Steps towards E-Government in Syria

Nibal IdlebiMinistry of Communications and Technology

Agenda

ICT, a tool for the development of the

Government

ICT Status in the government in Syria

Initiatives for E-Government in Syria

ICT, a tool for development!

ICT is a fundamental vehicle of how modern

societies may function

Effective exploitation of ICT opportunities should help the countries in achieving economic growth, competitiveness and transforming the societies into information and knowledge based societies

E-Government is one enabler to achieve the modernization of the society.

E-Gov, a tool for development!

Transform the way government makes policy,

Transform the way services should be delivered,

Transform the way government uses technology,

Change the way the public service is valued.

E-Government is a long term programme

of change to :

E-Government project Layers

Infrastructure layer and Information levelInfrastructure layer and Information level ensuring

connectivity and information availability,

Security and service levelSecurity and service level, ensuring security of transaction

and information, authentication and privacy of data sharing

Application levelApplication level,, ensuring different services in various

sectors such as tourism, healthcare, transportation, etc

Access levelAccess level, ensuring the availability of services through

different kind of access devices such as mobile telephone,

digital TV, call centres, PC, Public Access points.

MoCT Objective

The use of ICT:- for enhancing the work of the government - in improving the industrial and economical sector - development of social and cultural activities.

Importance of E-Government in:- improving the administrative procedures in all the governmental bodies, - creating citizen-focused and accessible services.

ICT in Syria (2003)..…

Fixed phone penetration rate : 13%

Mobile phone subscribers: 1,200,000

Internet subscribers: 120,000

Dial up is mainly used for Internet access

Number of computers : 500,000 half of it in the

government offices

23% of citizens have information about computer

Lack of specialized engineers in ICT

ICT use in government bodies

A considerable number of projects for the use of ICT in

administrative and procedural work

Lack of integration between different ICT applications

ICT is not used professionally in the different

governmental establishments

Some high level integrated projects

Information are not used as base for decision making

IT is not used yet as a tool for decision making

ICT use in government bodies

The number of web sites has increased recently,

but it is still very low

Most of the web sites are hosted abroad

Lack of legislation for the professional use of ICT,

and lack of cyberspace laws

Web sites for publishing information

Non E-Commerce applications

Non E-Government services

To go towards e-GovernmentTo go towards e-Government

Administrative ReformAdministrative Reform

Professional use of ICT

Train People on the use of computer and internet

Improve the penetration rate of ICT

Development of integrated software for the back

offices in the government bodies

Development of applications

Development of Web sites and e-services

To go towardsTo go towards

e-Governmente-Government

National ICT strategy for

socio-economic development

Defined recently by the MoCT

E-Government is one of its directions

Specific national initiative for e-Government

National Initiative for e-Government

Creation of National Steering Committee responsible of e-Government Initiative

Establishment of National Information Service Centre

Launching e-Government projects

Re-activation of Decision Making Support System project

Launching projects for public opinion exchange between governmental bodies and citizens

Defining indicators for e-Government project evaluation

Legislations needed for e-GovUnder study Under study

electronic signature lawelectronic document exchange lawe-Commerce lawIntellectual Copyright law,

In the futureIn the futureElectronic paymentPrivacy & securityConsumer protectionElectronic Cyberspace Laws

National Steering Committee

Coordination between the different government bodies and administrative reform programs

Define the action plan for the best use of ICT in administrative reform

Define the evaluation criteria of e-government initiatives and applications

Define standards for the use of ICT in administrative reform

Launch pilot projects for back office automation

Launch pilot projects in e-government

National Information Service Centre

Most of institutions follow one business rules: governmental working force’s main law, Contracts rules, Social Security rules etc.

Most of institutions are very similar in their infrastructure needs Local Area Network, with one server and few

Computers stations

Facts in Syrian institutions

National Information Service Centre

The basis of e-government in the country for back office applications

encourage institutions to use computers and

establish a common network.

ease the (financial / administrative /

regulation) burden on each institution

establish common rules to all the institutes to

follow locally and nationally

National Information Service Centre

Key words as base of the NISC : Simplification and specification of procedures,

Security,

Reliability,

Standards at different level,

National governmental network,

Integrated Information System.

Goals of NISC

Establishing a good working environment for the

governmental institutions

Establishing complete national rules and information

national standard for the information system in Syria.

Accreditation of software programs according to the

developed specifications

Creating a complete, comprehensive and integrated

computer services

Goals of NISC

Specifying the typical institution requirements to

achieve their secure interconnect and establishing

their LAN / WAN connection

Offering different services to help spreading IT

technology throughout most of the Syrian

government’s institution and establishing e-

Government: Security, Authentication, Login.

Create strategic relationship with the application

software providers.

e-Government projects

Launching e-government projects in some

governmental bodies according to their need

and their level

Launching Government Portal as first step for

e-government applications

Developing portal for e-government initiative

Decision Making Support System

Activate the project

Links with Central Office of Statistics

Deliver periodic indicators about Syrian

economic

Publishing information and indicators on the

Internet

Periodic Public discussions between

governmental bodies and citizens

Set up Indicators for e-Government&

Set up a model for its following up