Jane Fountain to Advise on Digital Economy for the Arab World

Jane Fountain, distinguished professor of public policy and political science, has been invited by the League of Arab States to join an advisory group on the development of a digital economy in Arab nations.

Fountain, founder and director of the National Center for Digital Government, will serve on an experts group that will review and make recommendations to the Digital Economy Strategy for the Arab World, prepared by the league’s Council of Arab Economic Unity. She also will also attend the Arab Economic Unity Council Economy Summit, to take place in December in Abu Dhabi, where the strategy will be presented for formal approval.

“I’m deeply honored to be working with the Arab League on digital government developments,” Fountain said. “It’s especially important for the Arab world to develop a strategy that encompasses the myriad challenges as well as the potential of digital government.

“At a time when cybersecurity, surveillance, privacy and the ability to detect whether online information is real or false threaten to disrupt the online world, a feasible plan should combine realism with a sense of possibility.”

Fountain also serves as director of the UMass Amherst Science, Technology, and Society Initiative and as a board member of the National Academy of Public Administration. She was recently named one of the world’s 100 Most Influential People in Digital Government.

“Technology and governance is a priority area for the School of Public Policy,” said SPP director Al Roberts. “We’re fortunate to have Professor Fountain serving on our faculty.”