GovStack's new Data Lead Maksim Ovtšinnikov: We see GovStack principles becoming the gold standard for governments

Previously, Maksim Ovtšinnikov was the head of Data Exchange Technologies at Cybernetica AS. His eight years of experience in e-governance have made him capable of grasping the intricacies of different nations' problems to find long-lasting solutions. He has worked with the governments of Ukraine, Benin, Malaysia, Brazil, Tunisia, Namibia, Aruba, Kenya and many others, supporting the digitalisation of their public services. 

The Estonian Centre for International Development - ESTDEV is the Estonian implementation partner for the GovStack initiative, helping develop its solutions and promoting partnerships and community involvement. 

To start, how would you describe your role as GovStack Data Lead? What would you like to achieve in this position? 

I see my role as one of the core members of the CTO team, directly helping Kristo Vaher to achieve the goals that are to be accomplished before the end of Q2. 

My goals for the near future are to have the next version of the Information Mediator Building Block and Workflow Building Block specifications released. The new release would include improvements to both functional and non-functional requirements, as well as correcting bugs, typos and numbering. 

Another very ambitious goal of mine is to transform the working groups I represent into a well-known and respected open-source community. We have great examples, such as the Linux Kernel Foundation, which has a mature contribution process and transparent governance of thousands of contributors ranging from big corporations to freelance enthusiasts. This is a 'shoot for the moon' type of goal, but I hope we will get there one day. 

What are the main benefits of following GovStack principles when building digital public infrastructure (DPI) and services? 

First, I would bring out the country- and technology-agnostic principles of GovStack. By following these principles, a country is less likely to end up in a vendor lock situation where a private business controls its critical infrastructure. The specifications of GovStack Building Blocks combine best practices from all over the globe. Exemplary software that complies with these specifications can be accessed in the GovStack sandbox so governments can try them out before going live, significantly reducing implementation risks. 

As a data lead, I also find it very important that different building blocks are interoperable by design so they can talk to each other from the beginning. This makes cross-sector and even cross-border collaboration much easier. 

From a citizen's perspective, I would bring out the fact that everything that GovStack does has security, consent and privacy built into it. We put the protection of citizens' private data first because we know that the public's trust is the key to success when it comes to e-governance. 

Focusing on interoperability and data exchange, what would be the key aspects to focus on when a government wants to build a resilient digital public infrastructure? And how can GovStack support the process? 

The key aspects to keep in mind are 1) the usage of open standards and ensuring interoperability, 2) being vendor-neutral and designing the architecture in a modular manner with reusable building blocks, 3) putting citizens first by ensuring that they are in control of their data and implementing security measures to protect that data, and, of course, 4) capacity building because the long-term success of DPI largely depends on the number of skilled people working with DPI. 

Why should other experts like yourself join a GovStack working group? 

Because you can shape the fundamental aspects of how modern-day governments operate. We see the GovStack principles becoming the gold standard for governments in the foreseeable future. Now is the best time for experts of various backgrounds to review the specifications and add their local context and experience. 

You will also meet many brilliant people here with exciting backgrounds, and you will definitely learn a lot. 

GovStack is a multi-stakeholder initiative founded in 2020. The initiative aims to break down barriers to building sustainable digital infrastructure and help governments create human-centred digital services to empower individuals and improve their well-being. 

As one of the founding members of the GovStack Initiative, Estonia has contributed to the development of the GovStack brand and its global recognition as a trusted partner. Estonia has helped to establish a community of experts, companies, and volunteers in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry who have contributed expertise and resources to developing GovStack's core components.