From: "Nath,V (pgt)" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Update 2: E-Governance models in South / Developing Countries
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 09:53:24 +0100
Dear Colleagues,
Greetings from Digital Governance and Knownet Initiative.
Since our last update over a month back, there has been a tremendous
increase in the activities of Digital Governance -an effort to enable
emergence of E-governance models in South at
http://www.digitalgovernance.org
Digital Governance is a project of the KnowNet Initiative which fosters
innovative use of ICT in Development through the use of Remote
Volunteers at
http://www.knownet.org
This update has five sections : Membership, Key Learning, Key Activity
(creation of e-governance toolkit) , Key Web Updates (case-studies,
publications, links and events) and FeedForward.
DigitalGovernance.org functions on a continuous learning mode. More
knowledge products would be brought into light in the subsequent
updates.
You may subscribe to these updates by sending a blank email to
[log in to unmask]
Please have a look at the Key website updates and some of the
feedforward
received from over 65 countries towards the end of this email.
I welcome your intellectual contributions and feedforward about the
DigitalGovernance.org Project to further enrich this website and to
catalyse
Innovative E-Governance in South.
Lastly, Please help spread the word around about this initiative.
Warm Regards,
Vikas Nath
Inlaks Fellow 2000-1, London School of Economics, UK
Home Page : http://www.vikasnath.org
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Innovator, KnowNet Initiative and Digital Governance
Conceiver, DevNetJobs, http://www.devnetjobs.org
Email : [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]
Phone: + 44 (0) 7887 920080
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. MEMBERSHIP
----------------------
At the moment, we have over 500 members from over 60 nations as a part
of
the digital governance project. There has been a substatial increase in
the
e-communication sent to us by the members about individual case-studies
and
their own experiences/ analysis with regards to initiating e-governance
models in South. The content of these mails have been hosted on the
Digital
Governance website in form of case-studies and articles. All the
activities
and partnerships continue to be of Voluntary Nature to stay innovation
and
retain the programmatic focus.
For those who are not our members, can become so and stay updated of our
developments by sending a blank email to
[log in to unmask]
II. KEY LEARNINGS
--------------------------
1. A key learning which is emerging from the synthesis of various
e-governance models is that there is a substantial difference between
e-Governance models of North and South - in terms of application,
utility
and impact.
The Northern e-Governance models offer more interaction between Citizens
and
the Governance mechanisms, and many of them are oriented towards
improving
the Efficiency of governance tasks currently being done through other
means
Notable tasks are - filing of taxes online, e-polls, applying for
Goverment
jobs. Some example of such websites are: US : First Gov at
http://www.firstgov.gov ; UK Online Government at
http://www.ukonline.gov.uk
The Southern models are however creating communication channels between
Individuals and Governance mechanisms where none existed earlier- as
such
they are very more targeted towards sharing of basic information to
bridge
the knowledge gap. These difference in operating conditions therefore
yield
different impacts.
2. Connectivity will continue to be a major hurdle for developing
countries. Further, the information requirements relating to local
governance mechanisms are of greater importance to people in South and
therefore localised e-governance / tele-centred based models which do
not
require individual connectivity are becoming more widespread and
useful.
For example : the Gyandoot project of Madhya Pradesh government in India
(to
fund rural networked cyberkiosks through panchayats in backward district
Dhar to offer villagers a range of services through an Intranet based at
the
district headquarters) is creating spaces for local people to gain more
local -level information and interact within the sphere where decisions
directly affecting them are taken. Complaints to government officials
about
non-functional handpumps are made through this system.
http://www.gyandoot.net/gyandoot/intranet.html
3. In terms of e-governance impacts, the differences are largely
because of the levels of awareness and information of an individual with
regards to the governance mechanisms or about processes which concern
him/
her directly. A simple example may be the case of individual property
rights- the information about which is more readily available in the
North
whereas they are poorly defined in the South. Therefore, any information
relating to property rights which become accessible through the use of
ICT
is bound to have a cascade effect for individuals as well as the
selected
group who were privy to such information. ICT impact in South is more
closely linked to the distribution of power which occurs when
information
becomes equitably accessible.
4. The analysis of Southern e-governance Models reveal that the
Government response to locally-initiated models is often in form of a
resistance to the free flow of information in all directions. They
realise
the potential of ICT to shift the power from State to Citizen. Many of
the
e-governance models in South therefore take time to emerge, have to face
stiff initial resistance, have to maintain a low profile or have to
operate
under cover. The most notable among such e-governance models are the
ones
that highlight corruption data or human rights violations. Further, the
Government action in such cases is often hard-lined (in absence of
precedence) and falls in the domain of infringement of privacy or
violation
of right to express oneself.
For example: The Bangladesh Human Rights Portal which met instant
initial
opposition due to the nature of the content.
http://www.banglarights.net/
For example: The training website Pacific Journalism Online produced by
journalism students of University of South Pacific (USP) last year
published
daily coverage of the coup in Fiji. The articles were hosted at
http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/docs/news/coup74.html The website ran daily
news
coverage for the first 10 days of the crisis and was then closed down by
the
authorities in response to threats. But the students' reports continued
being published, hosted by the University of Technology, Sydney,
journalism
website at: http://www.journalism.uts.edu.au/archive/coup.html
5. The trend which is emerging looking at the participation of
State
and Citizens in the e-governance models is that the most successful
e-government programs are the ones in which the States themselves
function
as a model of e-governance and get input directly from citizens. To a
lesser extent they are dependent on the magnitude of interactivity of
the
services offered. This is evident from the fact that a tele-centred
based
e-governance model (functioning as Wider Domain Model as explained in
the
Digital Governance website) which is accessible to all may prove to be
more
effective than a highly interactive model which is accessible to only a
few.
In essence, e-governance models in South which expand the base group of
citizens interacting with the government is more effective than the one
with
higher levels of interactivity but low base of citizens using it.
III. KEY ACTIVITY : Creation of E-Governance ToolKit.
---------------------
Digital Governance aims to start up a Process Tool Kit which would
provide
access to low-cost tools and methods, and decentralised expertise to
create/
support emerging e-Governance models in South. The Process -oriented
toolkit
would be a one stop place for Step- by- Step methods, basic Dos and
Don'ts,
and key lessons in setting up of e-governance models. This is an OPEN
SOURCE
VOLUNTARY PROCESS and we are looking for people who could provide us
with
their ideas, experiences and expertise, and who would be willing to help
us
devise this toolkit.
Please help us spread the word around about this upcoming toolkit so
that
both users and compilers (who could also be users themselves!) of
toolkit
could participate in the early process of Toolkit Development.
If you are interested in getting more details or have some questions or
would like to extend your support, ideas and motivation, then please
write
to me at [log in to unmask] or at [log in to unmask]
IV. KEY WEB UPDATES
-------------------------------
Key Case Studies Added (Case-Studies hosted on the website = 50)
------------------------------------
Bangladesh : Human Rights Portal
http://www.banglarights.net
BHRN will actively promote human rights reforms both within Bangladesh
and
across geographical and political boundaries, and will support women,
children, and marginalized communities in resisting social oppression.
It
will look at attempts by global forces (powerful governments, TNCs,
international organizations) through surveillance, covert mechanisms and
military and economic superiority to exploit and control smaller nations
and
communities.
Read the Significant Cases Section :
http://www.banglarights.net/sigcases.html
Burma: Orchestra Burma
http://www.orchestraburma.org/
A web-site dedicated to affording a presence on the Internet to both
political and non-political organizations working for democracy and
human
rights inside Burma.
Costa Rice : Government Services Online
http://www.costarricense.com/ing/servgob.html
Costa Rica is one of the few countries having a vision to provide all
citizens and Civil Society organizations free access to email, webpage
and
other resources through Tele-Centres located in all the municipalities.
This
particular section of the site (the site belongs to the government in
co-partnership with the private sector and civil society) enables
citizens
to get more information about the concerned government organisations and
interact with them through the internet.
Ecuador: Altermedios
http://altermedios.ecuanex.net.ec/
Alternative multimedia organisations in Ecuador have joined together to
create Altermedios, an association they hope will build and support
democratisation of communications nationally. The organisation will
support
the active participation of civil society groups and their access to
communication media. By providing such an opening for groups
traditionally
absent from public media coverage, the association hopes that their
action
will impact on public opinion in Ecuador's pluralist society, the
development community and social movements nationally and
internationally.
India: Jamabanthi (Village Accounting) conducted online in all Taluks of
Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu
http://www.tiruvaruronline.com/whatsnew.html
For the first time in India, annual audit of village accounts, called
Jamabanthi was conducted online in all the 7 Taluks of Tiruvarur
district
during April, 2000. One of the important objectives of conducting
Jamabanthi
is to settle the village (Land Revenue) demand. By doing this, the
entire
village accounts are made available at he click of the mouse at the
Taluk
office and Collectorate. During the Jamabanthi period, the Village
Administrative Officers (VAOs) have to write more than 10 complicated
accounts (out of 24 accounts).
South Africa The PIMS Monitor
http://www.pims.org.za/monitor/
Idasa's Political Information and Monitoring Service (PIMS) aims to
support
democracy and promote good ethical governance in South Africa through
the
building of government and civic capacity for democracy, in particular
through training and related activities. An easy-to-use reference and
record
of all bills , acts and policy documents that pass through parliament -
was
launched by Idasa in 1997. The Monitor aims to help audience engage with
democracy, intervene in the legislative process and make submissions to
parliament. The PIMS Monitor also offers comprehensive, plain-language
summaries of complicated documents.
Zimbabwe: MDC uses the web to fight the Government
http://www.cddc.vt.edu/knownet/articles/zimbabwe.html
During the June 2000 elections in Zimbabwe, MDC campaigners and other
citizens took advantage of the internet and email to promote and
disseminate
the aims and objectives of the Movement for Democratic Change. This
strategy
ran alongside the traditional campaigning of talks, meetings, rallies
and
word of mouth. Whilst the ruling party used a variety of campaign
strategies
from old-fashioned intimidation to exploiting their control of the print
and
broadcast media, the MDC had no option but to look creatively at other
ways
of campaigning.
Key Publications added (Publications hosted on the website = 79)
----------------------------------
The nuts and bolts of e-governance
http://www.tiruvaruronline.com/The%20nuts%20and%20bolts%20of%20E-%20Governan
ce.doc
The growth of Information Technology has opened a new chapter in public
administration. The Government Sector has large amount of database,
which at
present is largely being updated using the conventional manual
processing
method. These repetitive transactions are neither fully felt by the
bureaucracy nor the general public. Such a situation is applicable to
the
third world countries, developing and partly to developed countries.
Greece in the Information Society
http://www.pdgs.org/Archivo/d0000084.htm
New conditions and new opportunities for growth, prosperity and quality
of
life. Information and telecommunication technologies change rapidly the
way
we work, play, communicate, and transform the bases of economic
competition.
They constitute a tool for the modernisation of the state and the
competitiveness of enterprises, while creating new ways of work, new
skills,
and the need for continuing learning and adaptation of the education
system.
At the same time they allow the provision of better health, welfare, and
environmental services, and contribute to the promotion of our cultural
heritage and the Greek language.
The Internet and Asia: Broadband or Broad Bans?
http://www.ceip.org/files/Publications/internet_asia.asp?p=5&from=pubdate
Analyses of recent political upheaval in authoritarian systems such as
those
in Peru, Mexico, and Yugoslavia, largely ignore any role the Internet
may
have played in spurring political change. At the same time, many experts
recognize that political activists in various countries may have
affected
political developments by using Web sites and e-mail lists to
communicate
and organize ÷ witness such activity in the years leading up to the fall
of
long-standing Indonesian president Suharto. In sum, there is no
consensus on
whether there is a clear-cut mechanism that connects the Internet with
democratic transitions around the world.
Burma: The Impact of Internet on Myanmar
http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue6_5/krebs/index.html
Within the last century, the country has been marked by political
instability (Eliot, 1997; Freedom House, 2000). Particularly since its
separation from British colonial rule in 1948, Burma has witnessed
significant political change, violence and unrest. Since the early
1960s,
Burma has essentially been an isolated state, with closed borders and a
military government. However, the fall of the Berlin wall and the end of
the
Cold War seem to suggest that isolationism is growing less common
worldwide.
Importantly, meteoric advances in communications have also paralleled
the
fall of isolationism.
China and the Net: A love-hate relationship
http://www.chinaonline.com/commentary_analysis/internet/NewsArchive/secure/2
001/March/c01030160.asp
Recognizing that an unregulated network would shift power from the
state to
citizens by providing an extensive forum for discussion and
collaboration,
Beijing has taken care to prevent this commercial gold mine from
becoming
political quicksand. But a victory over cyberspace cannot be decisive
because the Internet cannot deliver its full commercial benefits under
strict political control.
Electronic Governance - A key issue in the 21st century
http://www.mit.gov.in/eg/article2.htm
In simple terms Electronic Governance can be defined as giving Citizens
the
choice of when and where they access government information and
services.
Putting the Citizen at the centre of government means taking a delivery
channel view. This would mean using more and more of Electronics &
Information Technology in many of the government functions.
Key Links Added (Links hosted on the website = 83)
----------------------------------
Cyberspace Graveyard for Disappeared Persons
http://www.disappearances.org/graveyard/index.html
This web-site provides information relating to disappearances cases in
Asia
in recent times. Besides particulars relating to cases it also provides
other political, sociological and legal information relating to the
countries where disappearances have taken place.
Election Resources
http://www.electionresources.org
In this space you will find links to Internet sites around the world
which
provide complete and detailed national and local election statistics, as
well as other election resources.
Worldwide Resources on Government
http://www.gksoft.com/govt/
Comprehensive database of governmental institutions on the World Wide
Web:
parliaments, ministries, offices, law courts, embassies, city councils,
public broadcasting corporations, central banks, multi-governmental
institutions etc.
Key Events Added (Events hosted on the website = 12)
----------------------------------
Socio-technical Change: Lessons from ICT in Developing Countries
http://wwwhome.cs.utwente.nl/~smeitz/scotconference/
June 15, 2001, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
The main topics are : a comparison between processes of societal
construction in different technological regimes, in particular the
comparison of the satellite and the internet in Indonesia; and focus on
the
differences between processes of societal construction of technology in
developed countries and those in developing countries.
ECEG 2001: The European Conference on E-Government
http://www.tcd.ie/statistics/eceg2001.html
September 27-28, 2001 Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
The conference in September 2001 is seeking qualitative,
experience-based
and quantitative papers as well as case studies and reports of work in
progress from academics and government departments. Topics may include,
but
are not limited to, e-Government portals, e-Government transaction
sites,
webocracy, security and confidentiality, integrated systems, citizen
centric
information systems, web enabled knowledge management and other ITC
enabled
systems in the public service sector.
V. FEEDFORWARD
-----------------------
Not only sound interesting but outwardly very relevant to the advance of
accessible technology for whatever empowerment humans want to intervene
to,
this time in governance. (Philippines)
It is very interesting the approach of digital governance. I work in a
NGO
and we are promoting electronical networks among the environmental and
poor
organizations in Mexico. (Mexico)
It's a wonderful site. If the south block countries want to learn
e-governance models, I recommend this site for guidance. (India)
A great initiative. I will certainly visit this site often. (Vietnam)
A great initiative for replication. (Accra, Ghana)
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