Needs’ Assessments of Governance & Needs’ Assessments of Governance & Public Administration in SyriaPublic Administration in Syria

Prepared By: Prof. Dr. Najwa Kassab HassanPrepared By: Prof. Dr. Najwa Kassab Hassan

INNOVATION IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIONINNOVATION IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIONIN THE EURO-MEDITERRANEAN REGIONIN THE EURO-MEDITERRANEAN REGION..

Syria endeavored from the mid-nineties an ambitious Syria endeavored from the mid-nineties an ambitious development of the ICT infrastructure to accelerate development of the ICT infrastructure to accelerate developments on all social, economic and administrative developments on all social, economic and administrative levels.levels.

During the past decades, Syria has achieved considerable During the past decades, Syria has achieved considerable developments on the social and economic life of the developments on the social and economic life of the country.country.

- INTRODUCTION:- INTRODUCTION:

All ministries conducted a thorough and comprehensive All ministries conducted a thorough and comprehensive evaluation of its internal procedures, processes, services evaluation of its internal procedures, processes, services

and the necessary changes. and the necessary changes.

All suggested changes were studied to insure coherency All suggested changes were studied to insure coherency on both the internal and inter-ministerial levels and with the on both the internal and inter-ministerial levels and with the new technological requirements of e-administration and e-new technological requirements of e-administration and e-government. The new structures were approved early 2003 government. The new structures were approved early 2003

and is now under implementation at various levels. and is now under implementation at various levels.

With the new millennium, Syria embarked on administrative With the new millennium, Syria embarked on administrative reforms of all governmental institutions and bodies.reforms of all governmental institutions and bodies.

- STRATEGY AND PLANNING:- STRATEGY AND PLANNING:

Strategies of development and reformation of the public Strategies of development and reformation of the public administration is based on the overall objectives of the administration is based on the overall objectives of the

government and inline with the third millennium program and government and inline with the third millennium program and the Barcelona Declaration. the Barcelona Declaration.

Important achievements are reached on the strategic levels Important achievements are reached on the strategic levels affecting the legislative and executive branches of the affecting the legislative and executive branches of the

governmentgovernment

A. A. Achievements Affecting All Aspects Of Governance:Achievements Affecting All Aspects Of Governance:

• Updating laws and regulation and eliminating all bureaucratic barriers Updating laws and regulation and eliminating all bureaucratic barriers prohibiting national and foreign investmentsprohibiting national and foreign investments

• Administrative reforms through training and recuperating Human Administrative reforms through training and recuperating Human

resources.resources.

• Creating Administrative information centers for decision support Creating Administrative information centers for decision support systems in all ministries systems in all ministries

• Creating either a central committee or high committee to put the Creating either a central committee or high committee to put the strategy for e-transformation strategy for e-transformation

• Updating laws and procedures of the banking systemsUpdating laws and procedures of the banking systems

• Updating and modernizing education and higher education, especially Updating and modernizing education and higher education, especially programs of e-learning and continuing education programs of e-learning and continuing education

• Increasing the role and involvement of all information mediums (public Increasing the role and involvement of all information mediums (public and private) in the processes of good governance.and private) in the processes of good governance.

B. B. Reformations At The Legislative And Jurisdictional Level:Reformations At The Legislative And Jurisdictional Level:

• Amending and updating the Unified Labor LawAmending and updating the Unified Labor Law

• The proclamation of Ordinance No. 22 for the Year 2002 organizing the The proclamation of Ordinance No. 22 for the Year 2002 organizing the authorities of Deputy Ministers authorities of Deputy Ministers

• Eliminating of the authority of High Committees and transferring its rule Eliminating of the authority of High Committees and transferring its rule and role to involved ministries. and role to involved ministries.

• The proclamation of Law No. 24 for the year 2003 to restructure the The proclamation of Law No. 24 for the year 2003 to restructure the Ministerial Cabinet and the establishment of the Ministerial General Ministerial Cabinet and the establishment of the Ministerial General

SecretariatSecretariat..

• The formation of “Ministerial Decision-Support Committee” in 2002 to The formation of “Ministerial Decision-Support Committee” in 2002 to assess administrative and other reformations done by ministries.assess administrative and other reformations done by ministries.

C. C. Projects & Programs Related To The Achievement Of The Strategy:Projects & Programs Related To The Achievement Of The Strategy:

• Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of the Peoples’ Assembly.Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of the Peoples’ Assembly.

• E Strategy for Syria.E Strategy for Syria.

• Strategic ICT program for socio-economic development in Syria.Strategic ICT program for socio-economic development in Syria.

• Support to Administrative Development.Support to Administrative Development.

• Project implementation and coordination unit.Project implementation and coordination unit.

• The Electronic Library.The Electronic Library.

• Syrian Virtual University. Syrian Virtual University.

• E-Village. E-Village.

• Syrian Higher Education and research Network (SHERN).Syrian Higher Education and research Network (SHERN).

D.D. ICT And Governmental Sectors – Levels Of Integration:ICT And Governmental Sectors – Levels Of Integration:

• The National Number Project.The National Number Project.

• H-Card: also known as the Smart Health Record.H-Card: also known as the Smart Health Record.

• Virtual Museum.Virtual Museum.

• literacy e-radication.literacy e-radication.

-NEEDS’ ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITIZATION:NEEDS’ ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITIZATION:

Despite the noticeable achievements that took place in Syria Despite the noticeable achievements that took place in Syria towards development and modernization, the requirements of towards development and modernization, the requirements of

building a knowledge society and the utilization of ICT in building a knowledge society and the utilization of ICT in sustainable development necessitate changes and progress.sustainable development necessitate changes and progress.

1. Legislative Changes Affecting The ICT Sector And Implementation:1. Legislative Changes Affecting The ICT Sector And Implementation:

• Implementing and activating intellectual Properties LawsImplementing and activating intellectual Properties Laws

• Organizing the processes of exporting & importing Organizing the processes of exporting & importing software/hardware.software/hardware.

• Legislating relevant laws governing the distribution, exchange and Legislating relevant laws governing the distribution, exchange and protection of data. protection of data.

• Encouraging and organizing investment in the ICT sector.Encouraging and organizing investment in the ICT sector.

• Organizing and regulating e-Commerce and e-Trade and benefiting Organizing and regulating e-Commerce and e-Trade and benefiting from the experience of other countries in this field. from the experience of other countries in this field.

• Legislating relevant laws authorizing and regulating the usage of Legislating relevant laws authorizing and regulating the usage of electronic signature and its use.electronic signature and its use.

2. Legislative Changes Affecting Social And Economic Developments2. Legislative Changes Affecting Social And Economic Developments• Finalizing and implementing the new Labor LawFinalizing and implementing the new Labor Law

• Easing the process of investment and completion of investment Easing the process of investment and completion of investment projects. This is of special importance to the banking and financial projects. This is of special importance to the banking and financial sector.sector.

3. Developments And Changes Affecting The Implementation Of A 3. Developments And Changes Affecting The Implementation Of A Comprehensive ICT Strategy Reaching E-GovernmentComprehensive ICT Strategy Reaching E-Government

• The importance of the private sector’s participation in the development and The importance of the private sector’s participation in the development and implementation of any ICT development or in drawing the e-strategy.implementation of any ICT development or in drawing the e-strategy.

• Accessibility to information through all available methods and mediums. Accessibility to information through all available methods and mediums.

• Providing access to information to civil establishments. Providing access to information to civil establishments.

• Establishing National Data Bank(s) providing data and information to all Establishing National Data Bank(s) providing data and information to all sectors.sectors.

• The atomization and standardization of processes.The atomization and standardization of processes.

• Supporting technology incubators projects.Supporting technology incubators projects.

• Supporting efforts of internet content Arabization.Supporting efforts of internet content Arabization.

• Supporting the local ICT industry to participate more in the process of Supporting the local ICT industry to participate more in the process of development. development.

4. Human Resources And Capacity Building4. Human Resources And Capacity Building • Integrating IT curricula, information, and usage in all levels of formal Integrating IT curricula, information, and usage in all levels of formal

education. education.

• Initiating training programs on the national level to eradicate PC Initiating training programs on the national level to eradicate PC illiteracy & supporting programs of continuing educationilliteracy & supporting programs of continuing education

• Supporting the utilization of existing infrastructure and facilities in Supporting the utilization of existing infrastructure and facilities in rural areas to initiate training programs. rural areas to initiate training programs.

• Supporting the initiative of the “Popular PC”. Supporting the initiative of the “Popular PC”.

• Supporting the “Mobile Internet Unit”Supporting the “Mobile Internet Unit”

5. Administrative And Public Sector Reformation And Development:5. Administrative And Public Sector Reformation And Development:

• Decentralization of the processes in the public sector. Decentralization of the processes in the public sector.

• Installing and activating information systems and mechanisms.Installing and activating information systems and mechanisms.

• Changing and modifying human resources management systems and Changing and modifying human resources management systems and procedures procedures

• Training executives and managersTraining executives and managers

6. Reformation In The Banking And Financial Sector:6. Reformation In The Banking And Financial Sector:

• The utilization of ICT and computerization in banks is essential in The utilization of ICT and computerization in banks is essential in reforming the economy. reforming the economy.

• Modifying and updating relevant laws and legislations. Modifying and updating relevant laws and legislations.

• Supporting micro and investment loans for projects requiring Supporting micro and investment loans for projects requiring finance. finance.

• Modernizing the insurance industry.Modernizing the insurance industry.

7. Reformation And Modernization Research And Studies7. Reformation And Modernization Research And Studies• Conducting Continuous research and surveys, studying the Conducting Continuous research and surveys, studying the needs and effects of reformation and modernizationneeds and effects of reformation and modernization

8. Utilization Of Mass Media8. Utilization Of Mass Media• Utilization of mass media (television broadcasting, local newspaper) Utilization of mass media (television broadcasting, local newspaper) in advocating reformation. in advocating reformation.

9. Reformation And Gender9. Reformation And Gender • The creation of a specialized Gender information Center. The creation of a specialized Gender information Center.

• Providing and allocating special programs for training females in Providing and allocating special programs for training females in general, and in particular, females in rural areas. general, and in particular, females in rural areas.

• Encouraging woman to benefit from the process of reformation, Encouraging woman to benefit from the process of reformation, especially on the financial levels by allocating special funds for especially on the financial levels by allocating special funds for projects piloted or initiated by females.projects piloted or initiated by females.

10. Reformation and Social Acceptance:10. Reformation and Social Acceptance:• Insuring social acceptance as a manifestation of successful Insuring social acceptance as a manifestation of successful

implementation to any reform. implementation to any reform.

• Involving opinion leaders in promoting the benefits of reformsInvolving opinion leaders in promoting the benefits of reforms