Cuba Soberanía digital platform implementation

Cuba has implemented the Soberanía digital platform to expand government services and social protection. Initially, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security introduced a free online service to allow vulnerable populations to request monetary benefits and assistance without traveling to municipal offices. This service utilized a social-characterization tool to prioritize groups such as the elderly and low-income households.

Following the rollout, the platform has expanded to offer 18 online services. High-level officials, including President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, have reviewed the platform’s progress, noting its role in increasing administrative efficiency and transparency. Reported usage includes the verification of over 43,000 digital identities, more than 24,000 adult passport applications, and nearly 40,000 civil status registrations. While digital documents now hold the same legal value as printed ones under Ministry of Justice Resolution 284, officials emphasize that building citizen trust depends on the speed and effectiveness of these digital procedures.

The initiative is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and China’s Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund to upgrade technological infrastructure. Future objectives for the Soberanía platform include enabling citizen participation in reviewing economic reforms and expanding digital access to job opportunities. This digital expansion coincides with broader infrastructure reforms, such as reorganizing the digital payment ecosystem through ‘Pago en Línea’ to reduce transaction wait times for businesses.