Digital Inclusion and Institutional Effectiveness in E-Governance for SDG Delivery in the Global South: A Scoping Review

As digital infrastructure expands across the Global South, governments are increasingly adopting e-government platforms to enhance service delivery and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study maps what has worked in the deployment of digital governance systems, with a focus on inclusion, institutional effectiveness, and SDG alignment. A scoping review was conducted across six countries—Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, India, Bangladesh, and South Korea—using defined inclusion criteria and targeted search terms. Seventy-nine studies were identified, with ten selected for in-depth analysis based on relevance and methodological rigor. The review examined governance design, adoption and usability factors, implementation challenges, and measurable impacts on SDG targets 4.3 (equitable education), 9.c (ICT access), 10.2 (social inclusion), and 16.6 (institutional transparency). Findings show that centralized governance models with strong institutional coordination outperform fragmented systems, while inclusive design and digital literacy remain critical success factors. In contexts of limited resources and uneven infrastructure, e-government offers significant potential to improve transparency, participation, and public sector performance. Strengthening understanding of governance models, equity gaps, and enabling conditions is essential for shaping inclusive policy, responsive curricula, and future research agendas.