Background - Concept Note
Background
Since the mid-1990s, UNDP has supported the implementation of ICT and e-governance programmes. However, in the last 5 years the field of e-governance has experienced dramatic changes perhaps best reflected by a move from technology driven initiatives to citizen-centered approaches and programmes, complemented by efforts to link the area to the broader theme of democratic governance.
In 2005, UNDP organized its first global CoP in Dakar, Senegal which focused on the completion of a UNDP Practice Note on e-governance. Three years later, there is clear need to revisit the field of e-governance from a UNDP perspective to assess current programming and provide concrete ideas on future developments. It is indeed time to take stock to assess the impact e-governance has had in terms of enhancing democratic governance in order to strategically improve UNDP’s and partners interventions towards improving the effectiveness of public service and information delivery, increased stakeholder involvement in decision-making processes, and the accountability and transparency of government (national, regional and local) processes.
In addition, although large amounts of public funds are going into e-governance (most being directed to e-administration or public investment inside government institutions), very few e-governance strategies, policies and programmes directly target those people with most need of services – the poor and vulnerable. This is yet another essential opportunities which remains to be harnessed systematically and which clearly links to the MDGs.
Access to information is also a fundamental issue that needs to be tackled in the context of e-governance. Fostering people participation in public policy making - a key aspect for truly fostering democratic governance processes- is essential to achieve sustained human development in any given country. Freedom of information acts and related legislation are certainly a first step. But opportunities also exist for people and citizens being capable of producing, summarizing, packaging and distributing public information that would otherwise never reach the vast majority of the population.
A recent mapping of e-governance projects for 2007 indicates that UNDP is supporting over 100 programmes in 51 countries with a total investment of almost 102 million USD. These projects range from policies and strategies to e-participation and access to information via ICTs. Clear links to both Public Administration Reform (PAR), local governance and anti-corruption also exist. Despite a considerable number of projects, little effort has been put into assessing the impact and lessons learned in terms of development impact on poor people, and methodologies for engaging communities in info-mobilization.
UNDP’s more recent approach to e-Governance and Access to Information (via ICTs) has been an opportunity to provide support to governments and civil society organizations in using ICT to deliver better public services and information, and enhance the participation and involvement of citizens through networking in the various governance-related processes.
Objectives
Over-all, the community of practice meeting aims to consolidate the e-governance community of practice and provide participants strategic guidance on how to strategize for and implement e-governance as a mechanism for enhancing access to information.
More specifically the workshop seeks to:
- Deepen the understanding of what UNDP and national partners have done and are doing on e-governance and access to information globally
- Facilitate the exchange of experience and lessons learned in successful implementation of e-governance
- Develop capacity to improve and sustain e-governance initiatives
- Create avenues and strategic niches for improving future interventions
- Foster synergies across regions and regional centres
- Establish links with Public Administration Reform and local governance and decentralization practices
- Recommend assessment methodologies and indicators for e-governance practitioners
- Identify new partners (specially in the private sector) and strengthen ongoing one
Key questions to be addressed
1. What are the biggest challenges and opportunities for making e-governance work for better for decentralisation and local governance?
2. How can e-governance become an empowering mechanism of citizens that helps to enhance local accountability and more inclusive participation in decision making processes?
3. How can access to information legislation and systems of implementation be improved through e-governance applications?
4. What are the best e-governance and access to information experiences in UNDP and other organizations and how can other countries tap into these for developing and improving their own approaches?
Participants
UNDP country office project officers, national counterparts, and resource persons. A total of 35-40 participants are expected at the workshop.
Workshop Format
The two day workshop will be conducted in a highly interactive manner. It will also seek to actively facilitate South-South exchange among participants. The target audience includes UNDP national staff as well as national government counterparts working actively on e-governance and access to information. Field trips will also be organised to facilitate learning.
Expected Outputs
- Revised UNDP e-governance practice note
- Primer on pro-poor e-governance completed
- Impact assessment methodology and indicators completed
- Strengthen CO capacity for e-governance programming
- Enhanced South-South cooperation
- Active CoP across regions established
Hosting
Venue: Hyderabad, India
Suggested national partner: Ministry of Information and Communication, Department of Information Technology, India
Suggested local partner: National Institute for Smart Governments (NISG)
Organiser
UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok and UNDP Bureau for Development Policy, New York (and Oslo) with assistance from UNDP India
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