E-Governance

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E-Governance
An impetus for the Private sector
The Zambian Case
Presentation at the IT Inter-regional workshop in
Malaysia From 25 to 29 March 2002
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Introduction
Today there is a global consensus that good
governance is a significant factor for sharing
and spreading the benefits of economic,
scientific and technological progress
A global revolution in Information and
Communications Technologies (ICT) is occurring.
The Internet, the Personal Computer(PC) are
fundamentally changing our lives, affecting the
way we work, learn and interact
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• E-government is a tool for Governments to use
  new technologies to provide people with more
  convenient access to government information and
  services, to improve quality of service and
  provide opportunities to participate in
  democratic institutions and processes
• E-governance provides opportunities to move
  forward in the 21 st century with high quality,
  cost effective government services delivery and
  the creation of better relationships between the
  people and government

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VISION
Zambia becomes a leading focal point for e-
governance
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MISSION
Through the use of ICT, ready access to
government information, services and processes
will be readily available to the population of
Zambia
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Goals

• Improve quality of service delivery
• Raise efficiency levels through cost management
  and process improvements
• Promote economic development and poverty
  alleviation
• Create wealthy for the poor majority by
  creating self sustainable jobs through internet
  services.

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Goals

• Elaborate a strategic plan for Networking
  Government departments and automate services
• Encourage utilization of electronic
  communication between Public sector and citizens
• Provide ICT training incentives for public
  workers
• Establish information management standards in
  the public sector
• Pass legislation to safeguard individual
  privacy and protect the public against abuse of
  ICTs
• Stimulate and support the growth of electronic
  commerce to improve government procurement

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Current State
In Zambia, the problems and challenges of
governance include

• Bureaucracy, slow decision making and resultant
  inefficiencies
• Lack of efficient communication between
  central, provincial and local government and
  departments
• Little or no Computer penetration and low
  levels of ICT literacy in the public sector

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• Apathy towards the role of ICTs in improving
  government delivery of services
• Information gaps for development planning
• Lack of centralized information systems or data
  warehouses to facilitate decision making
• An outdated communications infrastructure

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Drivers of E-Government
Service to the Citizen and Business

• Customer satisfaction through improved access
  and response
• Savings through services online
• Reduction on travel, queues, paperwork etc

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Cost Efficient

• Make Government employees more efficient
• Save infrastructure costs by sharing with
  service delivery
• Improve process efficiency and cycle time

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Economic Development

• Compete to attract investment
• Reduce burdens on Business
• Enable Businesses to participate in the online
  economy
• Create employment
• Develop existing workforce and attract new
  workers and enterprises

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E-Communities

• Enable citizens and businesses virtual
  communities
• Add at marginal costs over service delivery
  infrastructure
• Contribute to economic development activity

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Digital democracy

• Not just voting any e-mediated exchange of
  values in the democratic process
• Information sharing, opinion gathering,
  campaigning, contribution
• Very few politicians see ICT as as a way of
  strengthening democracy

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THE WAY FORWARD
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Government Role

• Create an enabling environment to facilitate
  growth of technology and related industries
• Reduce the cost of ICT devices to the end
  users
• Increase the use of ICT in the Government
  departments
• Encourage private sector investment in the
  communications industry

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Private sector Role

• Participate in formulating process of Public
  Policy and National strategies
• Invest in pilot project development
• Provide consultancy services in project design
  in accessing finance and forging linkages with
  broad based markets
• Play a leading role in promoting regional
  integration projects with wider markets
• Through regional grouping advocate for the
  development of backbones to reduce costs of
  communications and improve quality of Networks

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• Participate in the development of appropriate
  educational materials and software
• Provide ICT training skills and upgrading
• Spearhead the innovation and development of ICT
  applications in the rural areas and the urban
  poor
• Invest in the development of ICT infrastructure
  in the country to facilitate improved access, in
  particular the rural and under privileged
  populace
• .