Development of ICTs or ICTs for Development? Can Local Sightedness Solve this Dilemma? Using E-Governance as a Case-Study Vikas Nath Founder, Digital Governance Initiative Special Advisor to the Executive Director, South Centre, Geneva EPFL Executive Master in e-Governance Lausanne, Switzerland 13 October 2006

To understand this session better let us get out of this classroom and transport ourselves back into our countries…

Development of ICTs: What do we mean? ICTs can be visualized as: Infrastructure: Roads, Electricity Grid, Railway Lines … Communication Tool: Post, Newspapers … Capital: Finance, Ideas, Human Resources … As in the case of Infrastructure, Communication Tools and Capital, development of ICTs leads to economic growth, greater opportunities and human development. And yet, similar to Infrastructure, Communication Tools and Capital developing ICTs itself cannot ensure that lives of all people, including those belonging to the marginalized sections, will improve automatically. Millions of people still lie in poverty next to roads and highways!

ICTs for Development: What do we mean? ICTs can be visualized as: Access to Education : online classes, libraries, course material Access to Employment : job notices, outsourced jobs Access to Information: market price, weather and floods information, government schemes Access to Advice: agricultural, business, health advice Access to Services: shopping, banking, government services High access-cost & equipment fees, limited bandwidth, expensive ICT solutions, software & business models, lack of technical know-how means many developing countries are unable to deliver benefits of ICTs to their population (inspite of good intentions).

Which Path should countries follow? Development of ICTs?ICTs for Development? High Invesment in ICTs is no guarantee that development benefits will accrue to people who need them the most. ► Eg: Often countries with low-levels of ICT investment and e-readiness rank higher in providing development benefits to their population. Development benefits cannot be provided efficiently and to a large section of population in absence of a well-developed ICT infrastructure. ► Eg: There is a limit to employment that can be generated and benefits that will accrue from setting up SMEs/ rural industries in absence of ICTs. ICTs can open up new markets and make the costs competitive.

The Way Forward is:  Prioritization of Development Benefits  Localization: Targeting of Desired Constituencies  Being Indigenous in “Development of ICTs”  Being Innovative in setting up « ICT for Development models » LET US TAKE THE EXAMPLE OF E-GOVERNANCE ….

E-Government at a Glance Source: UNPAN

E-Gov Readiness Index (top 10) capacity of public sector to use ICT Source: UNPAN E-Gov Global Survey E-Participation Index (top 10) willingness to provide information and communication tools (6 Areas: Health, Educ, Finance, Employment, Social welfare & General E-government Readiness Index CountryIndex United States Denmark Sweden United Kingdom Republic of Korea Australia Singapore Canada Finland Norway …… Chile (top 25) E-participation Index CountryIndex United Kingdom Singapore United States Canada Republic of Korea New Zealand Denmark Mexico Australia Netherlands Chile, Colombia, Philippines, Brazil, Venezuela….(top 25)

Ranking of Municipalities Online (84 Cities) 1 Seoul 2 Hong Kong 3 Singapore 4 Rome 5 Shanghai 6 New York 7 Auckland 8 Stockholm 9 Sao Paulo 10 Sofia Source: Survey done by Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey- Newark, USA Among the top 25 cities: 8 cities are from developing or transition countries: Shanghai Dubai, Macao, Jakarta, Sao Paulo, Kyiv, Sofia, Bucharest. CRITERIA: Citizen Service Delivery

Who is the Government for Citizens ? Who are the Citizens for Government ? Women Central Government GOVERNMENT CITIZENS Farmers Entrepreneur Taxpayer Un- Employed Rural Population Senior Citizens Media Courts Home Ministry State Government Municipality Police Customs Agriculture Department National Banks Excise Department

Localization and Prioritization of Development Benefits (Who are the users and what services do they need?) Small & Medium Enterpreneurs ? Tax & excise subsidies, Government loans, Credit availability Farmers ?Pest control, Market and minimum support prices, Government schemes and subsidies Unemployed ?Government employment and roster, medical benefits Rural people ?Local government offices, health & education facilities Fishermen ?Weather pattern, rehabilitation plans

TARGETING: E-Governance is Match- Making between Citizens and Service Providers Women USER GROUPS Farmers Local Businesses NGO Workers Un- Employed CITIZENS Senior Citizens Local Media E- GOVERNANCE SERVICE PROVIDERS Children Transport Ministry Local Municipalities Agriculture Department Home Ministry Health Department Department of Youth Employment

5 Innovative E-Governance Models being used in Several Developing Countries Wider Dissemination Model Critical Flow Model Comparative Analysis Model E-advocacy/ Pressure group model Selective-Service Model

Public Domain Information Wider Public Domain CITIZENS Govt. Laws, Legislations, Notices Local Govt. Offices and Officials Information Government Budget, Plans and Expenditures Key Judicial Decisions: state vs. citizen decisions Government Tenders, Procurement Notice Government Employment Wider Disseminating ModelInformation: Public Domain Wider Public Domain

Examples Mongolia: Open Government Malaysia: E-Flood Information Philippines: Government Online (but not yet!) Uzbekistan: Portal of the State of Authority

MONGOLIA

MALAYSIA: E-Flood Information DID (JPS) Selangor State 1.The system integrates all hydrology data from District DID (JPS) to the Shah Alam Hydrology Unit automatically and in real time. 2.It then provides real-time river monitoring to safequard life and property, and offers flood warnings through SMS. 3.The project simplifies government agency flood rescue operations.

INDIA: (For Fishermen) Fish Shoal Movements in the Indian Ocean

Critical Flow Model Critical Information: Private Domain Wider Public Domain Private Domain Information Wider Domain Corruption Information Enquiry reports, scientific research, impact studies commissioned Company’s Green Ratings Human Rights Violations Records Whistle Blowing

Examples Bangladesh: Human Rights Portal independent web portal which exposes and challenges discriminations and violations of human rights. India: Central Vigilance Committee Online filing of complaints against public officials and online exposing of names of Corrupted Government Officials. Mexico: Declarenet Declaranet" allows for on-line filing of income for federal employees. Bloggers

BANGLADESH: Human Rights Violations

INDIA: Central Vigilance Committee

Comparative Analysis Model Information in: Private / Public Domain + Public / Private Domain Wider Public Domain Public/Private Domain Wider Domain Public Domain Information Public/Private Domain

Comparative Analysis Model Based on comparison over Time Based on comparison between 2 Services at a given time Court Rulings / Historical Archive Tracking Performance Records / Background of Electoral Candidates Bringing out Best / Worst Practices Cases of Corruption, Budget Irregularities

Examples India: National Courts Sri Lanka: Comparison of Education Indicators (Kothmale Project) Philippines: Comparison of Electoral Candidates India: Green Ratings of Chief Ministers/ Comparing Environmental Records of Industries

INDIA: National Courts

INDIA: Green Rating of Industries / Paper Mills

Mobilisation and Lobbying Model Building Allies / Networking Networks for Concerted Action Communities Virtual Community Networks Individuals Interest Groups CommonGoal Real Community Strategic flow of Information to build strong issue-based Allies to complement action in Real World.

Examples SMS and Mobile Political Campaigns- Philippines, Belarus (ice-cream flash mobs) and Ukraine SMS Protests: Lebanan ( organise massive anti-Syrian protests after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri) Anti-Corruption Signature Campaigns: India (Petition OnlineCorruption) Groups for Lobbying: Zimbabwe Kubatana.net

Service Delivery Model USER SERVICE PROVIDER E-Procurement E- Shopping E-ballots E-taxes, parking tickets, licenses E-Government

Examples Philippines: Online Marriage, Birth Certificates (City of Manila) China: Shanghai Investment Promotion Agency Indonesia: LIVE E-Commerce India: Delhi Government Online Complaint Form complaints.mcdonline.gov.in

PHILIPPINES

CHINA: Shanghai Investment Promotion Agency

Indonesia: Want to buy a LIVE SHEEP? Price Terms: FOB Specifications: For sale jamnapari goats ex Indonesia. Quality breeders between 6 and 9 months old. Able to supply up to 450 goats per month. Berat LahirBerat Dewasa Jantan kg Jantan kg Betina 3-4 kg Betina skg Leave me a message Company Name: Medanova Commodities Sdn Bhd Contact Person: Mr Rajalingam Theva Raj ADDRESS: 6th Floor, Suite 18, IOI Business Park, Bandar Puchong Jaya, Puchong, Malaysia, Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia, Malaysia PHONE:

COMING BACK The Way Forward is:  Prioritization of Development Benefits  Localization: Targeting of Desired Constituencies  Being Indigenous in “Development of ICTs”  Being Innovative in setting up « ICT for Development models » THUS THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE BEHIND ICT PROJECTS SHOULD BE ……

Increasing the « Public Value of Services » being offered by Information Technology to local community? What do you mean by PUBLIC VALUE of Services? O O i O O i Okay, let me explain what that means? THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE

Case A: pre-ICT Situation USERS (5) SERVICES (A, B, C, D) A D B C U1U1 U2U2 U3U3 U5U5 U4U4 V 4D V 1B V 2C V 1A V 5D V 3D V= Value of Service being derived by the User: U Total Public Value of Services derived = U 1 V 1 + U 2 V 2 + U 3 V 3 + U 4 V 4 + U 5 V 5

3 WAYS to increase PUBLIC VALUE OF SERVICES:  Bring NEW USERS under the reach of the Information Technology  Provide NEW SERVICES to Existing Users  Enhance the QUALITY OF EXISTING SERVICES being offered so that users derive greater Value from the same service. THE SITUATION WILL THEN CHANGE…..

Case B: Desired post- ICT situation USERS (8) SERVICES (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H) A E D B C G F U1U1 U2U2 U3U3 U5U5 U4U4 New Public Value = U 1 V 1 + U 2 V 2 + U 3 V 3 + U 4 V 4 + U 5 V 5 +….. + U i V j U6U6 U7U7 U8U8

ICT Projects Guideline  Who are the Target groups that we want to reach out to, through Internet?  What are the local information needs of the disadvantaged community?  What are the existing channels by which information reaches to the disadvantaged community?  What is the weakest link in the chain of information flows: from source to the disadvantaged communities?

QUESTIONS? Vikas Nath Inlaks Scholar, London School of Economics, UK Founder, Digital Governance Initiative Founder, DevNetJobs.org Initiative Special Advisor, South Centre