 |
In the African Information Society Initiative (AISI) framework, the African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development identified the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in central Government and in local Administration as one of the priority sectors for the entry of Africa into the information era, and as a means to support government’s administration and decentralization process. In this connection, the Republic of The Gambia was selected to serve as an AISI e-government model.
A baseline study was carried out between June and August 2003, and discussions held with cabinet ministers and other administration officials both at the central and local Government levels. An report was produced and discussed in a stakeholder’s evaluation workshop followed by another workshop for the validation of the e-government strategy.
The major findings of the report are as follows:
-
All the stakeholders showed eagerness and enthusiasm to be on board with the e-government. programme. They showed a keen interest to extend all possible support of their offices, staff and facilities to embrace Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for governance, transparency and faster flow of information between government and the public.
-
The local government officials and the divisional commissioners who are working in remote locations seemed to be waiting eagerly for the ICT initiative to reach them as they were facing tremendous hurdles in communicating with the national Headquarters as well as other colleagues in the area.
-
The education sector from the secondary to university level appeared to have already mapped the course of action towards making the country education system to cater to the demands of ICT-driven society in future. The Vice Chancellor of the University of The Gambia was specifically enthusiastic to launch advanced ICT programmes for building up the technical manpower with the country through regular as well as Open and Distance Learning programmes.
-
The overall interest shown by various stakeholders in the course of the consultations can be said to be the biggest advantage for the proposed e-government. programme in The Gambia. With necessary strategy, plans and guidance in place, they can really lead the country to the desired status of an AISI e-Government Model.
The report recommended that:
- Initiatives should be undertaken at the ECA level to generate an e-government Development Fund at the regional level involving the Partnership for Information and Communication Technology In Africa (PICTA) and other donors as The Gambia will need such a pool to fall back upon to support its e-Government strategy and implementation.
- A National consultative workshop on the e-Government Strategy should be organized as soon as possible to be followed by pilot projects design and development before the WSIS summit in December.
- The WSIS platform should be used to mobilize resources to implement the pilot projects and programmes identified under the National e-Government strategy.
|
