1. Report from the Field: Two e-gov Projects in Rwanda
The PRSC II and the PSCB
Arleen Cannata Seed
Camp Kigali
27 April 2005

2. Background
Small, land-locked country in Central Africa (pop. 9M, GNI per capita only $230)
Agriculture-based economy
Very high poverty index (LE = 40 yrs)
No natural resources
Very low internet penetration

3. Rwanda’s Goals
Vision 2020 to become a middle-income country in 20 yrs (15 left)
Create an information rich, knowledge-based economy
Develop human capacity as best resource
Move Rwanda into 21st century using ICT as an enabler to achieve other development goals

4. Needs and Constraints
Greatest need is for development of human capacity and skills within the country, yet many are illiterate or uneducated beyond primary levels
Second greatest need is for development of infrastructure for ICT which is relatively weak and teledensity very low

5. Rwanda’s Greatest Assets
Commitment, enthusiasm and urgency of President, Cabinet and Ministry
Buy-in at all levels
Language capabilities of Rwandese
Young, energetic citizenry

6. Poverty Reduction Strategy Credit II
E-gov being used to strengthen the government’s ability to provide quality services to its citizens and to improve internal governance
ISGIF’s main input is assistance to the M&E activities

7. Comprehensive M&E system
Design a simple system which links to the GOR’s financial monitoring system with programmatic data
Help Ministries and MDAs understand the need for M&E and how it can help them deliver quality programs
Work with 6 key ministries to define their KPIs in line with CAS, CDF and the Millennium Goals
Solicit donor agreement that the reports MDAs produce will be acceptable

8. Comprehensive M&E system
M&E to monitor all of GOR’s activities for its citizens, not just WB projects
Ensure that systems are in place within the Ministries and the MDAs to collect, analyze, disseminate information collected through the M&E process for their own needs
Ensure that local government systems are strengthened (equipment, transmission path, skilled employees and simple systems) to contribute to M&E
Feedback to the MDAs as to their indicators and how they relate to comprehensive system

9. Public Sector Capacity Building Project
GOR’s use of ICT as an input to economic transformation and growth
1. ICT Policy and Strategy
Using Vision 2020 and the NICI Plan II, operationalize the vision into an action plan: Assist RITA to develop set standards and guidelines for all government ICT development; disseminate and ensure compliance with standards; work with each ministry to develop sectoral ICT policies

10. 2. ICT Training and Employment
Training – three levels:
A) high level GOR officials on MIS, on how Internet and ICT can help in development of policy and development of sectors
B) mid level GOR officials on sector specific training, such as on financial sector, HIS, M&E, telecommunications sector, ICT, web
C) GOR support staff to do , Internet searches, basic computer literacy, web
Employment Fund – hire 10 graduates per year and second them to MDAs, UN, NGOs, RwandaTel, etc., to gain experience and enter the job market

11. 3. ICT Planning and Infrastructure
Inventory of MDAs: how to use existing equipment and skills; plan for future investments to address their ICT needs and strategies identified
Improve procurement activities to achieve the sectoral strategies
Set up a hardware/software maintenance and repair shop to serve the MDAs first, and eventually serve both public and private sector

12. Key issues not addressed in these projects
Development of infrastructure – better data links and development of RwandaTel/RwandaCell, GOR Intranet, integration of voice and data, improvement of electricity grid
Access for all – telecenters, data points, training, computer literacy, costs

13. Rudimentary e-gov System
Start web publishing the ICT policies and standards of RITA; procurement documents
Publish national indicators, budgets and activities for key ministries
Advertise ICT opportunities – jobs, training, consultancies, procurement opportunities
Publish core data from the ministries to start to form national data center