A ROADMAP FOR e-GOVERNMENT AND e-BUSINESS STANDARDS IN AFRICA
Author: Syl Juxon Smith
Author: Syl Juxon Smith
African countries lack proper and constructive e-Government policies to manage the ever growing dependencies on ICT, and the capacity containing global threats to infrastructures physical and confidential data emanating from the use of modern communications and technology. There are virtually non existence efficient and effective Information and Communication Technology Agencies accros board to aid the process especially in e-government and e-business initiavies which must form the backbone for the way forward for ICT in African countries. Especially now that it is gradually becoming the norm for development making it mandatory for all government agencies to embrace ICT globally as part of the global village perspectives and consensus for strategic partnerships and collaborations. Adopting such new concepts will provide clarity of purpose and gives the implementing agencies the required buy in to drive the initiatives. Large scale ICT based improvement concepts is relatively new to many government organizations in Africa. Having a clear policy and stated commitment will help greatly and the way forward. Technology is the key transformational tool that supports the delivery of a superior service. Initiatives like government information centres is a great concept and can be an effective incentives to adopt technology for citizen services. Africa is rapidly coming to realisation of its needs and solutions, and must rapidly increase the IT literacy and availability of cost effective connectivity internally and then across board to ensure every citizen can benefit from any e-government initiatives as well as rapidly expanding opportunities via ICT. Govenments must entertain and highlights the creation of a category directing and guiding ICT policies and programmes (CIO-Chief Innovation Officer) in all agencies as the key facet of a new e-Government policy vision. Only with such new clarity of vision in place will ICT gain the necessary momentum to be effective like other countries have succeeded adopting. It must be imperative also to identify benefits towards facilitating audits, procurement, security, etc. and that an effective implementation of these policies could only result in easier access, less cost and faster delivery. While indicating that their must be a one stop solution strategy of capturing almost all required areas in the modern world of ICT locally for effective and productive partnership to providing a clear plan with identifiable goals. The new ROADMAP e-Government policy must stand as a very comprehensive formula covering all aspects in detail with regard to policies and procedures for the government sector in particular and businesses in general using ICT and in delivering services. It should also specifies the minimum requirements that should be adhered to by the governments and other organizations to ensure consistency in their ICT practices and activities. The way forward now is to develop action plans conforming to international stipulated policies. Procedures and assistance must be made available to guide the implementation of plans. Human Resource development in all aspects of ICT is required to implement this ambitious plan. Organisations both local and external must assist in this regard providing both financial and human AID through undergraduate, postgraduate and professional development (maybe even specially designed) programmes to facilitate the objectives. A process leading to this initiative should start with an ICT policy committee which must be put in place soonest to formulate the first draft of policies and procedures for use of ICT in Government and Businesses. After an internal review, the initial draft should be presented to a representative gathering of stakeholders mainly comprising members of ICT Groups and Working Groups. Then later presented to a group of Government Focus Group-THINK TANK members; and also made available to the public in order to ascertain the views of a wider audience. Comments and inputs must be taken into observations from Government organisations, private organisations, citizens, associations, health personnel, etc. Further, approved policy committe work group must encompass the following areas: Electronic Transactions, Computer Crimes, Data Protection, Intellectual Property Rights, ICT Management, Information Life Cycle Management, Protection of personal data, Standards, Data Administration Hubs, Network - Application and Data Architecture, ICT Audit, Accessibility and Service Delivery, Contracts and Information Assets Management, ICT Project Continuity, Procurement and Contractual Issues, Communication Interface, Networking and Connectivity, Web Presence, Government Network and Human Resource Development. These are the majot premises that forms the bedrock of e-government policies globally. Our hope is to make the future generation equipped with the knowledge and skills that are necessary for them to be at level with their counterparts in the most advanced countries of the world. We must make it a priority to develop standards In ICT which specifies minimum requirements that should be adhered to by governments organizations and businesses to ensure consistency in practices, projects, procurements and outsourcing for security and development. We should enter the world of science and technology agressively, and at the same time preserve our cherished cultural heritage and values which is what we seek to promote and sustain. We are in an era in which the world is equipped with a deep knowledge and enthusiasm about ICT technology. We should think more of the future and our children and reminding ourselves of where would we be in ten years time? We should create for the future generation an enabling environment where technology could be used for good governance, transformation of the society, thereby creating hope where there seem to be no hope, upholdong a high standard of moral and ethical social life. This is the only way we can give back to the youths and many others an opportunity through ICT the life they were denied.About the Author:
Member: ASIS & WABA
Commercial Industrial Business Security Consult (Africa)
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