UNPAN United Nations Global Online Network on Public Administration and Finance

Transcription

1 Africa Day of Public Administration UNPAN United Nations Global Online Network on Public Administration and Finance Rabat 26 June 2002 Presented by Gianluca Misuraca Associate Expert UN DESA / DPEPA seconded to CAFRAD 1

2 Presentation contents: 1. UNPAN; 2. UNPAN ORC CAFRAD; 3. e-africa

3 1. UNPAN 3

4 UNPAN Why establish UNPAN The various recent UN conferences and the 50th Session of the GA on Public Administration and Development have stressed that efficient public administration systems and a competent civil service are essential for the development efforts, while deficiencies in institutional organization, financial and human resources management of the public sector most negatively affect the delivery of social services. Many developing countries have embarked on administrative reforms and have undertaken programmes for modernizing public administration. To succed in these reforms and in modernization, access to internationally available expertise, policy options, successful practices, experiences and training facilities are critical. Therefore, creating a Global electronic virtual network is instrumental in assisting the Member States to better reach these goals. 4

5 What is UNPAN UNPAN The United Nations Global Online Network in Public Administration and Finance is a virtual network that promotes the sharing of knowledge, experiences and best practices throughtout the world in sound public policies, effective public administration systems and efficient civil services, through capacity-building and cooperation -via an electronic platform- among Member States, with emphasis on South-South cooperation and committment to integrity and excellence. 5

6 UNPAN What is the uniqueness of UNPAN With communication technologies advancing at tremendous rate, electronic information centres, online research organizations, and specialized e-networks are becoming increasingly common and duplicative. UNPAN is different. Its substantive capacity and specialized service, combine to create an uniqueness that sets UNPAN apart from conventional web-based information sources, offering: Universality and unequivocal clarity as an online public sector policy and management information and knowledge network; Far-reaching access to experiences in the practice of public policy development and management at regional, national and local level; Easy access to worldwide information in all areas of public sector; Demand-driven and interactive two-way provider of information and knowledge network. 6

7 UNPAN What are the core themes of UNPAN UNPAN s information and knowledge focus are on the following substantive areas: Public policies; Governance systems and institutions; Civil service/public sector reform; Management innovation and development; Public finance. 7

8 UNPAN What are the services offered by UNPAN UNPAN provides the users with the following services/products: Online information services; Online training services; Online advisory services; Online conference services; Online directory services. 8

9 UNPAN Who are the users of UNPAN The clients of UNPAN are the following: Policy makers, such as government official responsible for public policies on economic development, reforms and modernization of public administration and management, etc.; Practitioners, among public administrators and managers, and other government officers/professional, national and international, private and NGO managers; Experts and individual, in universities, research and other relevant institutions, engaged in public governance development, public administration theories, government systems and management innovation, and training. 9

10 UNPAN Who manages UNPAN The UNPAN system, sponsored by the United Nations department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), is executed and managed by the Division of Public Economics and Public Administration (DPEPA) and centred at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, under the coordination of a Task Force composed of a team of substantive, technical and administrative experts, in close partnership with a group of regional and international institutions devoted to public administration and finance in the context of social and economic development. These institutions are titled UNPAN Online Regional Centres (ORCs) and UNPAN Online International Centres (OICs), and are based all over the world. 10

11 UNPAN The main progresses of UNPAN Since its establishment UNPAN made consistent progresses in terms of technological, managerial and content development of the UNPAN web-site, including technical assistance provided to ORCs and improvement of e-tools and coordination within the network and with partners. For instance: 3,000 documents checked-in; 15 worldwide databases developed; Management of documents in all UN languages (including Arabic, Chinese and Russian); Advanced search engine, including websiteworldwide (usingyahoo); Discussion board system to facilitate Network development. 11

12 UNPAN The main progresses of UNPAN (continue) In relation to political recognization and appreciation, networking and performance, the main results achieved by UNPAN are: UN General Assembly resolution A/Res/56/213 ECOSOC resolution E/Res/2001/45 (which requested the expansion of UNPAN at national level); Increased number of ORCs and OICs members of the network; Increased number of partners and related weblinks (including World Bank-Public Sector, OECD-PUMA, IMF, etc.); Consistent increased of number of visits and hits (measured through an established monitoring system and a monthly performance report); Evaluation system (including an online survey to measure usefulness, accessibility and effectiveness of services provided). 12

13 UNPAN Activities to be undertaken in 2002 Following the 4th Interregional Consultative meeting of UNPAN (Palermo-Italy, 9/4/2002), short-term objectives of UNPAN are: Maintaning improvement and updating of UNPAN Website and technological platform (to become, in the long-term, the Yahoo of Public Administration); Implementation of UNPAN monitoring and evaluation system, training and directory databases; Report of UNPAN activities to the United Nations Committe of Experts on Public Administration-UNCEPA (1st Meeting, New York July 2002); Implementation of the UN Public Service Award process; UNPAN expansion to the national level (ECOSOC Res.). 13

14 Presentation of UNPAN Web site 14

15 2. UNPAN ORC - CAFRAD 15

16 UNPAN ORC CAFRAD UNPAN establishment Phase 1 ( ) UN DESA / DPEPA provided equipment, technical support and training to establish UNPAN facilities at CAFRAD; UNPAN ORC CAFRAD organized information and documentation to participate in UNPAN Global online Network and in UNPAN meetings and training activities; Thanks to WWW African countries, through UNPAN ORC CAFRAD, now have immediate and ongoing access to a vital tool for strenghtening and enhancing the capacity of public sector policy formulation and management. 16

17 UNPAN ORC CAFRAD UNPAN implementation Phase 2 ( ) UN DESA / DPEPA experts to support UNPAN ORC CAFRAD, training and advisory services to implement UNPAN activities; Design and coordinate regional strategy on UNPAN implementation in Africa, through building a Regional Network on egovernance, involving Governments and other African ORCs and institutions; Having established its own information and knowledge infrastructure, UNPAN ORC CAFRAD will act as African Information and Knowledge clearinghouse coordinating regional implementation of UNPAN. 17

18 UNPAN ORC CAFRAD UNPAN ORC - CAFRAD activities in 2002 Context analysis and assessment of UNPAN ORC - CAFRAD organization and management; Improvement of UNPAN ORC CAFRAD role as Regional Focal Point through technical support and training activities; Improvement of strategic planning, organization and management reengineering of UNPAN ORC CAFRAD; Enhancement of UNPAN ORC - CAFRAD networking and marketing (to make CAFRAD an African Centre of Excellence); Support to the regional and global implementation of monitoring and evaluation system of UNPAN. 18

19 UNPAN ORC CAFRAD Output achieved (January-May 2002) Design and implementation of procedures for using UNPAN Documentation Management System; Increased involvement of staff in UNPAN activities; Three-fold increase of documentation checked-in on UNPAN; Consistent improvement of quality and relevance of documentation checked-in; Development of databases on African legislation, CAFRAD seminars, training activities, major developments and trends; Digital library development; Long term Strategic plan for the expansion of UNPAN at national level (eafrica 2002 Project proposal...). 19

20 UNPAN ORC CAFRAD Output expected Completion of African legislation and CAFRAD seminars, conferences and training activities databases; Improvement of Country profile database, through completion and analysis of Survey on African Public Administration; Ongoing update of major developments and trends in Public Administration and Finance in African countries; Establishment of an observatory on egovernance in Africa; Maintaining and updating Digital library; Establishment of a Stage Exchange Program with African and International organizations; Promotion and networking activity, including PPPs; Kick-off and implementation of e-africa within UNPAN framework, also supporting establishment of National Focal Points. 20

21 UNPAN ORC CAFRAD CAFRAD challenges and opportunities UNPAN ORC CAFRAD will play a pivotal role in enhancing governance capacity in African countries through UNPAN Network implementation at national level; As a service-driven provider UNPAN ORC CAFRAD will facilitate sharing information and knowledge essential to building capacity and sustaining development among policy and decisions makers, public administrators, the private sector and civil society. To make UNPAN ORC CAFRAD realize its full potential, African governments should play an active role in building and sustaining UNPAN regional Network. 21

22 3. e-africa

23 e-africa 2002 Challenges ahead The advent of Information Society is creating unprecedented conditions for access to, and exploitation of, public sector information. Communication among administrations and citizens and businesses can be enhanced. Electronic tools can significantly improve the services and information flows from administrations to their constituencies, offering unique opportunities for the utilization of public sector information within the emerging digital economy. Bringing out this potential will create vast economic opportunities for Africa, also giving support to development frameworks initiated at the regional level, such as NEPAD and similar efforts. 23

24 e-africa 2002 Background and Justification The United Nations Millennium Declaration, confirms the global community s readiness to support Africa s efforts to address the continent s underdevelopment and marginalization. The Monterrey Consensus stresses the primary responsibility of each country for its own economic and social development and encourages South-South cooperation. To reach these goals, the centrality and importance of strengthening the political and administrative frameworks in African countries is recognized by governments across the world and in Africa: good governance is essential for sustainable development. 24

25 e-africa 2002 Purpose and Objective In respect of its mandate of backing the efforts of African Countries in the improvement of their governance systems CAFRAD, in partnership with other institutions intends to carry out a multi-year project on Building e-governance Capacity in African Countries for better economic and public service performance: e-africa 2002 ; The overall objective of the project proposal is to enhance delivery of the public services through the integration of ICT in the process of decision-making, planning, formulation, coordination and management carried out by governments. 25

26 e-africa 2002 Project strategy The strategy of the intervention aims to give a response to needs expressed by African countries in the improvement of their governance and the use of ICT, both at the central and local levels. Within this context, the project is to be considered as part of the on-going efforts in institutional and administrative reform and modernization, as well as in the improvement of the economy and governance in the African countries. In order to achieve this purpose, the project is focused on networking and harmonization actions, including the improvement of partnership and promotion, stressing the implementation of an information exchange system among African countries and between partner states and institutions. 26

27 e-africa 2002 Project content The project proposal is divided into complementary component actions -some new, others representing an enhancement of activities already under way- that form a coherent whole articulated around two axes: I. e-governance strategies and priorities for Africa: would consider analysis and permanent dialogue to develop a coordinated approach that address a range of issues contributing to the creation of right conditions for the promotion of effective e-governance; II. e-governance Networking implementation: would consider effective and efficient strengthening of existing and proposed ICT regional networks through experimentation and catalysing developments by supporting exemplary projects and stimulating the exchange of best practices throughout global network in order to promote e-governance capacity-building and South-South cooperation. 27

28 e-africa 2002 Project activities A. Regional workshops on building e-governance capacity in African countries; B. Analysis of African countries capacities and needs for e- governance implementation: e-readness ; C. Improvement of African regional ICT Networking System within a Global Network for e-governance; D. Improvement in African countries ICT infrastructure and equipment; and E. Advisory services and training in the implementation of e- governance. 28

29 e-africa 2002 Project management As conceived, the project will be implemented in two phases: 1. The first phase (the present) constitutes the Pilot phase of the Project: it is expected to be accomplished between 2005, and will be carried out in five countries selected from all the sub-regions of the continent. 2. The second phase of the project will concern the extension of the experience to potentially all African Countries, also involving increase of partnership and improvement on hard activities, such as infrastructure development and coordination of satellite initiatives decentralized on local African institutions. This is envisaged to be undertaken between 2005 and

30 e-africa 2002 Potential Role of Morocco In this context, Morocco, as Permanent Host to CAFRAD, could play a leading role in the eafrica 2002 strategy implementation, also taking advantage of the forthcoming 4 th Global Forum on Reinventing Government, to be held in Marrakech between 12 th and 13 th December 2002, organized in collaboration with UN DESA/DPEPA and the assistance of other international agencies and institutions, and focused on «Building partnerships between civil society, business and states for the promotion of development and democracy». 30

31 e-africa 2002 Potential Role of Morocco From a practical point of view, the Government of Morocco should take into consideration the following: Participate in the pilot phase of the e-africa 2002 project; Establish a National Focal Point of UNPAN, to provide a gateway for information collection and management of documentation and services on Public Administration and Finance; Act as leading partner in the implementation of the e-africa 2002 within the framework of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). 31

32 UNPAN ORC CAFRAD For more information: Thank You... Mercì... Shoukran... 32

33 Let s have a coffee! 33