Tonga Interoperability Framework

The Tonga Interoperability Framework (TIF) is a comprehensive national framework designed to enable digital transformation through the interoperability of public sector information systems. Its main goal is to ensure that Tongan government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) can work together seamlessly, securely, and efficiently to provide user-centric services for citizens, businesses, and other public bodies.

Vision

The TIF aligns with Tonga’s broader strategic goals outlined in the Tonga Strategic Development Framework (TSDF) 2015–2025 and the Tonga Digital Government Strategic Framework (TDGSF). These overarching strategies aim to foster inclusive, sustainable development by leveraging ICT to improve service delivery, governance, and citizen engagement.

TIF seeks to:

• Promote a service-oriented approach, replacing institution-based silos.
• Support digital transformation by transitioning from paper-based to electronic systems.
• Reduce administrative burdens by promoting data reuse and seamless service integration.

Foundational structure

TIF is part of the larger Tonga Enterprise Architecture Framework (TEAF), comprising five stages:

1. Strategy for building an information society
2. TIF: setting interoperability principles and models
3. Tonga Enterprise Reference Architecture
4. TEAF implementation plan and roadmap
5. Governance and iterative development of TEAF

TIF uses terminology and structure from the European Interoperability Framework (EIF) and TOGAF® but is tailored to Tonga’s local context.

Underlying principles

TIF is built on 12 core principles grouped into four categories:

1. Contextual principle
   • Subsidiarity and proportionality: decisions are made at the lowest effective level.
2. Core interoperability principles
   • Openness
   • Transparency
   • Reusability
   • Technological neutrality and data portability
3. User-centric principles
   • User-centricity
   • Inclusion and accessibility
   • Security
   • Privacy
4. Collaborative principles
   • Administrative simplification
   • Preservation of information
   • Assessment of effectiveness and efficiency

Each principle is accompanied by actionable recommendations for MDAs, enforcing standards and promoting digital-by-default and once-only principles.

Interoperability layers

TIF introduces a layered interoperability model:

• Legal: Ensures that laws support cross-agency collaboration and digital services.
• Organisational: Aligns business processes and responsibilities across MDAs.
• Semantic: Ensures consistent meaning of data across systems.
• Technical: Focuses on interfaces, protocols, and shared infrastructure.

These layers are governed by two cross-cutting elements:

• Integrated public service governance: Coordination of all service delivery activities.
• Interoperability governance: Overarching institutional arrangements and policies.

Conceptual model for integrated public services

This model promotes interoperability by design, where services are:

• Modular and loosely coupled
• Delivered through coordinated functions
• Built on shared infrastructure and reusable components (e.g., base registries, open data portals)
• Supported by catalogues and secure data exchange platforms

The coordination function includes service planning, execution, and evaluation, emphasising reusability, user feedback, and cross-agency collaboration.

Governance and implementation

Governance is multi-tiered:

• Strategic direction: Parliament and Prime Minister
• Coordination: Ministry of MEIDECC and MOF
• Implementation: MDAs with autonomy, within agreed standards

MDAs are responsible for aligning with the TIF through documented processes, shared standards, interoperability agreements, and digital transformation policies.

Financing and standards

• Funding is a mix of government budget and international donor support (e.g., World Bank, ADB, Australia, Japan, China).
• TIF mandates the use of open standards and technologies that avoid vendor lock-in and promote flexibility.