Dr. Mesfin Belachew. Assistant Professor, Deputy Director, Ethiopian ICT Development Agency (EICTDA)

Transcription

1 Challenges and Opportunities in E- Government :- Case of Ethiopia Dr. Mesfin Belachew Assistant Professor, Deputy Director, Ethiopian ICT Development Agency (EICTDA)

2 About Myself March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 2

3 Outline Introduction About Ethiopia & EICTDA E-Government (general definition) Major E-Government Initiatives in Ethiopia Challenges & Opportunities Conclusion March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 3

4 Introduction

5 Introduction E-Government is considered to be the use of ICTs to promote more efficient and effective government E-Government is generally considered as a narrow concept than E-Governance, since it can bring about a change in the way citizens relate to governments and to each other. (According to Sheridan and Riley, 2006) March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 5

6 Introduction In the last 5-7 years Ethiopia undergone through a number of challenges to get few of many opportunities existing from e- Government implementations Ethiopia might not be a good example to reflect a success story, rather to indicate some of the major challenges existing in similar countries (Ethiopia [Web Measure index, ; Infrastructure index, ; Human Capital Index, ; Total, ] is ranking 172 from 192 Nations in UN e-readiness index, as per the 2008 report; Sweden, Denmark, Norway, , , ) March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 6

7 Introduction My Presentation:- concentrating in E- Government than E- Governance. take the case of Ethiopia in demonstrating what is done in E-Government, which is, I believe, has some thing in common with other developing nations show what are the major challenges we faced and what are the major opportunities we gained using some practical examples March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 7

8 About Ethiopia & Ethiopian ICT Development Agency

9 ETHIOPIA Federal Democratic Republic Of Ethiopia (FDRE) Location: East, Horn of Africa 9 National Regional States and 2 city admin, divided into zones, & woredas (districts with a average population of 100,000 ) 66+ Zones and about 600+ woredas Land Area: 1.14mil Sq.kms (1.07 million Km 2 land, seven thousands Km 2 water) Population: Total: 73 million; Rural : 83%; Urban : 17% ; Density: 59.4/Km 2; Population Growth rate is 2.72% Agricultural Country (coffee, flower, livestock, etc) Telecom infrastructure is monopoly in Ethiopia March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 9

10 EICTDA Establishment In year 2003 with the proclamation number 360/2003 to create a conducive environment for ICT development and for its effective application to the process of national development Vision Every aspect of Ethiopian life is ICT assisted Mission To develop, deploy and use ICT to improve the livelihood of Ethiopian and optimize its contribution to the development of Ethiopia March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 10

11 EICTDA. EICTDA s Objective Implement/ Support E-government assignments, nationally Facilitate and coordinate the development of the required National ICT Infrastructure; Develop / Follow-up policy, standards, procedure, guideline, at national level In ICT HRD, organize short and middle term trainings Support the private sector to enhance the sector Reaching the community at large (like establishing community canters, awareness trainings, etc) March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 11

12 E-Government

13 E-Government E-Government * is the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to promote more efficient and effective government, facilitate more accessible government services, allow greater public access to information, and make government more accountable to citizens. E-government might involve delivering services via the Internet, telephone, community centers, wireless devices or other communications systems * Definition of the Working Group on E-government in the Developing World ( March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 13

14 E-Government E-Government * refers to the use by government agencies of information technologies that have the ability to transform relations with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government. These technologies can serve a variety of different ends: better delivery of government services to citizens, improved interactions with business and industry, citizen empowerment through access to information, or more efficient government management. The resulting benefits can be less corruption, increased transparency, greater convenience, revenue growth, and cost reductions. * World Bank ( definition (Asia Oceania Electronic Marketplace Association,AOEMA report) March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 14

15 Major E-Government Initiatives in Ethiopia

16 Major E-Government Initiatives The major initiatives can be divided in infrastructure, application, Standards/Guidelines and HRD Infrastructure, backbone of e-government activities, capital intensive compared to other activities, Applications, automation of the process in the government, data storages, data sharing, information exchange, service delivery, etc Standards & Guidelines to be used in implementing e-government assignments (policies, strategies, etc) HDR to produce ICT skill in specialized and general level March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 16

17 Major E-Government Initiatives Infrastructure Mainly focused on establishing of data-centers, networking the different centers, acquiring different capacity servers, computers etc In this regard, a number of activities are underway, just to list some: Telecom infrastructure (mostly by ETC) National DC, Regional DC, WoredaNet, SchoolNet, EtHERNet, AgriNet, etc Start with infrastructure, the application, and management March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 17

18 Major E-Government Initiatives Facts on Infrastructure for Ethiopia Optical fiber network in the country to link up with the submarine cables. over 4,000 KM has already been completed, 14,000 KM is a plan Connecting NDC and RDC through fiber optic Universal access The Rural Connectivity Program (RCP) to provide access to telecom facilities at a walk of 5 kilometers. Currently Terrestrial (few) and V-Sat connections (more), plan to substitute to terrestrial Landline telephone per 100 inhabitants is 1.18 (Africa 3.25) Mobile per 100 inhabitants is 4.4 (Africa 37.83) Internet/ broadband connection per 100 inhabitants 0.056/ Internet cost per month/20 min usage 9.27 USD Mobile air time per month/100 min 6.8 USD Source:- ETC Annual Statistical Bulletin May 2009 March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 18

19 Major E-Government Initiatives Facts on Infrastructure. Services Network Capacity (May 2009) Capacity in 2-3 years Number of Users Landline Telephone 1,769, Million 915,058 Mobile Telephone 4,808, Million 4,051,703 Dial Internet Connection 150,000 1 Million 71,059 Multimedia Mobile User 2.5GB 1 Million 3,498 Rural Connectivity 14,000 9,892 Telecommunication Stations N.Ap. 994 Public Phones 5,025 Source:- ETC Annual Statistical Bulletin May 2009 March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 19

20 Major E-Government Initiatives WoredaNet * 631+ Woredas Connected TIGA 09 award on public service delivery to citizens/communities (local category) Objective is to provide ICT services such as video conferencing, directory, messaging, and voice and Internet connectivity at the federal, regional and lowest level of government throughout the country. To build transparent & accountable government system Increase citizen participation in the government. *Woreda:-districts with a average population of ~100,000 Technology in Government in Africa (TIGA) March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 20

21 Major E-Government Initiatives SchoolNet High Schools, 574+, Preparatory Schools, 191+ (total 756+) integrate ICTs into Ethiopia s educational system provide quality education for all the Ethiopian school support the teaching and learning process, give similar content to all schools (rural and urban) give internet and digital content online to connected schools March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 21

22 Major E-Government Initiatives EthERNEt (Ethiopian Educational and Research Network ) 22 public Universities are connected MSc and PhD programs through video Indian, South African and UK Universities Prof. in one University can teach also in more Universities Video conferencing as the main tool in the first phase, for limited Universities, then to all Phase one, for 9-universites additional video capability, but all 22 can hanve E-Library & digital content High standard equipments are installed in the data center used as a get-way to all connected Universities VC rooms arranged in each, class in some universities are already started March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 22

23 Major E-Government Initiatives Applications Applications are done mainly to automate the back-office activities (most are web-based) Prioritized and initiated by Ministries and Agencies based on the need Ministries/Agencies undergo the Business Process Re-Engineering (BPR) process are the one to be considered in application development Some major activities are, just to list some: Government Portal, Justice Information System, Drivers & Vehicles Management Information System, National Records & Library Management Information System, HR Information System, etc March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 23

24 Major E-Government Initiatives Government Portal ( March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 24

25 Major E-Government Initiatives Court Information System (through VC) March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 25

26 Major E-Government Initiatives Policy, Standards, Guidelines (some lists) ICT Policy (country level) Localization of ICT Terminologies Keyboard Standard National Disaster Prevention & Recovery Plan, Procedure and Guideline National ICT HRD Strategy National ICT R&D Strategy and Guideline March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 26

27 Major E-Government Initiatives HR Capacity Building Gives/organizes a number of training short/long, professional/non professional from federal and regional offices. (example of training organized from July 2008 to Jun 2009) 931 basic IT skill 203 Interactive and Dynamic Webpage Development 1180 Advanced Network Management and Maintenance 103 IT Security 80 IT Security & Cybercrime 100 Business (IT) Continuity and Disaster Recovery 60 C# with dot.net Frame work 33 CCSP 112 Database Management 488 TVET Teachers in Database, Networking, Pc Maintenance and Troubleshooting March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 27

28 Major E-Government Initiatives Ongoing Projects (some) Infrastructure Implementation of Network Master Plan (13 Ministries) WoredaNet upgrading and Network Operation Center EthERNet II Incubation Centres at 5 regional/city administration Multipurpose ICT Community Centres Application E-Revenue, E-Environment, E-Education, IFMIS Standard & Guidelines E-government strategy, Interoperability standard, Enterprise Architecture, March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 28

29 Challenges & Opportunities

30 Challenges & Opportunities ICT offers increased opportunities for economic development and plays a critical role in rapid economic change, in improving productivity, in enhancing the international competitiveness, etc for developing countries Opportunities & Challenges of egovernment in developing & developed countries are the same, but the speed in maximizing the opportunities and in overcoming the challenges is different The major challenge in one country, is not in another country, for example, cost related issues, leadership commitment etc March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 30

31 Opportunities Opportunities Reduces Cost, Improves Quality of Service Delivery to Citizens Increases Transparence Increases Accountability Increases Citizen s Participation in Decision Making Process, With examples March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 31

32 Opportunities. Reduces Cost Putting services online, decreasing the processing cost Suitable application increase efficiency, Suitable application reduce human errors and time of transaction These all leads to cost reduction March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 32

33 Opportunities. Example of cost reduction By using the Video Conference for meeting, training, consultation, etc At the end of 2009 (July to December 2009), 631 hrs usage of multisession VC is conducted, 43,093 number of people participated This reduce the cost of transportation to centers (Ethiopia one of the 10 largest country in Africa and long distance travel in the country is common), People can attend the training/meeting around there working place, the same information/content to all places, March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 33

34 Opportunities. Improves Quality of Service Delivery to Citizens To get the service, citizens spend lot of time in queue Minimize travel from place to place & provide exact information Traditional service delivery consume time, less transparent, error prone Available always, 24/7 Application and online systems improve quality service delivery March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 34

35 Opportunities. Example, Improved Quality of Service Delivery Drivers & Vehicles Management Information System (web based but currently used as back office application) National Records & Library Management Information System (web based system) Integrated Health Information System Justice Information System (a combination of vice and video, case is seen through VC, tracking of the case through voice) March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 35

36 Opportunities. Increases Transparence & Accountability In informational systems (Emerging Presence), government offices display forms, working hours, procedures, duration, etc. In transactional systems (Enhanced Presence) two way communication between government and its citizens increase transparency and accountability Citizens can actively participate in political and government discussions Use forums, communities, social groups, etc to share ideas between citizens March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 36

37 Opportunities. Example, Increases Transparence & Accountability Using VC discussions on issues like new rules/regulation, new educational policies, new tax regulations, etc Political discussions between different level of politicians at different locations Forms and office hours on portals Less corruption because of the system March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 37

38 Challenges & Opportunities. Challenges Infrastructure Qualified Human Resource Lack of Standards, Guidelines, Policies and Legal issues Leadership Commitment Low level working culture, High Resistance, Weak Private Sector, Low level collaboration/partnership between private and public sector March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 38

39 Challenges. Infrastructure One of the major challenges in e-government implementation Connectivity, bandwidth, computer penetration, inadequate mobile/landline, e-readiness, computer literacy etc are linked to infrastructure High cost, limited resource/finance in developing nations The digital divide between richer & developing countries and even between rural & urban internally is high Developing countries have another priorities than ICT, poverty, food security, political/democracy, internal conflict, Even if the infrastructure exist, under utilization, because of skill, commitment, etc problems March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 39

40 Challenges. Qualified Human Resource Limited (lack) of qualified professionals to install, commission, run, maintain the infrastructure and application Limited (lack) of ICT skills in the public sector to use the infrastructure and application Lack of hybrid human capacities: technological, commercial and management, etc which is mandatory requirement to be successful in egovernment Getting qualified human resource is not possible in short period of tome (is a process) Inadequate HR training Brain-drain of the qualified professionals, abroad or even from public to private, affects egovernment Public awareness is also part to make egovernment a success March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 40

41 Challenges. Lack of Standards, Guidelines, Policies and Legal issues Processing of egovernment principles and functions requires a range of new rules, policies, standards etc ICT policy and egovernment strategy are the major one from all Also standards and guidelines like interoperability, PKI, HR strategy, e-readiness roadmap, etc Example:- in the absence of interoperability standard, a number of systems which don t talk each other, multiple entry of the same data, multiple sign-on, too expensive to make interoperable, etc March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 41

42 Challenges. Leadership Commitment One of the driving force in making ICT project implementation success Leadership commitment in all level of administration is major in egovernment application E-Government is always accompanied with cost, risk, challenging, etc, committed leadership Committed leadership, at the level of ICT project initiation and implementation In ICT implementation, usually resistance is common & leaders are part of the solution March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 42

43 Challenges. Collaboration/partnership b/n Private & Public sector Most works, like procuring devices, installing, developing, training, studies, etc are done using outsourcing Governments don t have potential to establish the infrastructure, give qualified trainings, etc The indigenous private sector is usually inexperienced in ICT implementation Indigenous private sector is required to localize, to provide a strong local support, to be independent, etc The PPP model is a solution in the developing nations, to strength the private sector, to collaburate March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 43

44 Conclusion

45 Conclusion Challenges in egovernment implementations is so serious and difficult to reach to the opportunities in developing nations The low ICT infrastructure, the high cost of implementation, skill, etc are major challenges in e-government implementations The low success rate of ICT projects internationally make it worst in developing countries The developing country has to maximize the latecomer-advantages Better benchmarks and best practices which are available March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 45

46 Conclusion. Go from simple to complex in implementation, pilot in small scope, test and go for larger scale (start on informational services and go to transactional service delivery) Start with e-service roadmap and concentrate on the prioritized service delivery to citizens Use available medium in service delivery like voice, mobile, etc instead of broadband, PC, PDA, etc Research and Development, to minimize failures and to maximize the opportunities is a major agenda March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 46

47 Current Activity Research Paper Assessment of E-Government Projects (in Government and Public Institutions) By Lemma Lessa (PhD Student at AAU), Dr. Solomon Negash Associate Professor of IS, Kennesaw State University ( Dr. Mesfin Belachew, Deputy Director, EICTDA, Assistant Professor PhD Advisory Sustainability of E-Government in Ethiopia: The Case of WoredaNet Services By Lemma Lessa (PhD Student at AAU), Advisor (Internal):- Dr. Mesfin Belachew, Deputy Director, EICTDA, Assistant Professor March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 47

48 References 1. Backus, M. (2001) E-Governance and Developing Countries, Introduction and examples 2. Shailendra C. Jain Palvia and Sushil S. Sharma (2008) E- Government and E-Governance: Definitions/Domain Framework and Status around the World 3. Howard, M. (2001) E-Government across the globe: How will "e" change government? Government Finance 4. Kettl, D. F. (2002) The Transformation of Governance 5. Riley, T.B. (2003) E-government vs. E-governance: Examining the Difference in a Changing Public Sector Climate 6. Sheridan, W., and Riley, T.B. (2006) Commonwealth Centre for e- Governance, e-gov Monitor March 13, 2010 UNU-IIST 48

49 I Thank You!