernarte Contest play a crucial role in promoting responsible AI adoption, ensuring that technological advancements translate into tangible benefits for all citizens.
Conclusion
The ninth edition of the Gobernarte Contest underscores the IDB's commitment to fostering innovation in the public sector across Latin America and the Caribbean. By recognizing and rewarding subnational governments that effectively implement AI and digital identification technologies, the IDB aims to inspire a wave of digital transformation, leading to more efficient, transparent, and citizen-centric public services.
For more information or inquiries about the contest, interested parties can contact the organizers at [email protected].
