E-GOVERNMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT BASIC DEFINITIONS

What is eGovernment? 

eGovernment is the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to improve the activities of public sector organisations.

Some definitions restrict e-government to Internet-enabled applications only, or only to interactions between government and outside groups.  Here, we do not - all digital ICTs are included; all public sector activities are included.

In our definition, then, governments have been practising e-government for more than 50 years: using that first mainframe in the Statistics Office was "e-government".  We just didn't give it that name 50 years ago. More

Publications
The impact of e-government on competitiveness, growth and jobs
[ http://europa.eu.int/idabc/servlets/Doc?id=19230 ]
IDABC eGovernment Observatory, 2005
E-enabled public services can be produced and delivered much faster, thus saving considerable time and money for both service providers and users. Even though precise measurements are still missing, there are strong indications that these benefits are substan-tial and are likely to have a multiplier effect across the economy. Therefore, governments need to re-focus their e-government efforts towards two key objectives: the identification and realisation of productivity and efficiency gains across the public sector, and the reduction of administrative burdens for both citizens and business.

Publications
Asian E-government Survey (2004)
[ http://www.pstm.net/article/index.php?articleid=476 ]
In the first week of December 2004, Public Sector Technology & Management (PSTM) conducted a survey of public sector administrators drawn from Asia Pacific & Middle East. A sample size of 500, drawn from qualified public sector subscribers to the www.PSTM.net online publication, yielded 369 results.

Publications
UN Global E-government Readiness Report 2004
[ http://www.unpan.org/egovernment4.asp ]
Broad trends of e-government development around the world in 2004 reaffirm that political ideology, economic and social systems; level of development; resource availability, human and technological infrastructure; institutional framework and cultural patterns all have a bearing on how, and how well, an e-government initiative is utilized. Rapid progress in the initial stages of e-government development has led to other features being added in 2004. Around 85 to 92 per cent of all countries online now provide some of the databases and or laws, policies and other documents. However, only about one third of all countries provided public services online: almost the same as last year.

Publications
ICT Policy: A Beginner’s Handbook
[ http://www.apc.org/books/policy_handbook_EN.zip ]
APC, 2003

The handbook aims to build the capacity of interested persons to understand the issues around policy on ICT development and regulation, to grasp the policy process,and to become involved in this process. It explains policy and regulation, how policyis decided, who the main players are, and what can bedone to ensure that policy decision-making is a transparent, participatory process, and not one which involves only those with the money and the power to influence governments and the courts. The handbook provides examples of recent policy landmarks and debates, as well as background information that will serve as a basis for further investigation.

Publications
An Introduction to Activism on the Internet
[ http://backspace.com/action/ ]
John Emerson, 2005

There are many factors that make Internet attractive for campaigning: its transmission speed, its reach globally and locally to an enormous number of users, low publishing cost, and 24 hour access. The Internet is an important alternative source of information to official and mainstream media, and a powerful means of connection outside of mainstream institutions. It is a truly mass medium, enabling individuals world-wide to share information and converse.

Publications
Governance in Africa: The Role for Information and Communication Technologies
[ http://www.afdb.org/en/content/download/2189/16764/file/ERP-65.pdf ]
Olugbenga Adesida, The Knowledge Network Centre, African Development Bank, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

The paper summarizes the uses of ICTs in governance and discusses possible risks. It also attempts to offer ideas that should be considered in employing ICTs for governance, and identifies key areas for intervention by African countries and the African Development Bank. The paper stresses the importance of the human factor in ealizing good governance, given that ICTs are only tools.

Publications
Top of the Web - User Satisfaction and Usage, Survey of eGovernment services
[ http://europa.eu.int/information_society/activities/egovernment_research
/doc/top_of_the_web_report_2004.pdf ]
This survey, commissioned to assess progress made under the eEurope action plan 2005 in the field of eGovernment, covered 48,228 users (19,896 replies from citizens and 28,332 from businesses). It provides an extensive snapshot of general user satisfaction with public services provided online by measuring perceptions of their usability, benefit and value. According to the survey, 90% of users appreciate the quality of services offered electronically and over 60% are very satisfied with these services. The most commonly reported benefits are saving time and gaining flexibility.

Publications
E-Government in the Asia and the Pacific
[ http://202.4.3.34/Documents/Periodicals/GB/GovernanceBrief06.pdf ]
Clay G. Wescott , Asian Development Bank.

A study of innovation awards given to government agencies in the US revealed that all the agencies applied technology in innovative ways such as allowing citizens to handle common legal matters on-line. However,
e-government systems can deliver on their promise only if
different offices and people are willing to share information and to do things differently.

Publications
The Roadmap to e-Governance Implementation - Selected Perspectives
[ http://www.rileyis.com/publications/research_papers/guest/Roadmap2eGov.pdf ]
This article is an attempt to provide a quasi “ground-truth” for a successful ‘walkthrough’ to eGovernance implementation. The article is by no means a definitive guide. It is, nevertheless, a “checklist” of salient features that warrant consideration in making the transition to an eGovernance implementation. Though presented in what appears to be "clinical" in nature, the core of the article derives from years of learning experience within Commonwealth Member Countries.

Publications
Nigeria: E-Governance: the Jigawa Experience
[ http://allafrica.com/stories/200412060953.html ]
The history of IT-based governance in a state like Jigawa cannot be so long as might be expected by many considering the huge success recorded. The state itself is just 13 years old. With 22,400 km2 landmass and population of a little above 4 million, Jigawa is situated in the north-west of Nigeria. With the coming of this administration to power in May 1999, one of the first moves made was to bring government closer to the citizenry for effective and more meaningful interaction.