e-Governance & e-Government
e-Governance and e-Government are increasingly being emphasized as ways for governments to strengthen good governance. If implemented strategically e-governance can not only improve efficiency, accountability and transparency of government processes, but it can also be a tool to empower citizens by enabling them to participate in the decision-making processes of governments.
e-Government services for the poor assist governments in reaching the yet ‘unreached’ and hereby contribute to poverty reduction in rural and remote areas. At the same time, this process also enables involvement and empowerment of marginalized groups through their participation in the political process.
Despite the developmental potential, few governments in the Asia-Pacific region have planned for and implemented e-government strategically directly targeting poor people. This is despite the fact that more than 60 percent of the population in the Asia-Pacific region lives in rural areas and the majority of them are poor.
APDIP's focus on e-governance and e-government is in line with UNDP’s corporate priorities for democratic governance. e-Governance and e-government are strategic interventions that support UNDP’s work with countries to build democratic governance through institutions and processes that are more responsive to the needs of all citizens, including the poor. Through its current focus on pro-poor e-Governance, APDIP is increasingly contributing to strengthening the often missing link between good governance and poverty alleviation.
Find out more about Pro-Poor e-Governance in Asia and the Pacific [PDF, 57kB]
Projects
To fortify e-governance and e-government in the Asia-Pacific region, APDIP has been, and still is, engaged in a number of activities in response to demands in the region:
I. Government Interoperability Frameworks for Asia-Pacific Countries
IBM, Oracle, UNDP-APDIP and the International Open Source Network (IOSN) team up to help Asia-Pacific countries share and create strategies, blueprints and policies for adopting the right blend of open standards and technology services. The goal will be for more countries to develop universally compatible applications and networks to make internal and external government services and transactions more automatic, affordable and efficient.
II. Connected Government Leaders Forum – A UNDP-CISCO Initiative
10-12 e-Leaders will meet 3-4 times in 2007 to discuss key trends and challenges in relation to their work in pursuing e-government/e-governance followed by policy briefs to be widely distributed among Asia Pacific countries.
III. Capacity Building of Asia Pacific e-Government Initiatives
Through capacity building sessions, in-depth state-of-the-art case studies of good practices, a forum for knowledge and experiences sharing among practitioners in developing countries in the area of regional and local development, this project aims to facilitate the exchange of information, technologies, experiences on innovative e-government strategies and initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region. This project is implemented by APDIP, the UNDP Asia Regional Governance Programme and the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD). [more]
The first phase of the project produced case studies and regional dialogue on needs, challenges and opportunities of making e-government initiatives pro-poor. The second phase focuses at enhancing access to information and hereby service delivery for the poor, vulnerable and marginalized by providing guidance at both the policy and practical intervention level of pro-poor e-governance in Asia. The second phase project is entitled: Pro-Poor e-Governance: Enhancing public service delivery for the MDGs in South Asia and the Greater Mekong Sub-Region.
(a) Pro-Poor e-Governance in South Asia
Those in most need of improved services – the poor and vulnerable - are often neglected in e-governance planning as these groups are also the most difficult to reach because of geographical, infrastructural and linguistic obstacles. Additionally, even if the services are provisioned for, very little is done to create awareness about the availability of these services.
UNDP in partnership with UNCRD have designed a project on pro-poor e-governance in South Asia. Through a comprehensive approach of assessing the needs, readiness and possibilities of improving basic social service delivery through ICTs and e-governance applications the project will enhance the enabling conditions for fostering democratic governance and achieving the MDGs in the region.
- Draft Project Proposal: Pro-poor e-Governance in South Asia - Enhancing basic service delivery for the MDGs [PDF, 1MB]
- Session on MDGs and Pro-Poor e-Governance Strategies at eGovWorld 2006 (South Asia), New Delhi, India on 27 October 2006 [PDF, 31.6kB]
The purpose of the study is to find a way to identify services that genuinely make a difference to people in their interactions with Governments. The expected outcome is increased impact and utilization of e-governance and e-government services in the Philippines and Asia Pacific over the longer term. This study is a collaboration between the Commission of ICT in the Philippines, UNDP Philippines and UNDP-APDIP.
Report [PDF, 296kB]
Annex A - Innovative e- Governance Practices from All Over the World [PDF, 87kB]
Annex B – Preliminary Assessment of CeCs in the Philippines [PDF, 372kB]
V. Government Technology Forum 2005: Asian Government-to-Government Dialogue
APDIP, in collaboration with the Public Sector Technology and Management Magazine, the Computing Technology Industry Association for Asia and six corporate partners organized the Asia Pacific Government Technology Forum 2005 in Singapore on 5 October 2005 with over 80 participants from 15 countries. In addition, a 20-page Special edition on the discussions, deliberations and recommendations of the event was published in the December 2005 edition of the magazine. [more]
VI. UNDP-APDIP and Cisco Systems Collaboration
In partnership with CISCO systems, APDIP held three significant seminars on e-Government for public sector reform entitled “Public Services Summit.” Two Asia-Pacific wide summits were organized in collaboration with China’s State Council Informatization Office (SCITO) and UNDP China in 2004 and 2005. APDIP also organized a specific South Asian seminar in collaboration with the National Institute of Smart Government (NISG) and UNDP India. The three summits focused on issues encompassing e-governance, digital divide, public service deliveries, anti-corruption, public sector reform, and evaluation and measurement of access to information. The three summits attracted a total of 400 senior policy makers responsible for e-government from 20 countries. The summits also provided a unique platform for open dialogue and interaction among senior policy makers across the board of ministries in the context of China and India with repercussions for potentially more than two billion people on issues such as the need for institutional reforms, participation, accountability and transparency in governance processes that under normal circumstances would have been difficult to discuss openly.
APDIP’s partnership with CISCO systems is now moving from hosting and co-organizing large scale policy events to becoming a mechanism for creating an “e-Government think tank” of 10-12 policy makers who will meet every six months or so to brainstorm, study and issue briefs on matters pertaining to trends in e-governance and e-government in the Asia-Pacific region.
(a) Second Annual Asia-Pacific Public Services Summit in Beijing, China on 8-10 June 2005
APDIP in partnership with China's State Council Informatization Office (SCITO), Cisco Systems and UNDP China organized the second annual Asia-Pacific Public Services Summit in Beijing, China from 8 to 10 June 2005. This year's Summit focused on the theme of "Cross-Agency Collaboration" in e-Government, and explored issues ranging from governance to standards to adoption. Views from China, and across the region were represented. [more]
(b) South Asia Public Sector ICT Summit in Hyderabad, India on 24-25 January 2005
APDIP in collaboration with UNDP India, the National Institute for Smart Government and Cisco Systems organized the South Asia Public Sector ICT Summit in Hyderabad on 24-25 January 2005. The main themes of the Summit were "Establishing the Foundation for e-Government" and "Meeting the Needs of Citizens" and featured speakers who are leading practitioners of e-Government from countries such as Canada, China, Europe and Korea. Invited delegates are from South Asian countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. [more]
APDIP together with China's State Council Informatization Office (SCITO), Cisco Systems and UNDP China organized a high-level e-government conference to share best practices between China, Asia-Pacific, and the world on 15-16 July 2004 in Beijing, China. The twin themes of this two-day Summit are "Connectivity and Competitiveness". The event targeted senior policy makers; CIOs; and Director Generals of central Ministries and provincial and city governments and included approximately 150 participated from across Asia and beyond. The Summit was dubbed by the local press as the largest e-government summit in Beijing. [more]
VII. ASEAN-APDIP e-Government Seminar Series
APDIP and the e-ASEAN Task Force, along with ITU's Asia-Pacific Centre of Excellence and the Government of Singapore, collaborated to organize a series of seminars/workshops on e-Government during October and November 2002. At the regional level was the "ASEAN Executive Seminar", which included representatives from all ASEAN countries. At the sub-regional level, the emphasis was on the Least Developed Countries (LDC) of ASEAN - Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam (CLMV) - for which there were two seminars, the "e-Government Workshop for CLMV", and the "CyberLaw Seminar for CLMV". At the national level, were "e-Government Strategic Planning Seminars" for Myanmar, Indonesia, and Brunei Darussalam. [more]
APDIP Resources on e-Governance & e-Government
This publication systematically analyzes 18 projects in India that uses ICT for the benefit of poor people, and provides recommendations on how ICT can be applied to the massive, widespread and seemingly intractable problems of poverty. The publication also ranks the projects by their relevance, service delivery, community participation and empowerment, equality in decision-making and benefits, sustainability, replicability and their prospects for being scaled-up.
The project, Capacity Building of Asia-Pacific E-Government Initiatives, has engaged government and non-government officials, university professors and private sector consultants to develop 20 case studies from 12 different Asia-Pacific countries that document pro-poor e-government initiatives and their impact on the creation and protection of sustainable livelihoods, provision of access to entitlements and social services, provision of relevant information for human development and security and/or addressing the needs of the most vulnerable groups. View case studies here.
e-Government in the Asia-Pacific Region: An Assessment of Issues and Strategies
This paper discusses e-government issues and strategies in the Asia-Pacific context with a number of case studies to show some good practices and lessons learned.
This e-primer provides information on what is e-government, its benefits and challenges, and its usefulness in a developing country context. There is also a comprehensive review of global best practices on e-government and e-governance. This e-primer is part of a series of e-Primers for the Information Economy, Society and Polity developed in partnership with the e-ASEAN Task Force to to raise awareness and help policy makers and planners understand the relevance of ICT for development, by explaining technical jargon in simple terms. This e-primer is available in Sinhala and is used as the e-government handbook for all civil servants in Sri Lanka. The National Institute of Smart Government in India also used this very e-primer to train its senior civil servants at the joint secretary level and up in Hyderabad. [more]
This APDIP e-Note describes a methodology to identify ‘killer’ applications and models of e-governance that may be suitable for deployment and wide-scale replication in telecentres throughout the Philippines. The same methodology can be used to guide other telecentres around the world. APDIP e-Notes are brief snapshots that present analyses of specific issues related to information and communication technologies (ICTs) for sustainable human development in the Asia-Pacific region. This online series introduces readers to the who, what, where, why and how of a wide range of current issues related to ICTs. [more]
This APDIP e-Note introduces the concept of pro-poor e-governance; gives two examples of e-governance projects targeted at poor and vulnerable groups; and provides a comprehensive approach to pro-poor e-governance comprised of seven building blocks. APDIP e-Notes are brief snapshots that present analyses of specific issues related to information and communication technologies (ICTs) for sustainable human development in the Asia-Pacific region. This online series introduces readers to the who, what, where, why and how of a wide range of current issues related to ICTs. [more]
APDIP e-Note 8 - Fighting Corruption with e-Government Applications
This APDIP e-Note looks at how e-government can help fight corruption; gives two well-known examples from the Republic of Korea and India where e-government has successfully helped to fight corruption; and discusses the challenges in designing and implementing similar programmes. This APDIP e-note is based on a paper written by Subhash Bhatnagar entitled, e-Government in the Asia-Pacific Region: An Assessment of Issues and Strategies [PDF, 260kB]. APDIP e-Notes are brief snapshots that present analyses of specific issues related to information and communication technologies (ICTs) for sustainable human development in the Asia-Pacific region. This online series introduces readers to the who, what, where, why and how of a wide range of current issues related to ICTs. [more]
Public feedback mechanisms (PFMs) are an important subset of two-way interactions in e-government initiatives because they help ensure transparency and accountability. This APDIP e-Note explores what are PFMs, how they are implemented (with examples from the Republic of Korea and Singapore), and what are the benefits and challenges of implementing them. APDIP e-Notes are brief snapshots that present analyses of specific issues related to information and communication technologies (ICTs) for sustainable human development in the Asia-Pacific region. This online series introduces readers to the who, what, where, why and how of a wide range of current issues related to ICTs. [more]
This concept note introduces UNDP's regional approach to pro-poor e-governance.
Other e-Governance & e-Government Resources
- Asia-Pacific e-Government Online
- Books and Online Magazines
- Case Studies
- Change Management
- e-Readiness
- e-Strategies
- e-Governance
- Security
- International/Regional Organizations
Other e-Government Resources:
e-Primer on e-Government Interoperability
This e-primer walks its readers through the vision and value of e-government interoperability and the steps required to achieve effective interoperability. It also answers some fundamental questions such as why government interoperability frameworks should be developed; who should be involved; how are they produced and revised; and what are the key factors for their successful development and operationalization. [more]
APDIP e-Note 8 on Fighting Corruption with e-Government Applications
This APDIP e-Note looks at how e-government can help fight corruption; gives two well-known examples from the Republic of Korea and India where e-government has successfully helped to fight corruption; and discusses the challenges in designing and implementing similar programmes. [more]
Global Symposium: Next Step Toward e-Government, Soeul, Republic of Korea, 9-10 November 2005
This symposium focuses on the theories, practices and strategies of e-government. It is a joint effort by the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs (MOGAHA), the National Computerization Agency (NCA), and the Korea Association for Policy Studies (KAPS). [more]
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