Enhancing Social Protection Efficiency Through E-Government And Digital Services

The digital transformation of public administration represents one of the most significant governance shifts of the twenty - first century. This study examines the role of e-government platforms and digital service delivery in strengthening the efficiency, accessibility, and transparency of social protection systems, with Bukhara Region of Uzbekistan as the primary case study. Employing a mixed - methods approach - combining quantitative analysis of administrative data from the Single Social Protection Registry (2019–2024), household survey data (n = 420), and semi - structured interviews with regional officials and beneficiaries - the research assesses how digital tools affect benefit disbursement speed, targeting accuracy, citizen satisfaction, and administrative costs. Results indicate that the transition to digital delivery reduced average benefit processing time by 47%, increased targeting precision by 31%, and lowered per - case administrative costs by 22% compared to pre - digitalization baselines. Citizen satisfaction scores improved from 51% to 79% between 2020 and 2024. However, persistent digital divides - particularly among elderly rural populations - constrain inclusive uptake. The study contributes region - specific empirical evidence to a predominantly global literature and offers policy recommendations for scaling digital social protection in transitional economies.