A Nation’s Plan to Empower its People through ICT

Why e-Sri Lanka?Why e-Sri Lanka?

Grow the ICT Sector AND use Grow the ICT Sector AND use ICT as an enabler for socio-ICT as an enabler for socio-economic developmenteconomic development

Specific mechanisms to take Specific mechanisms to take the growth in Colombo/ South-the growth in Colombo/ South-West to other areas of the West to other areas of the countrycountry

e- e- GovernmentGovernment

E-E-SocietySociety

Rural Rural Access Access (VGKs)(VGKs)

ICT as an enabler for Socio Economic Development

ICT as a growth Sector

EntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship

ConnectiviConnectivity (RTNs)ty (RTNs)

TASSTASS

What are the problems facing the country today?

Can ICT make a difference?

Current Concentration of Growth

Vision & Macro StrategiesVision & Macro StrategiesTake the dividends of ICT to every village, to Take the dividends of ICT to every village, to

every citizen, to every business and also every citizen, to every business and also transform the way government workstransform the way government works

Improve Improve public servicespublic services and governance using ICT and governance using ICTImprove Improve ICT infrastructureICT infrastructure and enhance quality of life and enhance quality of life through providingthrough providing affordable access affordable access and opportunities and opportunitiesBuild a Build a strong ICT industry & enhance strong ICT industry & enhance competitiveness thro ICTcompetitiveness thro ICTEnhance the quality of education, Enhance the quality of education, learning learning and and research through use of ICTresearch through use of ICTProliferate access to ICT in rural areas and Proliferate access to ICT in rural areas and use of ICTuse of ICT applications for rural applications for rural socio-economic developmentsocio-economic development

A REALITY CHECK FOR DEVELOPING A REALITY CHECK FOR DEVELOPING NATIONSNATIONS

Unique issues & dependencies for success e.g. Unique issues & dependencies for success e.g. physical infrastructure, public awareness, physical infrastructure, public awareness, political willpolitical will

Acute disparities across geographical zonesAcute disparities across geographical zones

Physical deliverables are not the key… “soft Physical deliverables are not the key… “soft issues” are the key issues” are the key

Govt must lead a national programme Govt must lead a national programme undertaking the min. critical mass of projects – undertaking the min. critical mass of projects – points of failurepoints of failure

Basic capacity issues.. Often non ICT - The need Basic capacity issues.. Often non ICT - The need to to ““build the road AND the car build the road AND the car to drive itto drive it!!!!!!

EMERGING MODEL FOR E~DEVELOPMENT IN EMERGING MODEL FOR E~DEVELOPMENT IN DEVELOPING NATIONSDEVELOPING NATIONS

The need for a pan-country, holistic The need for a pan-country, holistic approachapproach

Integrating a programme of projects Integrating a programme of projects

In-built flexibility to make “in-flight” In-built flexibility to make “in-flight” changes changes

Provision for “bottom up” flow of ideasProvision for “bottom up” flow of ideas

An

In

teg

rate

d

e~

Develo

pm

en

t M

od

el

& P

rog

ram

me In

terd

ep

en

den

cies

THE NEED FOR AN NATIONAL ICT THE NEED FOR AN NATIONAL ICT AGENCYAGENCY

Policy settingPolicy setting

Build implementation roadmaps & frameworksBuild implementation roadmaps & frameworks

Make it happenMake it happen

Put together partnerships Put together partnerships

Build project management & institutional Build project management & institutional capacitycapacity

Funding mechanismsFunding mechanisms

Monitor, evaluate & adjust directionMonitor, evaluate & adjust direction

Strategic CommunicationStrategic Communication

Lessons Learned thus far…Lessons Learned thus far…

ICTA birth linked to CINTEC demiseICTA birth linked to CINTEC demise

Overplayed corporate imageOverplayed corporate image

Formal authority essential Formal authority essential

Treading on others territoryTreading on others territory

Leadership from the topLeadership from the top

Out of the box solutionsOut of the box solutions

Manage expectationsManage expectations

Lessons Learned from PilotsLessons Learned from Pilots

Clarity on objectives & ownershipClarity on objectives & ownership

Survey of similar projects Survey of similar projects

Assess scalability & replication issues Assess scalability & replication issues upfrontupfront

Focus on outcomes not outputsFocus on outcomes not outputs

Integrate an effective communication Integrate an effective communication strategystrategy

Critical Success Factors: e-SLCritical Success Factors: e-SL

Integrated approachIntegrated approach

Commitment from WB Commitment from WB

Seed capital & critical institutional Seed capital & critical institutional capacity integral to the project capacity integral to the project

Apolitical positioningApolitical positioning

Critical Success Factors: e-SLCritical Success Factors: e-SL

Stakeholder ledStakeholder led

Not a “big bang” approach – pilot & scale Not a “big bang” approach – pilot & scale upup

Partnership strategies in entire Partnership strategies in entire programme lifecycle programme lifecycle

Flexible designFlexible design

Critical Success Factors: ICTACritical Success Factors: ICTA

Vision driven team culture Vision driven team culture

Leadership from the topLeadership from the top

Operational freedom & building a true Operational freedom & building a true meritocracymeritocracy

Results orientedResults oriented

Critical Success Factors: ICTACritical Success Factors: ICTA

Give credit to our partnersGive credit to our partners

Staying Small, dynamic with a “can do” Staying Small, dynamic with a “can do” attitudeattitude

Integrity & transparency in our workIntegrity & transparency in our work

Flexible & adaptable but focused on Flexible & adaptable but focused on prioritiespriorities

Mix of experience & ability to multi taskMix of experience & ability to multi task

CHALLENGES AHEAD CHALLENGES AHEAD

Evolving roleEvolving role

Independence of ICTAIndependence of ICTA

Managing increasing demandsManaging increasing demands

Continuity of leadershipContinuity of leadership

Retaining our talent & keeping them Retaining our talent & keeping them inspired!inspired!

Effective project management Timely Effective project management Timely availability of fundsavailability of funds

Effective M&E and communicationsEffective M&E and communications

“The Empires of the Future are Empires of the Mind”

Sir Winston ChurchillSir Winston Churchill

Transforming the way we think and workTransforming the way we think and work

THANK YOU