Over the past decade, governments around the world have invested heavily in digital transformation, focusing primarily on automating services, moving transactions online, and improving efficiency through technology. While these efforts have undoubtedly enhanced accessibility and reduced bureaucratic friction, they have also revealed the limitations of a purely reactive digital model. Digital services, in their conventional form, still depend largely on citizens initiating requests, submitting applications, or reporting needs. As societies become more complex and data-rich, a more advanced paradigm is emerging: Anticipatory governance, where public institutions act proactively by leveraging integrated data and predictive intelligence to address needs before they fully materialise.

 

Anticipatory governance represents a fundamental shift in how governments perceive their role, moving from service providers to strategic enablers of societal well-being. Rather than waiting for problems to surface, governments equipped with data-driven intelligence can identify patterns, predict risks, and design timely interventions. This approach relies on the intelligent use of big data, artificial intelligence, and advanced analytics across sectors such as health, education, social protection, transportation and economic planning. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, anticipatory governance enables public institutions to better navigate uncertainty, manage future risks and respond to emerging challenges with agility and foresight rather than hindsight.

 

Central to this transformation is institutional integration. Fragmented data silos across ministries and public agencies significantly undermine the potential of digital government initiatives. When data remains isolated, insights remain partial and decision-making reactive. Integrated data ecosystems, by contrast, allow governments to build a holistic understanding of citizens’ needs and life events. The OECD emphasizes that data-sharing frameworks, interoperability standards, and cross-government collaboration are prerequisites for moving toward proactive and anticipatory public services, particularly in areas such as social welfare, crisis management, and labour market planning.

 

Data-driven intelligence does not merely improve efficiency; it reshapes the relationship between the state and society. Predictive analytics can, for example, identify students at risk of dropping out before educational failure occurs, flag public health vulnerabilities before outbreaks escalate, or anticipate unemployment trends and guide reskilling programs accordingly. The World Bank highlights that governments using data analytics for early warning systems and evidence-based policymaking are better positioned to deliver inclusive and resilient services, especially in developing and middle-income countries facing fiscal and demographic pressures.

 

However, the transition toward anticipatory governance is not without challenges. Ethical considerations surrounding data privacy, algorithmic bias, and transparency must be addressed through robust governance frameworks. Trust becomes a critical enabler; citizens must be confident that their data is used responsibly, securely, and for the public good. International best practices stress the importance of clear legal frameworks, accountable AI systems, and strong institutional oversight to ensure that predictive governance enhances equity rather than exacerbating existing disparities.

 

For countries like Jordan, the move from digital services to anticipatory governance presents both an opportunity and a strategic imperative. Jordan has already made tangible progress in digital government and service digitisation, yet the next phase requires deeper institutional integration and a shift toward data-informed policymaking. By investing in interoperable platforms, strengthening data governance, and fostering a culture of collaboration across public institutions, Jordan can transition from a service delivery model based on responsiveness to one grounded in anticipation and prevention. Such a shift aligns closely with national development priorities related to economic resilience, social protection, and sustainable growth.

 

Ultimately, anticipatory governance is not about replacing human judgement with algorithms, but about augmenting decision-making through intelligence derived from data. It reflects a more mature stage of digital transformation where technology serves as a strategic asset rather than an operational tool. As governments worldwide confront rapid technological, economic and social change, those that successfully integrate institutions and harness data-driven intelligence will be better equipped to govern proactively, inclusively and sustainably in the years ahead.

 

The author is a specialist in educational technology