Vision and LeadershipVision and Leadership

Tools in support of local governance and Local Economic Development

United Nations Capital Development Fund

e-government conference Sitexpo 2004

What is in the letter EWhat is in the letter EE-government : Transaction of user-oriented

services offered by public institutions that are based on I.C.T.

E-governance : Digitally conveyed information and the influence exerted by citizens and business on the opinion forming processes of public - state and non-state institutions.

e-government conference Sitexpo 2004

Challenges to strengthening Challenges to strengthening

GovernanceGovernance Inefficiency, internal and external

communications breakdowns, poor service delivery, and corruption.

Civil society organizations often lack the capacity to use ICT effectively. ICT can be a powerful tool for making information available to the public and preventing corrupt practices.

addressing these real and urgent governance problems has demonstrated particular strength in building local government capacity

e-government conference Sitexpo 2004

What is the focusWhat is the focus

delivering relevant ICT applications and services to civil society and local/national government institutions, such as legislatures

improving access to information, to improve government transparency and fight corruption.

providing processes for communication and promotion of governance initiatives (working with community public opinion leaders and national media representatives)

sharing lessons learned and best practices among local governments.

e-government conference Sitexpo 2004

Applying the toolApplying the tool

Strengthen democratic government by improving the effectiveness and responsiveness of institutions.

Improve local government communications capacity. Build the capacity of civil society to participate in the

governing process. Support decentralization and democratic local governance. Support replicating the practices of good governance to

other local governments and consolidating the advocacy role of municipal associations

e-government conference Sitexpo 2004

Examples of ICT applicationsExamples of ICT applications

Development of integrated budget & accounting and revenue/tax, billing, and collection systems

Building the capacity of local government officials in the use of municipal information technology and management systems

Delivering training to help elected officials create district development plans with local stakeholders

Building a local government intranet to connect district offices to the Central Administration to improve intergovernmental communications to share information electronically.

e-government conference Sitexpo 2004

Sample application Local Economic Sample application Local Economic DevelopmentDevelopment

Tele agricultural services: Farmer has problems with leaves and vegetables turning

whitish and yellow in color, local operator submits image to agricultural college, diagnosis is made (yellow mosaic disease), remedy proposed (spray boron or nitrogen solution) farmers is charged small amount of money for service

The above saves a number of crops worth thousands of dollars, and livelihood for several households

Similar tele agricultural services for eggplant and cotton

e-government conference Sitexpo 2004

A key goal of Development Work is A key goal of Development Work is independence not Sustainabilityindependence not Sustainability

If people have the information, communications, time, encouragement and the power to make their own decisions, they will make the right ones, more often than not. Even their mistakes will be beneficial.

people in local communities who are engaged in this process need to be able to network with each other. Both within their local area, in

their districts and provinces, in their country and region. They have far more to teach other, as they grapple with day-to-day issues. The wireless web is, of course, a vital tool in this...if it's accompanied by a program to provide small amounts of renewable power, tough reliable laptops, a suite of tested software that includes education, health, entertainment and creativity applications...and just enough support (not too much) and just enough funding (not too much) to get them up, running and using it, with curiosity.