E-government in the Pacific Islands: project update

1. E-government in the Pacific Islands:project update Rowena Cullen Graham Hassall

2. Country reports and book contract • Country reports • Samoa complete and signed off • Vanuatu and Cook Islands draft under review • PNG and Solomon Islands nearly complete • Cross case analysis in progress • Book project (Springer) - thematic • Chapters assigned, confirming authorship • Some drafting underway

3. Format of country reports • Framework Boase (2009) • Report content • State of ICTs • Lead ministry and any national ICT/e-government policy, strategy • Other ministries’ use of ICT • Web development • Final comments • Returned to informants for comment before final sign-off

4. Boase (2009) UNDP ICT4D project - benefits of ICT/e-government • More accessible government information and services; • Faster, smoother transactions with government agencies; • Increased access to government decision makers and to parliamentarians; • More local access to government through the internet; • Increased participation in government by all; • Increased efficiency in government operations; • Enhanced opportunities for smart partnerships with civil society and the private sector; • Legal recommendation and security over the networks

5. General findingsAll aspire to benefits (Boase) • All countries face same issues as SIDs • climate, geography, lack of infrastructure, skills, resources • those with numerous islands greater challenges • All face same pressures to regulate telecomm industry and establish regulatory authority • Utilise some form of UAP to reach remote and/or disadvantaged communities • mandate, UAP fund, subsidies (/users/equipment/services), market forces • community tele-centres

6. Core agencies better supported than others • International interest/support in management of finances (accounting, procurement, payroll, HR), central bank, customs, border control, statistics, meteo, disaster warning systems (well developed international or proprietary systems) • Less support for basic govt systems- Justice, Lands, Parliament, Electoral, ID etc. (more ad hoc, project based ( temporary), MS Office or OSS ) • Third tier • education, health, community, disability services (even more ad hoc, project-based, volunteers) • significant use of social media

7. National ICT policies • Generally cover similar principles for development • Deregulation, regulator, UAP • Benefits of Internet, broadband for business and citizens • Legislative framework incl cybercrime, security, protection for citizens and youth (some incl digital signatures) • For government • Efficiency, accountability, transparency, • Better access to online services, information • Increased participation • Cultural heritage

8. Critical success factors • Clear sense of vision, and commitment from government - and a very high priority • Leadership - ICT change requires champions, with power to effect change • Local ownership – advisors remain advisors • Resources (financial and ICT skills) and ability to access additional resources • Agreement across government on priorities and commitment to following these • Open transparent process and consultation • Policy operationalised into achievable (prioritised) targets • Aid targeted to local priorities

9. The book project • Introduction – e-government in SIDS • Global policies and initiatives for e-government in SIDS • Regional ICT strategies. regional cooperation and its contribution to effective e-government • Public administration in SIDS, including core government functions: public finance, border control, parliamentary process, legislation, law and justice, and government record-keeping • Official statistics • Mobile technologies and their impact in SIDS • The role of ICTs in agriculture and rural development in SIDS • Climate change and disaster preparation and response: a key issue for SIDS   • Health 10. Education 11. The role of civil society in promoting e-government in SIDS 12. Conclusion