Case Studies on the Use of
ICTs for Good GovernanceArmenia: online Forum promotes democratic participation
http://www.undp.org/dpa/frontpagearchive/2002/january/8jan02/index.html
Armenia's National Academy of Sciences has launched Forum -- a new web site -- with support from UNDP to harness information and communications technology to promote democracy. Forum ( http://www.forum.am ) which is in Armenian, helps increase public participation in governance, create new opportunities to broaden public awareness about democratic issues and establish new opportunities for interaction.
Bangladesh: Human Rights Portal
BHRN will actively promote human rights reforms both within Bangladesh and across geographical and political boundaries, and will support women, children, and marginalized communities in resisting social oppression. It will look at attempts by global forces (powerful governments, TNCs, international organizations) through surveillance, covert mechanisms and military and economic superiority to exploit and control smaller nations and communities.
Read the Significant Cases Section : http://www.banglarights.net/HTML/significantcases.htm
Brazil: Official government website
http://www.brazil.gov.br
The website provides comprehensive information on Brazilian government as well as links to integrated citizen services.
Brazil: Prefeitura.SP
http://www.prefeitura.sp.gov.br
Prefeitura.SP is the online portal of the S‹o Paulo city government. It contains a wealth of information, including all types of social services offered and a list of government agencies' contact information. It especially encourages participatory government by including a step-by-step guide on how to participate in making the budget of the city, town meeting schedules, and informal online polls regarding the services of the city.
Burma: Orchestra Burma
http://www.orchestraburma.org/A web-site dedicated to affording a presence on the Internet to both political and non-political organizations working for democracy and human rights inside Burma.
http://www.freeburmacoalition.org/
The Free Burma Coalition (FBC) is an umbrella group of organizations around the world working for freedom and democracy in Burma. Our mission is to build a grassroots movement inspired by and modeled after the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. The site uses list server and online petition to spread-out and build support to its campaign.
also see http://www.freeburma.org/
http://www.soros.org/internet/regional-asia/burma_internet.html
In 1994, OSI-IP provided connectivity for Burmese democracy groups (NGOs) working in Thailand and India. OSI-IP sponsored an individual who provided training, modems and access to 30 groups engaged in these activities. In India, OSI-IP provided equipment to a Burmese pro-democracy group.
Chile: Government Procurement E-System http://www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/egov/eprocurement_chile.htm
Recognizing the potential benefits of IT, the Chilean Government established a Communications and Information Technology Unit (UTIC) in 1998. Chile's experience with e-procurement has made busineess opportunities with the Chilean Government more transparent, reduced firms' transaction costs, increased opportunities for feedback and cooperation between firms and public agencies, and sharply reduced opportunities for corruption.
Costa Rica: Government Services Online http://www.costarricense.com/ing/servgob.html
Costa Rica is one of the few countries having a vision to provide all citizens and Civil Society organizations free access to email, webpage and other resources through Tele-Centres located in all the municipalities. This particular section of the site (the site belongs to the government in co-partnership with the private sector and civil society) enables citizens to get more information about the concerned government organisations and interact with them through the internet.
Costa Rica: Democracia Digital
http://www.democraciadigital.org
A non-profit civic initiative directed towards using information and communication technology for the extension and the enrichment of the democratic coexistence of the Costa Rican society, facing the beginning of a new century. The strategy aims at information dissemination on subjects relative to the public interest and creation of new spaces of consultation.
Dominican Republic: Dominican Alliance Against Corruption
http://www.contracorrupcion.com
The website publishes the entry and exit assets of public officials. In addition it publishes officials' bank account numbers, national identification numbers, and home addresses on its site to help citizens detect possible fraudulent acts committed while in office.
The campaign spreads awareness of their activities through emails and mobilises support of concerned individuals, and encourages them to directly express their concern to key decision-makers (by making available their email and other contact addresses). For example, it suggests a sample letter to be sent through email to the Italian Prime Minister and the President of US to drop the debt.
Ecuador: Altermedios
http://altermedios.ecuanex.net.ec/
Alternative multimedia organisations in Ecuador have joined together to create Altermedios, an association they hope will build and support democratisation of communications nationally. The organisation will support the active participation of civil society groups and their access to communication media. By providing such an opening for groups traditionally absent from public media coverage, the association hopes that their action will impact on public opinion in Ecuador's pluralist society, the development community and social movements nationally and internationally.El Salvador: Probidad
Probidad promotes democratization efforts vis-ˆ-vis diverse and integrated anti-corruption initiatives, most which rely on the use of ICT and an extensive network of contacts. The activities are designed to monitor corruption and control mechanisms; mobilize awareness about the complexities and costs of corruption and increased interest and participation in curbing it; enhance the anti-corruption capacity of other civil society organizations, media, government, business, and researchers in our region; and contribute to more informed local and context-specific measures that undermine corruption and promote good governance.
Estonia: Online elections http://www.guardian.co.uk/internetnews/story/0,7369,464577,00.html
On the same day the cabinet minister, Mo Mowlam, said that Britain is not ready for an internet election, the Estonian government yesterday announced plans to move to electronic voting in time for the country's 2003 general elections. The Estonian ambassador to London, Raul Mälk, said his government hoped the move to online voting will attract greater participation in elections and political debate, especially among young people.
Estonia: The Little Country That Could http://www.thestandard.com/article/display/0,1151,20451,00.html
The medieval streets of old Tallinn have changed little in the last few centuries. But high atop Toompea, the hill that has been the seat of power in Estonia for almost 800 years, there is an experiment in 21st-century government under way. Inside the chancellery building, Linnar Viik, information technology adviser to Prime Minister Mart Laar, leads the way through elegant government offices to a shiny new cabinet meeting room.
France: Opening of a Platform for Comparison of programs of Electoral Candidates http://www.sciences-po.fr/etudiants/electionsM/index.htm
The site compare according to 15 topics the principal proposals of the electoral candidates for the town hall of Paris. The platform also presents the electoral system of the capital, the biographies of the candidates to the town hall of Paris as well as a list with accompanying notes of links relating to the local elections. In addition to information which it will offer to the Parisian voters, this experimental project has as an ambition to open a discussion on the interest for the democratic life of comparative electoral sites. Its users are invited to make share of their comments and reactions for the development of the site for the next elections.
Ghana: Low-Tech Democracy http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/01/opinion/01FRIE.html?searchpv=site01
The information revolution has come to Africa, and last December it had a direct impact on bringing about the first-ever peaceful transition from one elected civilian government to another in Ghana. This was a hugely important political event for West Africa, but it got lost in America's post- election ruckus. Ghana's turnabout would not have happened, though, without the information revolution here.
Global : EConsumer
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched a new Web site aimed at resolving international e-commerce disputes by allowing Internet users from around the world to file complaints at one location. consumer.gov will allow Internet users to file complaints in English, French, German and Spanish. Specifically designed to address cross-border, international e-commerce disputes, Econsumer.gov will record the complaints and pass them along to civil and criminal fraud fighters around the world.
File complaints about online transactions with a foreign company.
Greenpeace Cyber-activist Community
http://cybercentre.greenpeace.org/t/s/community_articlesAn effort towards creation of virtual communities to mobilise global support against some of the disputable environmental policies/ actions of the Government. The community has expanded rapidly since it was launched in November 2000. By December 2000 it had about 6000 members from more than 80 countries.
India: India's e-village tackles corruption
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2045485.stm
Bellandur's e-governance project started with a single computer that was installed in the village in 1998 to replace the old typewriter. The village office now has three computers, funded by donations from wealthier farmers as well as companies that operate in the area.
India: What is your government official's duty? Check the Net...
http://www.cddc.vt.edu/digitalgov/article-goa.html
Frederick Noronha
What options do citizens in interior Goa have, when it comes to coping with mining pollution? Can corrupt 'public men' in the state be brought to book? If you need to understand the little-known secrets of how the Goa government works, check out the Internet. In an effort that could -- if well implemented -- have widespread impacts in keeping the citizen informed, many state departments have put up outlines of how they work at the site http://citizenchartersofgoa.nic.in
India: Digital Empowerment: Seeds Of E-Volution
Soutik Biswas
Every evening, Govardhan Angari lights a joss stick and offers a silent prayer to a computer in a poky 20-sq-ft room in Dehri Sarai, a village 40 km from Indore in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district. Beside the Pentium II machine on a creaky table, there is a modem, a sheaf of white paper and a battery back-up. This unremarkable paraphernalia has changed the life of the 21-year-old boy, a landless Bhil tribal and son of a daily wage labourer, who takes home Rs 40 on days when he finds work. These days, Govardhan earns up to Rs 3,500 a month ferreting out crop market rates, e-mailing villagers' grouses, generating caste and land certificates out of this rural cyberkiosk.
India: Indian communists plot IT revolution
http://atimes.com/ind-pak/CD25Df02.html
Computers are no longer the "devil's agents" for the communist rulers of India's Kerala state, on the country's southern coast. Realizing the state is lagging behind other provinces in India's great information technology race, the rulers of Kerala have shed off ideological opposition to high technology and the Communist Marxist Party, which for long fought against computerization of the workplace, believing it would reduce jobs, is now zealously promoting IT.
India: Fund a School Campaign of Government of Madhya Pradesh http://www.fundaschool.org
The Government of Madhya Pradesh through its Education Guarantee Scheme has facilitated the creation of a Primary School facility in every habitation of Madhya Pradesh, the largest state in India. These schools need to be strengthened. Fundaschool seeks to use the Net to bridge the gap between the connected and the isolated, between the knows and the know-nots. This is just one of the ways in which the Government is using the Internet to build partnership with the Civil Society.
India: Jamabanthi conducted online in all Taluks of Tiruvarur (Tamil Nadu) http://www.tiruvaruronline.com/whatsnew.html
For the first time in India, annual audit of village accounts, called Jamabanthi was conducted online in all the 7 Taluks of Tiruvarur district during April, 2000. One of the important objectives of conducting Jamabanthi is to settle the village (Land Revenue) demand. By doing this, the entire village accounts are made available at he click of the mouse at the Taluk office and Collectorate. During the Jamabanthi period, the Village Administrative Officers (VAOs) have to write more than 10 complicated accounts (out of 24 accounts).
India : Agriculture department to be linked through video conferencing http://www.ciol.com/content/services/egov/showarticle.asp?AID=60&CI=0&SI=8In a bid to speed up the process of decision-making and ensure better communication between top-level officials of the Department of Agriculture, the government of Maharashtra has proposed an ambitious plan to link all the high ranking officials of the department through video conferencing facilities.
India: Andhra Pradesh (India) Electronic Governance Initiative
http://apts.gov.in/twins/
TWINS is a unique IT project taken up by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, India, to take the benefits of Information Technology to the Common man. Services offered include Utility Bill/Tax payments , Issuing Certificates, Providing Permits/Licenses, and Information andFacilitationElectronic Governance : the Andhra Pradesh experience in India. Integrated Citizen Service Centre : http://www.andhrapradesh.com/
India: Tech helps root out corruption in rural India http://technology.scmp.com/enterprise/ZZZ7AB7W5NC.htmlThe southern state of Karnataka, which is championing the process to rebut criticism that its software boom is only for the rich, now plans to guide the rest of India in a plan which is aimed at fighting corruption and boosting transparency. "It is all low-cost," says Rajeev Chawla, a senior state revenue department official who is spearheading the e-governance initiative. Amid the mango and coconut groves of Ramanagaram, farmers walk into a state-run "Bhoo Dhakilegala Malige", or land-record shop, and buy certified printouts of land records which help them verify or prove land ownership or tenancy.
India: Free Internet access to Orissa High Court records (new!) http://www.cddc.vt.edu/digitalgov/news-orissa.htm
Litigants fighting cases in the Orissa High Court will now have free Internet access to case records following the inauguration of two Web sites by state Chief Justice N.Y. Hanumanthappa. A litigant can easily find out in which court his case is appearing and its listing. Besides, the search engines of the Web site will help a litigant or the general public to find details related to a particular case.
http://www.judis.nic.in/orissajudis http://causelists.nic.in/orissa
India: Central Vigilance Committee
A pioneering Indian Initiative toward e-vigilance. CVC is conceived to be the apex vigilance institution, free of control from any executive authority, monitoring all vigilance activity under the Central Government and advising various authorities in Central Government organizations in planning, executing, reviewing and reforming their vigilance work. People can now file complaints against any public servant who fall within the jurisdiction of the Commission.
Procedure to lodge a complaint through e-mail Web-list of officers advised Major Penalty
India: Gyandoot
http://www.gyandoot.net/gyandoot/intranet.html (Parent Site: http://www.gyandoot.net )
Gyandoot is an intranet in Dhar district connecting rural cybercafes catering to the everyday needs of the masses. The site has following services to offer in addition to the hope that it has generated by networking, the first district in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India.
Commodity/ Agricultural Marketing Information System Copies of land maps On-Line Registration of Applications Public Grievance Redressal
Also see at http://www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/egov/gyandootcs.htm
India: Green Rating of Ministers
http://www.oneworld.org/cse/html/au/au4_022099.htm
The Centre for Science and Environment in India has started an online and offline survey of how Green its Chief Ministers are. The results of it are published in print and partially on the website to enable public to keep track of environmental performance of their Chief Ministers.
India: Kerala panchayats adopt e-governance
http://persmin.nic.in/arpg/egov.htm#6
The Ernakulam district panchayat had made a quiet entry into the IT world by taking up a unique model of e-governance. The Electronic Industrialisation Infrastructure Development(EIID), a scientific society under the district panchayat, is providing guidance to three gram panchayats in the district to establish information networks as part of their plan projects. And the EIID is doing all this with software that are freely available with open source codes.
India: Computerized Interstate Check Posts in Gujarat
http://www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/egov/gujaratcs.htm
Through the use of computers and other electronic devices at 10 remote interstate border check posts in Gujarat, India, a team of savvy public officials have reduced corruption and significantly increased the state's tax revenue.
India: Land/Property Registration in Andhra Pradesh
http://www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/egov/cardcs.htm
Land is a major resource and a reason for conflict in areas where pressure on land is high. In developing countries, land related information such as ownership maps etc. is available only in the hands of few which increases the chance of its misuse. Land registration offices throughout Andhra Pradesh now operate computerized counters to help citizens to complete registration requirements within an hour instead of several days, as was necessary under the earlier system. The lack of transparency in property valuation under the old system resulted in a flourishing business of brokers and middlemen leading to corruption.
India: Delhi Government Online
A section of this website caters to all the info needs and queries regarding the various public services of the Delhi Government, ranging from obtaining a driving license to getting a marriage registration certificate made. One could also write/ communicate directly to the Chief Minister through the website.
India: RajNidhi Information kiosks
http://www.rajgovt.org/news/RajNidhiTrg.htm
The kiosks would enable citizens to access information related to health, family planning, immunization schedules for children, employment, transportation, distance education, agriculture, water & electricity connection, birth & death registration, approved housing societies, rates of land & building taxes.
India: Madhya Pradesh's (Jabalpur) E-governance site (new!)
The Government has gone online in Jabalpur division. The administration has launched its interactive website and CD containing all information on government departments and schemes at www.suvidha.org
The Center was established by various independent and alternative media organizations and activists for the purpose of providing grassroots coverage of the World Trade Organization (WTO) protests in Seattle lin 1999. The center acted as a clearinghouse of information for journalists, and provided up-to-the-minute reports, photos, audio and video footage through its website.
Kenya : Busting Corruption using the internet
http://www.cddc.vt.edu/knownet/articles/kenya-case.html
The Information Technology Standards Association (ITSA) of Kenya has launched an Electronic Graft Management pilot project whose aim is to increase public awareness and encourage public participation in fighting corrupt practices. The pilot project intends to use the Internet and e-mail as the channel for communication by the public for reporting.
Lebanon: SDNP Promoting Transparency http://www.sdnp.undp.org/it4dev/stories/lebanon.html Laylan Rhayem, Chief of Information at Lebanon's Ministry of Agriculture, had a problem. She was in charge of a comprehensive Biodiversity Survey, her Ministry had just completed - the first such survey ever conducted in her country. The document would obviously be an invaluable resource for scientists, environmentalists, educators, planners and policy-makers. It was Ms. Rhayem's job to make it available for public use. But when the survey was completed in 1995, she had no place to put it.
Malaysia: More than personal details in 'smart IC
The introduction of the smart card would bring comfort for the people who would need to carry only a single card with multiple uses. Using chip and biometrics technology, the GMPC contains details on identity and driver's licence information, passport details and medical data. The GMPC also has facilities to conduct e-commerce and e-cash transactions.
Malaysia: Civil Society LinkA gateway to Malaysian government information and online services.
Nepal: A district puts old records to new digital uses (new!)
http://www.undp.org/dpa/frontpagearchive/2001/october/16oct01/index.html
Old records used to lie in dusty corners in Kanchanpur, a district in far-west Nepal. Now they have become part of the digital revolution. Kanchanpur is one of the areas in this mountainous country most dedicated to using information technology to modernize public administration and promote local development.
Nigeria: Nigerian Assembly
http://www.nigerianassembly.com
A civil society led initiative to be a credible, authoritative, and speedy source of information on Nigeriaâs Legislative houses, for the benefit of news agencies, media organisations, and other national and international public. It aims to act as a watchdog of the Nigerian Legislature and uphold its responsibility and accountability to the people.
Pakistan: Punjab Government goes online
The website contains information about the economy, culture, government, cabinet, rules of business 1974, and much more. The website says, "Punjab Government may adopt 'SAAF Model' of E-Government. The model is devised in order to formulate a future paradigm for a stable and organised government. In its literal meanings, it connotes, 'transparency and openness', (the two significant hallmarks of Islamic government). It also echoes the concept of public participation in the political process and its access to the information."
Peru: Government Goes High Tech
http://www.sdnp.undp.org/it4dev/stories/peru.html
One evening, a few months ago, Enrique Normand, a partner in the law firm of Estudio Rubio, Leguia, Normand & Associates, was finishing up contract negotiations between a Peruvian company and a group of US investors when he realized they were missing a crucial document. They needed to obtain it from the Oficina Registral de Lima y Callao (ORLC), the notoriously slow public registry for Lima and its seaport, Callao. In short, they needed a miracle.
Philippines: Transparent Accountable Governance project
The Transparent Accountable Governance project is an attempt to summarize how, why and to what degree corruption exists in Philippine society. This integrated approach relies on public opinion survey research, investigative reports, case studies, and discussions to engage the public in a discussion on corruption. TAG takes a pro-active role in encouraging public debate on the issue of corruption and on ways to counter it. The TAG website also presents the initiatives of both government and the private-sector in addressing corruption.
Also see, Graft Busters: http://www.tag.org.ph/graftbusters/default.htm
Philippines: Customs Reform http://www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/egov/philippinecustomscs.htm
Using an "off-the-shelf" customs application package as the main building block, the Philippines Customs Bureau has developed an on-line system to process clearance of imports, payment of duty, and delivery of release orders for shipments to leave the docks. The new on-line system has lessened the cost of trade for businesses, reduced opportunities for fraud, and helped the Bureau to maximize revenue collection.
Korea: Seoul OPEN (Anticorruption Project)http://www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/egov/seoulcs.htm
The Municipal Government of Seoul, South Korea, crafted the OPEN system (Online Procedures ENhancement for Civil Applications) to target corruption. The system publishes a variety of information related to the services, permits and licenses issued by the local government. The status of an application can be tracked by the applicant on a web site.
South Africa: The PIMS Monitor
http://www.pims.org.za/monitor/
Idasa's Political Information and Monitoring Service (PIMS) aims to support democracy and promote good ethical governance in South Africa through the building of government and civic capacity for democracy, in particular through training and related activities. An easy-to-use reference and record of all bills, acts and policy documents that pass through parliament - was launched by Idasa in 1997. The Monitor aims to help audience engage with democracy, intervene in the legislative process and make submissions to parliament. The PIMS Monitor also offers comprehensive, plain-language summaries of complicated documents.
Tibet: Official Government website
The official site of Government of Tiber, managed by the Office of Tibet, the official agency of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in London.
Transparency International -Daily Corruption News
http://www.transparency.org/press_moni.html (Parent Site: http://www.transparency.org)
A trial service is being run by Transparency International called the "The Daily Corruption News" which reports on corruption from around the world.
UK: FaxYourMP.com
The website enables people to send a Fax to their local Member of Parliaments detailing them of their grievances through the use of Internet. This is an example of opening up a direct communication channel between people and their leaders.
UK: UKonline.gov.uk
The site enables individuals to contribute to government policy-making through official consultations, and discuss views with other citizens. Citizens can also find information about their elected representatives and get information on elections, or how to vote and how to make complaints about public services.
Uganda: Mobile Phone Use Has Improved Public Discourse (new!)
http://allafrica.com/stories/200107100343.html
The growing number of mobile phones is transforming the Ugandan society. While there is evidently increased excitement about the emergent technology, the ease and convenience of communicating has improved public discourse and given impetus to development initiatives. Now villagers can even fire questions at the Ugandan president, both parties, of course, living worlds apart.
US: FirstGov
FirstGov is a free-access website designed to be a centralized place to find information about local, state, and U.S. Government Agency websites. It is an official United States Government website. The website provides various interactive services to enable citizens interact with the Government. It includes applying for governmental jobs, web-forms for giving feedback to concerned governmental body, online filing of taxes etc.
US: County promotes online petition
http://www.civic.com/civic/articles/2001/0326/web-fla-03-26-01.asp
A Florida countyâs government officials, upset with the environmental and health toll they claims phosphate mining has on the area, are using the county Web site to collect signatures from citizens against mining. While online petitions have been a staple among advocacy groups such as student and neighborhood associations, a government soliciting online signatures is notable, according to several experts in electronic democracy.
Vietnam: CD-ROM "Your Lawyer" puts laws in citizens' hands (New!)
Your Lawyer, a new CD-ROM, is making Viet Nam's laws and information on citizens' rights readily accessible, spelling out in simple language how to start a business, protect land rights and get a divorce. As a first step, the Office of the National Assembly (ONA) is distributing copies of the CD-ROM to offices of delegates to the National Assembly in all 61 provinces, offices of provincial People's Councils, and media organizations.
Zimbabwe: Kubatana.net (new!)
Harnessing the democratic potential of email and the internet in Zimbabwe
The NGO Network Alliance Project (NNAP) aims to strengthen the use of email and internet strategies in Zimbabwean NGOs and civil society organisations. The NNAP will make human rights and civic education information accessible to the general public from a centralised, electronic source.
Zimbabwe: MDC uses the web to fight the Government
http://www.cddc.vt.edu/knownet/articles/zimbabwe.html
During the June 2000 elections in Zimbabwe, MDC campaigners and other citizens took advantage of the internet and email to promote and disseminate the aims and objectives of the Movement for Democratic Change. This strategy ran alongside the traditional campaigning of talks, meetings, rallies and word of mouth. Whilst the ruling party used a variety of campaign strategies from old-fashioned intimidation to exploiting their control of the print and broadcast media, the MDC had no option but to look creatively at other ways of campaigning.
Source: Digital Governance, "Building and Sustaining Democratic and Accountable Governance Structures using ICT" March 2002 - http://www.digitalgovernance.org/
