Weaving Politically Relevant and Inclusive Networks through Egovernance in Developing Countries

1
Vikas Nath Founder DigitalGovernance.org KnowNet.o
rg Initiative DevNetJobs.org

• Weaving Politically Relevant and Inclusive
  Networks through Egovernance in Developing
  Countries

3rd International Conference on Information
Technology and Economic Development Ghana March
4, 2004
2

ICT Penetration leads to Increase in Information
Access Flows
Information Access Opportunities / Avenues
available to individuals to seek information from
different sources. For instance other
individuals, institutions, and public domains
databases. Information Flow Supply /
Availability of information within a society.
Information flows may be 'restricted' in some
societies and 'open' in others.
3
Schematic Representation of Enhanced Information
Access and Flow
Pre-ICT Society
Post-ICT Society
4
A Missing Element Geometry of Information Flows
ICT has led to greater inter-linkages, increase
in intensity of interactions, and greater
opportunity to broadcast content in a networked
society But if ICT is to provide CLEAR benefits
to the unreached and to the disadvantaged
communities, then there is a need to focus on
the "Geometry of Information Flows"
5
Geometry of Information Flows and 2 Key Lessons
for E-Governance Project Formulations

• Which new Constituencies / Target groups have
  been brought under the Governance sphere ?
  (INCLUSIVE NETWORK)
• Has any Use-Worthy / Relevant Services started
  to become available to citizens brought under the
  E-governance network?
• (POLITICAL RELEVANCE)

6
Guidelines for Conceiving E-Governance
Projects

• Who are the Target groups that we want to reach
  out to ?
• What are the key governance information needs of
  the Target Group ?
• What are the Existing channels by which
  information reaches to the Target Group ?
• What is the weakest link in the chain of
  information flows from source of Information to
  the Target Communities?
• Can E-governance deliver products and services
  that cannot be delivered by the conventional
  means ?

7
Geometrically Sensitive E-Governance Models and
Issues

• Wider Dissemination Model
• Critical Flow Model
• Comparative Analysis Model
• E-advocacy/ Lobbying and Pressure
  group model
• Interactive-Service Model

8
Wider Disseminating Model Information Public
Domain Wider Public Domain
Wider Domain

• Laws and Legislations
• Local Govt. Offices and Officials Information
• Government Budget, Plans and Expenditures
• Key Judicial Decisions state vs. citizen
  decisions

Public Domain Information
9
Examples
Africa AllAfrica.com political news relating to
various countries in Africa Cameroon Ministry
of Finance and Budget(Tax Information)
http//www.impots.gov.cm Hungary Government
Portal http//www.ekormanyzat.hu  India
Directory of Government Ministries www.goidirector
y.nic.in Senegal Government Online http//www.gou
v.sn 
10
Issues
Political Will and E-Champions (Top-Down
Guidance) Information Sharing Culture (with
Government as Role Model) ICT Training of
Governement Bureaucrats and Technocrats Auditing
of Information Provided on Websites Information
Management System Creation of Infomediaries and
involvement of the Middlemen
11
Critical Flow Model Critical Information Private
Domain Wider Public Domain

• Corruption Information
• Enquiry reports, scientific research, impact
  studies commissioned by the Government
• Companys Green Ratings
• Human Rights Violations Records

Wider Domain
Private Domain Information
12
Examples
Nigeria Anti-Corruption Internet Database
(ACID)http//www.antigraft.org  Mexico
Declarenet www.declaranet.gob.mx Kenya Busting
Corruption using the Internethttp//www.cddc.vt.e
du/knownet/articles/kenya-case.html   India
Central Vigilance Committee www.cvc.nic.in Bangla
desh Human Rights Portal www.banglarights.net
Colombia Transparent Municipalities
www.paipa.gov.co
13
Issues
Access to Information Rights Prioritization of
E-governance objectives Defining LIMITS of
E-governance Independent Media Mature Civil
Society Organisations Innovative Ideas for
Strategic Application of Information
14
Comparative Analysis Model Information Private /
Public Domain Public / Private Domain
Wider Public Domain
Public/Private Domain
Wider Domain
Public Domain Information
Public/Private Domain
15
Comparative Analysis Model

• Court Rulings / Historical Archive
• Tracking Performance Records / Financial Assets
  Growth of Ministers
• Electoral Candidates Information

• Based on Precedence Information
• (time line)
• With and Without Information

• Bringing out Best / Worst Practices
• Disaster Response
• Comparative policies- Bt Cotton Trademark
  Potatoes Campaign

16
Examples
Argentina Cristal (Budget comparisons and use of
public funds) www.cristal.gov.ar Sri Lanka
Kothmale Project (Comparison of Education
Indicators) India Green Ratings of Chief
Ministers www.cseindia.org India Comparative
Learning from Disasters www.nic.in
17
Issues
Digitization of Archived Governance-related
information Creation of Database-driven
Electronic Information Repositories Adoption of
ICT in everyday functioning by different arms of
Government the executive body, the parliament,
the judiciary Civil society and media access to
governance information databases and records
18
Mobilisation and Lobbying Model Building Allies
/ Networking Networks for Concerted Action
Virtual Community
Communities
Individuals
Real Community
Common Goal
Networks
Interest Groups
19
Examples

• Planned, Directed, Strategic flow of Information
  to build strong issue-based Allies / solidarity
  to complement action in Real World.
• (often through combination of other models)
• South Africa Petitions Onlinehttp//www.petitio
  ns.co.za 
• e-Signature Campaigns
• e-Groups on Agriculture
• Zimbabwe Kubatana.net (using emails for
  lobbying)

20
Issues
Collaboration, Cooperation and Partnership
Approach Issue-focused agenda Access to ICT
by Civil Society Organizations ICT trained human
resources within different sectors of the
society- academics, research, media, NGOs etc.
21
Service Delivery Model USER
SERVICE PROVIDER
E-Government E- debates E-ballots E-procurement
of services E-administration taxes, parking
tickets, licenses
22
Examples
Brazil Citizen Services Centre Nigeria
Nigerian Assembly  http//www.nigerianassembly.co
m India Bhoomi Project www.revdept-01.kar.nic.i
n South Africa Independent Electoral
Commission (new!)http//www.elections.org.za  Na
mibia Parliamentary website for bill
discussions www.parliament.gov.na Nepal
Municipal Services Online www.bharatpurmun.org.np
23
Issues
Infrastructure and Connectivity Information Need
Analysis Legislative and Regulatory Framework
(Eg. Digital Signatures, Record
Keeping) Information Security and Crime
Prevention Change in Governance Attitude and
Functioning Pricing of E-Governance Services
24
Overriding Issues

• Removal of Mind Barriers!
• Little recognition to peoples Knowledge and
  their ability to make Informed decisions.
• Creation and focusing on Intermediary
  Organisations
• Provide access to governance information, and
  training on its use to core group of people
  through Schools, NGOs, Post Offices.
• ICT Literacy Levels
• Low ICT literacy implies lower capacity to learn,
  interact and derive positive benefits from
  available information
• Government as a Role Model
• Need to have information-sharing culture
• INNOVATIONS

25
End Note

• Strength of any E-Governance Initiative is based
  on the strengths of Human Networks within which
  they operate, including a robust, active and
  questioning / inquisitive civil society.

26
For more information

• Vikas Nath
• founder
• DigitalGovernance.org
• A network of over 2600 individuals
• KnowNet_at_Knowetweaver.org or
• v.nath-alumni_at_lse.ac.uk