Integrating Platforms to Facilitate Donations through Smart Nation Initiatives
Prime Minister's OfficeSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Ms Anthea Ong’s inquiry on whether the Smart Nation initiative incorporates a "Smart Giving Nation" narrative and how its architecture supports vulnerable groups through integrated giving platforms. Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean responded that the framework’s Digital Readiness thrust promotes technology use for an inclusive society, supported by digital literacy programmes from the Ministry of Communications and Information. He noted that the Ministry of Social and Family Development utilizes digital platforms for social sector coordination, while apps like SG Cares, Volunteer.sg, and MyResponder facilitate community volunteerism and assistance. The government subjects its digital services to usability checks to ensure inclusion for diverse users and encourages organisations to design for digital accessibility across their platforms. Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean emphasized that the public sector seeks partnerships with community groups and volunteer organisations to better serve all Singaporeans through integrated digital technology.
Transcript
37 Ms Anthea Ong asked the Prime Minister (a) whether the Smart Nation narrative includes a Smart Giving Nation narrative as part of our aspiration to be a caring, inclusive and resilient society; and (b) if so, how has the Smart Nation blueprint and architecture been planned to support the vulnerable groups as well as to integrate with social sector agencies and giving platforms.
Mr Teo Chee Hean (for the Prime Minister): Our Smart Nation narrative, and the framework for implementation has three broad, equally important, thrusts: Digital Economy, Digital Government and Digital Readiness. Digital Readiness includes our strategies to help citizens, businesses, community groups and the Government use technology in an inclusive way to build a caring and resilient society.
We want all Singaporeans, regardless of age or ability, to be enabled by digital technology to pursue their dreams and aspirations. This means that everyone should have the digital access, literacy, and confidence to participate in Smart Nation. The Ministry of Communication and Information (MCI) has worked with our community partners to drive readiness programmes at our libraries and community centres. Building a caring, inclusive and resilient society is a whole-of-Nation effort, and our Smart Nation initiatives seek to enable this with technology.
Technology allows better partnerships to serve our vulnerable communities. For example, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) is looking to using digital platforms to work more closely across the social sector agencies, including Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWO)s. This allows agencies to have a comprehensive understanding of families in need, and coordinate support to get families back on their feet. The Ministry of Community, Culture and Youth (MCCY)'s Volunteer.sg and SG Cares app will help volunteers in both public agencies and non-profit organisations to be more engaged and more effective. Platforms such as the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC)'s Dementia Friends and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)'s MyResponder allow individuals in need to receive help from the community in real-time.
MCI's Digital Readiness efforts encourage and educate organisations to design for digital inclusion. The Government itself subjects our digital services to regular usability checks. We involve diverse users in the design process.
The Smart Nation and Digital Government Group, together with social sector agencies and officers across the public sector are keen to partner community groups and volunteer organisations, so that together, we can better serve all Singaporeans using digital technology.