IT for Decision Makers

Modernizing GovernmentThe eGovernance Opportunity

By Taholo Kami for UNESCO

2002

Vision

Improving the Quality of life of the people of the nation and create a

more effective private sector through better delivery of

Government services.

Why Modernize?

An opportunity to focus policy making on the needs of the People / Users of Public Service NOT the Providers

Greater integration in approach to development of Government Policy

Optimize Information & Communications Technology Opportunities towards more efficient and effective use of resources

What is eGovernance?

"the ability to obtain government services through nontraditional electronic means,

enabling access to government information and the completion of

government transaction on an anywhere, any time basis and in conformance with

equal access requirement.”Inter American Development Bank

eGovernance in the Pacific

For Pacific Island Countries - eGovernance has greater national development implications because of Government’s role as the major employer making it a major catalyst for

leadership in innovation and ICT usagestimulating IT adoption at all levels of

societyCreating a culture that is information

driven

“e” in Goverment

e for Electronic / digital e for EFFECTIVE - do the right thing e for EFFICIENT - do it the right way e for EMPOWERMENT – greater participation in

governance process. e for ENTERPRISE - initiative, innovation

We must begin breaking a Government Digital Divide Recognize that timely and accurate Information

is the engine for the Modernization Process

eGovernance will involve?

Government Legislative / Executive / Policy making bodies

Government Employees Citizens Private Sector

eCitizens

eGovernmenteCommerce

eGovernance for an eSociety

Global- Commerce

GovernmentsCitizens

People

GovernmentBusiness

Note: The proportion of electronically enabled portion of each domestic grouping is extremely limited. In terms of the people it is below 1-2% of the population

International Link

Limited National IT Capacity

The need for Government Leadership in IT Sector

Government is the major catalyst: Its usage or adoption of IT capacity improves its

ability to develop relevant policy for an information economy.

Largest Employer Impacts all sectors of the economyCritical development agentWithout relevant policies Private Sector is a

reluctant advisor

Towards a Knowledge based Government

Doing the RIGHT things RIGHT - Improve the ability to plan, implement, monitor and react

Timely access to shared and integrated information resources by Government departments and citizens, communities and private sector.

Continuous improvement….Reduction in overlap and duplication

between different levels of Government

Interpret &Analyze

Data

Knowledge

Information

Gather, Organize, Store and Deliver

Action

The Knowledge Pyramid

A Knowledge based Government

Puts a Premium on initiative and innovation

A motivated public serviceReduced burden of reporting Enhanced Information tools for policy

makingEnhanced citizen and community

involvement in Government issues.

ACTIONS for a eGovernment Strategy

1. Making Government Accessible

Empower the Information Provider – recognize existing networks Civil society, Churches, Communities, Institutions

Phased approach due to costs and limited infrastructure Grow access / usage of Internet

Cost reduction at telecom level Cyber booths – integrated approaches Public / Private (Police

Posts) Learning Centers, Mobile Training Units. IT capacity - awareness, basic skills, technical / expert

Government Portal - Electronic services Develop systems that cater for improving information

needs

Example of Public Access to Government Services

One Stop Portal

Access via •Internet•Booths / Kiosks•Government Offices

Some Services...•News / Briefings•Policy Input •Complaints•Death / Marriage Registrations•Update Personal Info•Tax issues•Pay Bills •Land registrar•Update on status ofprevious service requests•Training

Private / Publicinitiative

•Trained Agents•Affordable charges

Call CenterNews LettersMail / Forms

Example 1 - People Access

India - Gyandoot Project: 32 Kiosks on Intranet - Community Owned Information - Government news / available

grants, Land Records File Complaints (7 day turn around) Applications / registrations (10 day turn around) Prices of Agriculture Produce Auction site for village items.

Example 2: People Access

Education and Government Access Costa Rica

Refabricated Shipping Containers Virtual Computer lab and Communications

center• Government Information and Access• Education / training - skills• Health Education• market information• General communications• Entertainment

2. People Development

Enable / Empower Government Employees Leadership in innovation / excellence Information driven / responsive to

information Management excellence Cross sectoral Action Teams Output driven Culture of Service

Government becomes Learning Organization

Continuous Training and Development Learn from Past performance Staff development as a priority

Utilize existing institutions Support learning / achievement through

reward processDevelop visible benchmarks to measure

success – (all level 5 Government employees will have abc skills by 2003)

Adapting to an information Culture

NOTE: The biggest challenge is bringing employees along with IT Strategy – not buying computers. An IT strategy cannot begin if employees are not involved!

Recognize Double Cultures Leadership – communicate objectives and value

- Transparency- Clear Vision / Goals

Education and Awareness Participation: formulation / implementation Rewards (Value)

Peer recognition Output / Achievement Driven

Highlight and replicate successes

Remember Change is A PROCESS and NOT achieved Remember Change is A PROCESS and NOT achieved overnight or with the purchase of new overnight or with the purchase of new

computers!computers!

Transparency / Accountability

IT applications offer opportunities for transparency in the Governance

process. Investigate Government Procedures / service delivery at all levels and

identify reporting mechanisms that can be improved with appropriate IT applications.

Prioritize projects that improve transparency Government procurement Collections – customs Appointments and Entitlements

Monitor reactions to complaints / requests / appointments from users Monitor employee performance

Example 1. Transparency

Argentina - Cristal Website was empowered by Fiscal Responsibility Legislation to make the following information available to PUBLIC.

The website enables citizens to access; execution of budgets, to the lowest level of disaggregation purchase orders and public contracts payment orders submitted to the National Treasury and other

treasuries of the National Pubic Administration payments issued by the National Treasury and other

treasuries of the National Public Administration financial and employment data concerning permanent and

contracted staff, and those working for projects financed by multilateral organizations

3. Quality of Service

How do we improve internal effectiveness?Can we ensure delivery of services is driven

by the needs of the user?devise policies and programs from

information from all interested users (public, various departments)

Examine opportunities for "paperless” interaction Authentic Email communication policies Means for public to access and contribute to

issues

4. Cost Effectiveness

Less paper / bureaucracy Faster turn around on public

interaction: applications / registrations / requests

Electronic Institutional Memory Inventory of past and current projects

and activities Avoids duplication

5. Technology Issues

Infrastructure - Integrated Approach Government Intranet National Backbone Infrastructure

Health, eCommerce, Education, Agriculture, etcShared strategy for International Internet access.

Borderless Integration / Compatibility between Government IT applications. Networks , Data /Files, Teams

Common Protocols Security, Networking, Software / hardware.

Remember

Modernizing is a PROCESS and will take time

Strategy must be People centered - IT Driven

Where do we Start?

•National Vision and Development Objectives – IT is an enabler not an end and should ensure more effective fulfillment of national development activities. •Develop a Comprehensive and concise National IT Strategy • Ensure Actionable Goals •Encouraging Ministries and Departments to investigate priorities for e initiatives within their activities. •Identify existing IT initiatives, databases, expertise

Strategy

Coordinate and implement standards that enable compatibility across government with software, hardware, access and security protocols and user interfaces.

Leverage Resources for priority pilot projects that develop - Interdepartmental cooperation - Demonstrate significant cost savings and

achievements- Improve end user services

Strategy

Examine opportunities to replicate applications and insist on portability / component approach

In each ministry, senior person given responsibility for developing IT strategy and coordination with other units (Champions)

Develop key User groups for continuous feedback on services. User groups include executive, Government employees, Citizen groups, Business users.

National StrategyDevelop and grow ICT capacity along national core

competencies or national priority sectors Information is borderless - ICT

applications/approaches can be used across departments, ministries, districts, countries.

Be aware of the Globalization Impact of IT – avoid the labor market of the IT industry! Eg 1. Call centers – mobile global industry come today and

gone tomorrow Eg. 2. time zone will not matter in global picture - cost and

quality of services will determine sustainability

Conclusion

eGovernance is not a choice It is essential to national development Drives participation in a Global economy

Leadership will drive a knowledge based culture

Within Government and,By Government in terms of IT usage, regulation /policy

Ensure opportunities are available for rural or less privileged sectors of the population to participate.

Some Benchmarks / Goals

Some examples of broad and measurable benchmarks for a strategy. EVERY Government employee Level 1-4 will be

able to utilize the web for email and to access information via a shared intranet by December 200_???

All new Government Employees will be able to will have basic IT training including Internet and networking skills by ______?

Government departments will provide an IT strategy outlining clear objectives, inputs and outputs by ………..!_______