Application of LOSI Methodology in Countries
The objective of this page is to introduce you about the Local Online Service Index (LOSI) and how you can apply LOSI methodology in your own country.
What is the Local Online Service Index (LOSI) Network?
One effective way to improve e-government is to regularly assess government portals. As more people live in cities and access the Internet from urban areas, it follows that local government portals must be able to accommodate larger numbers of users. A well-functioning portal can make a city more livable and local government more responsive, which can in turn make residents happier. UN DESA and UNU-EGOV have designed, maintain and apply Local Online Service Index (LOSI) methodology to assess local government portals.
Due to limited resources, UN DESA and UNU-EGOV are able to apply the LOSI methodology to the most populous cities in 193 UN Member States. The selection of the most populous city is taken in order to reach as many residents as possible. However, it is noted that there is a strong interest to apply LOSI methodology to more cities in a single country.
To achieve this need, UN DESA and UNU-EGOV invite interested institutions, which have self-sustained resources and capacities to support the process, to partner and apply LOSI methodology within a single country, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). It is our expectation that more cities will utilize the LOSI methodology, be part of the LOSI network, and help other cities that may go through similar challenges.
Watch the following video to learn more about the LOSI Network.
What does "Application of LOSI methodology in countries" mean?
Due to limited resources, UN DESA and UNU-EGOV was able to apply the LOSI methodology only to the most populous cities in 193 UN Member States. The selection of the most populous city was taken in order to reach as many residents as possible. However, it is noted that there was a strong interest to apply LOSI methodology to more cities in a single country. To achieve this need, UN DESA finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) legal document, and partnered with some institutions to run some LOSI pilots within a single country. So far, three pilots have been run in Brazil, Jordan and Palestine. These pilots, in partnership with other institutions, applied the LOSI methodology for various cities in each of these countries. The results of these studies can be seen at the end of this website.
There were also independent studies undertaken in China and Ecuador using the LOSI methodology. These initiatives are taken by academics who referred to the LOSI methodology explained in previous editions of UN E-Government Surveys. It is our expectation that more cities will utilize the LOSI methodology, be part of the LOSI network, and help other cities that may go through similar challenges.
For more details about the LOSI, please review Chapter 3 of the United Nations E-Government Survey 2022 and Chapter 4 of the United Nations E-Government Survey 2020. You can find the reports under Reports menu.
Are there any legal documents?
Partner institutions (either Member State or non-Member State) who would like to use LOSI methodology, needs to complete and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with relevant details which will enable them to use the LOSI methodology, in consultation with UN DESA and UNU-EGOV, and would provide for a license of the LOSI Data Analysis to be granted the UN, for its research and academic purposes.
Please use the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) template below:
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Government Entities
Download MOU Template -
Non-Government Entities
Download MOU Template
What are the expectations from entities applying the LOSI methodology?
After the successful completion of LOSI pilot project, outcome shall be reported using the template document here.
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LOSI Pilot Country Output Template
Download Report Template
What happens after the LOSI methodology is applied?
Applying the LOSI methodology in your country is expected to yield several positive outcomes, including:
Policy Guidance
The methodology provides insights for areas that need improvement, offering valuable information to inform policy decisions and enhance local e-government services.
Enhanced Access
The application of the LOSI methodology contributes to improving people's access to better online services at both national and local levels.
Capacity Building
Public officials from national and local governments benefit from capacity building on how to assess e-government development at the local level.
Accountability
The index promotes transparency and accountability by offering a standardized evaluation framework, enabling the monitoring of progress over time.
Benchmarking
Countries can benchmark their digital government performance against global best practices, fostering healthy competition and facilitating the exchange of knowledge.
International Collaboration
It encourages collaboration among nations, facilitating the sharing of experiences, expertise, and resources to advance e-government capabilities at the local level.
What kind of outreach activities are expected after the LOSI application?
Upon completion of the LOSI Pilot assessment and availability of results, UN DESA/UNU-EGOV informs the concerned national and local government entities in the studied country about the project's outcomes. Additionally, capacity building activities with policymakers at the national/local levels may be organized to ensure effective dissemination of the methodology's process and implications.
How can I apply LOSI to cities in a/my country?
UN DESA welcomes collaboration in applying LOSI methodology in different countries. Interested parties are encouraged to send an email at dpidg@un.org.
LOSI is a joint initiative of UN DESA & UNU-EGOV that started in 2018.
Getting Started
Join the LOSI Network
Local Online Service Index
LOSI Outcomes
Explore the outcomes of LOSI assessments, including key findings and results from the evaluation of city e-government portals conducted by UN DESA.
The outcomes highlight how cities perform across the LOSI criteria and provide insights to support improvements in local online service delivery.
View LOSI Outcomes