IN FOCUS
Open Source Software
The evolution of open source software has changed the equation for developing countries that want to use ICT for better information and resource management. Open source software platforms are significantly less expensive than proprietary commercial software, if not entirely free. This is good for the private sector but also for governments trying to build information systems one step at a time.>
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E-government is not really about technology. It is about people, processes, and results – using information and communications technologies (ICT) to improve the transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness of public institutions. Thanks to falling ICT costs and the evolution of affordable open source software, e-government is already helping meet daily challenges in the developing world.
In central India, the Gyandoot Project installed Internet kiosks in rural villages staffed with trained locals who help villagers print land records, apply for government documents, and access information on poverty programs. As well, ICT tools enable governments to enact programs more effectively, for example by allowing much more accurate, up-to-date maps of poverty, and transferring that data quickly and uniformly throughout the public sector, so anti-poverty programs like conditional cash transfers, nutrition for children, or temporary employment can be closely targeted to those who need them the most.
Learn more about the foundation’s work:
> Aid Management
> dgMarket online procurement platform
> Grants program
Please click here to make a donation to support the work of the Development Gateway Foundation.
Better Information for Planning, Spending, Serving
Applications for ICT to improve governance are myriad. The most obvious is simply putting an end to the sea of paper documents that flood many government offices, and storing information in digital form where it can be easily accessed and transferred to wherever it’s needed. Electronic platforms enable better accounting, statistics, and public sector planning and spending. Internet portals allow a huge savings in time and money for obtaining business permits, sometimes eliminating days of walking or waiting for an entrepreneur.Does this Help the Poor?
But does e-government mean anything to the poor, those who could never afford a computer and have never been trained to use the Internet? Absolutely.In central India, the Gyandoot Project installed Internet kiosks in rural villages staffed with trained locals who help villagers print land records, apply for government documents, and access information on poverty programs. As well, ICT tools enable governments to enact programs more effectively, for example by allowing much more accurate, up-to-date maps of poverty, and transferring that data quickly and uniformly throughout the public sector, so anti-poverty programs like conditional cash transfers, nutrition for children, or temporary employment can be closely targeted to those who need them the most.
Development Gateway Foundation and E-government
Development Gateway Foundation provides Web-based information-sharing platforms and grants for government procurement, aid management and other areas of importance to developing countries. We host an online community for professionals working on e-government in initiatives. And we work with our Country Gateway partners and others in the international development community to facilitate a coordinated effort in this area.Learn more about the foundation’s work:
> Aid Management
> dgMarket online procurement platform
> Grants program
Please click here to make a donation to support the work of the Development Gateway Foundation.