Zanzibar eGovernment Agenda - Impact Assessment

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ZANZIBAR eGOVERNMENT AGENDA

AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT

05 December 2011

Overview

Zanzibaris expectation to a positive social and economic impact out of the ongoing

Zanzibar eGovernment agenda will be the benchmark for eGovernment investment

value for money. However, the real benefits will be often hard to quantify till majority of

Zanzibaris understands and empowered to be fully engaged with the scheme. World

Bank eGovernment Practice Group, Washington DC, believed to be the only

International organisation set a favourable framework in developing eGovernment policy,

and accepted by many developing countries particular those on emerging economy as a

inducement on how to conduct impact assessmentfor the eGovernment project, though

there is no yet unified accepted requirement definition for the eGovernment impact

assessmentestablished, this framework suits the needs of developing countries1.

Most eGovernment initiatives in developing countries centre around positive effects on

how government services and openness to its citizens as a yardstick, and as a result of

promoting the use of information and communication technology in government

institutions improved efficiency of their internal administrative operations2.

An often used illustration for an eGovernment impact assessment, is a dimension on

how to engage the citizen with their government through electronic means and to what

extent they will be empowered to do so, on this regard the scale are the national

backbone, government data centres, computing facilities such as telecenter, and

community Internet kiosks, as well as availability such computer penetration, Internet

devices penetration and affordability the country Internet consumer price index.

1CAROLYNE STANFORTH (2006), Analysing eGovernment Implementation in Developing Countries UsingActor-Network Theory, Development Informatics Group, Precinct Centre, UK.2JANE BRINGOLF (2008), Universal Design: Is it Accessible?, In Multi: The RIT Journal of Plurality andDiversity in Design Vol. 1 No. 2 (Spring/Summer 2008) 45-52


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pragmatic studies suggest that electronic government services have had an enormous

impact in improving government performance and openness. However, in public sector,

delivering service electronically its investments needs a different approach to list

success. Its process for implementation requires a wider spectrum of benchmarks of a

coherent evaluation methodology comprising of a set of explicit indicators for

transparency, accessibility, efficiency, and value for money5.

The overall aspiration of Zanzibar eGovernment policy should be expressed in the terms

of its ultimate impacts to Zanzibar society. These will normally not be expressed as

eGovernment objectives, but rather as societal objectives to which successful

eGovernment development should contribute, such as Zanzibaris participation to their

government functions and government openness on its decision making6. eGovernment

solutions promises to deliver a number of direct benefits but to make sure that the

agenda works as intended there is a need for better measurements, and that is impact

assessment. However, finding suitable approaches to design an impact assessmentthat

will distinguish the successful eGovernment project from those which needs

improvement depends on what was the policy. Because the majority of the

methodologies and analogous tests rely on human judgment, as eGovernment

benchmarking mostly carried out manually. These tasks are error prone and time

consuming, which in practice means that Zanzibar eGovernment surveys should not

focus on one component, small geographical area, or evaluate diminutive samples of

country, on what is look like for a case of Zanzibar is the national backbone barely, but

should include as many socio-economic hindrance components to be taken into account

for a well functioning eGovernment system7.

A well defined policy on eGovernment set a clear vision on harnessing the phenomenon,

to improve service delivery and internal efficiency of government institutions, andredefine the existing and future relations with citizen in the internal and external

5 SCHRANER, I (2006), Economic Evaluation of Assistive Technology : Challenges for theDiscipline, Resources from Feminist Economics, Essays in Heterodox Economics : Proceeding ofthe Fifth Australian Society of Heterodox Economists Conference, Edited by P. Kriesler, M.Johnson and J. Lodewijks. Sydney 11-12.6 MORTEN GOODWIN (2011), Towards Automatic Monitoring of eGovernment PhD Thesis, AalborgUniversity, Department of Computer Science, The Faculties of Engineering, Science, and Medicine,12.08.20117 MORTEN GOODWIN (2010), Digitizing Public Services in Europe: Putting Ambition into Action 9 thBenchmarking Measurements, IDC, December 2011


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On Layne model the vertical axe shows the organisational and technological complexity,

and the horizontal axe shows the integration of services and cooperation, from sparse to

complete, with the perspective of the potential user. The stages described from the

perspective of the functionalities of eGovernment offered to users, intended to promote

better service delivery in line with the ambition of eGovernment should be a successful.

Taking the state of affairs of the Layne model to Zanzibar eGovernment agenda, the

stage 0 indicates currently traditional government functionalities with no eGovernment

and use of technology implemented, while stage 1 cataloguing, this stage encompasses

the provisioning of a static information to the Zanzibar government portal, this stage is

called cataloguing because efforts should be focused in cataloguing government data

and information to be presented online, also focusing on establishing an online

presence, a innovative brand for the government.

Stage 2 transaction, this stage encompasses mutual communication between Zanzibaris

and the government enabling online service delivery, at this stage eGovernment initiative

will focus on connecting the internal government systems to online interfaces and

allowing citizen to transact with the government electronically, it is also called

transaction-based eGovernment, because eGovernment initiatives efforts consists in

putting live database links to an online interfaces.

Stage 3 vertical integration, in this stage Zanzibar will transform its government

processes and possibly the perception of government itself, but citizen demands and

changes within Zanzibar society at this time will push government to go further as the

critical benefit of implementing eGovernment, and actual will be derived from the

integration of underlying process, not only across different levels of government, but also

different functions of government. Zanzibaris will then desires to see the government asan integration information base with solitary contact point to interact for any government

transaction or interaction, information management systems professionals refer this

stage as one-stop shopping concept11.

11 RICHARD HEEKS (2001), Building eGovernment for Development : A Framework for Nationand Donor Country, Institute for Development Policy and Management, Manchester UK.


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While stage 4 is horizontal integration, at this stage Zanzibaris will be seen fully engaged

in using the bursting potential of ICT should the project be successful, from the users

perspective, the horizontal integration is the government services delivery across

different functional walls.

The integration will happen in equally, vertical and horizontal, vertical integration refers

to the local and central administration connected for different functions or services of

government, but horizontal integration defined as integration across different

government functions and services12.

The Layne model is helpful to give Zanzibar insights of actual eGovernment functional

developments. The first stage from traditional government to cataloguing and to

transaction, can be well and quickly adopted in practice, while the horizontal and vertical

integration stages are of more or less hypothetical in context, which needs more local

product knowledge of eGovernment functionalities and the Zanzibar government

functions, because there are indications that most of the developing countries

governments used the model listed as successful projects13. A quantity of research

suggests that, the Layne model is not the only silver bullet for developing a well

functioning eGovernment project, the initiative will needs lots of refining inputs to

ensemble Zanzibar needs.

Other than, Layne model there are ones contained more sophisticated stages in nature

with Zanzibar situation while we are just imaging what is like to have eGovernment, and

yet we are not setting out our vision clearly with the absence of policy document.

Nevertheless it might be worth to consider an alternative in future developments of the

scheme such as one below developed by Richard Heeks an information scientist at the

Institute for Development and Policy Management of the University of Manchester UK.But for now Zanzibar have to stick with basic acceptable principles like the Layne model

in developing and effective eGovernment concept, for a point of view lets have a glance

of Richard model to realised the complex nature of the process.

12 DEVADOSS, P. et. al. (2002), Structurational Analysis of eGovernment Initiatives : A Case Study ofSCO, Decision Support Systems, 34, 253-269.13 PROF. BHATNAGAR S. et. al. (2007), Impact Assessment Study of eGovernment Projects in IndiaCenter for eGovernance, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, January 2007.


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It is only then this can give Zanzibar immense self awareness, the aptitude to

understand and find solutions of within on how Zanzibaris can get the best out of

Zanzibar eGovernment agenda.

The policy framework is a starting point to set a robust vision, standards and procedures

to allow smooth integration of information and service between government institutions

and the citizens.

eGovernment for Open Data Initiative

The 2010 United Nations eGovernment Survey reveals various roles for eGovernment in

addressing the citizen conviction to their government, which is normal gained through

transparency, where eGovernment platform can easily facilitate lucidity, and that can be

further enhanced through sharing of government data and information based on open

data protocol. According to the United Nation report the ability of eGovernment to handle

the speed and complexity of open data initiative is out of question, and can also

strengthen Zanzibar policy formulation.

Zanzibar eGovernment agenda through Open Data Initiative it may gives Zanzibaris the

power to question the actions of government and bring systemic issues to the fore.

Equally, eGovernment can add dexterity to the government service delivery to help

Zanzibar act in response to an expanded set of demands to its citizens. Since the last

publication of the United Nation eGovernment survey, in 2008, governments particular in

developing countries have made walk of long steps in the development of online

services. Though the issues associated with eGovernment scheme on human capitals

may seems to encumber eGovernment development, but deep down policy can takes

Zanzibar to a justification.

It is therefore utterly imperative the policy to be for the Zanzibar eGovernment agenda

should define clearly datasets standards and publication schemes framework for open

data initiative14. Through a well defined datasets formulation and government data

publication scheme, Zanzibar eGovernment agenda will facilitate in building a new

14WAM Abu Dhabi, Sept. 22nd, 2011 (WAM), Emirates eGovernment welcomed a team of Seventeen fromthe Ministry of Public Administration and Security, Republic of Korea, to learn about the eGovernmentprogramme in UAE.


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paradigm of our infants democracy, The Government through eGovernment platform will

releasing public data to help Zanzibaris understanding how their government works and

how decision were made. Some of these data may be already available in public

domain, but eGovernment scheme may bring it together in one searchable place, and

therefore meets the most criteria of open data initiative, easy access to government.

Making government data easily available through eGovernment, means it will be easier

for Zanzibaris to be engaged in decision making process and make suggestions about

government policies based on detailed information, a new way of citizen participation to

the country decision making process, instead of a traditional one which heavily depend

on politicians representation.

The clarity within the Zanzibar eGovernment policy framework about open data initiative

will allow Zanzibar to determine in future what sort of freedom of information (FoI)

legislation to have, and what publication scheme government institutions needs to follow

in publishing information or data for public consumption, as it is the availability of data

will attract investors, and Zanzibar builds its own version digital economy, but all start

with the policy framework.

Conclusion

In line to a beyond doubt Zanzibar eGovernment Agenda, and as it has been clearly

known that a fighting fit running eGovernment, a scheme to benefit Zanzibaris at all

levels, that, it should be implemented as a vigorous process not an event. Since many of

the stages within the said process has not been achieved yet by Zanzibar authority, to

suggest that Zanzibar will adopt eGovernment norms by April 2012, as it has been

announced by government official through media on behalf of the government15

, that willbe a white lie which needs to stop.

Zanzibaris deserves better around this time of a government of good governance at all

time. The effective Zanzibar eGovernment agenda will well depend highly on what will

15DAILY NEWS (Last Updated : 11 October 2011), Zanzibar to Adopt eGovernment 2012, (Tanzania - InEd. by : Ali Sultani) Available at http://www.dailynews.co.tz/business/?n=24431&cat=business (Accessed :28 November 2011).


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be the policy. It will be a practical instrument for the scheme to set out Zanzibar vision

towards a well functioning eGovernment, but to have an effective policy requires a non

bias impact assessment to root out issues with which will need to be addressed in the

policy document.

Research evidence suggests that impact assessment used for deriving policy issues

shouldnt be done by the policy implementers, because it is the impact assessment to

set out parameters for policy document, and therefore it should be free from any form of

bias. To warranty the best output of the impact assessment, it is therefore advised for

the government to task higher learning institutions and potential stakeholders

(organisations) to form an impact assessment team, such as State University of

Zanzibar (SUZA), Zanzibar University (Tunguu), Karume Institute of Science and

Technology, Zanzibar Chambers of Commerce, Zanzibar Association of Disables for

disabilities issues to be in policy, Zanzibar Law Society, Zanzibar Association of Tourism

Investors, Zanzibar Institute for Research and Public Policy and alike.

Such a team of a gratis from government behavior constrains will be free to obliterate

issues, which will be the foundation and framework of the policy document, and that

have to be Zanzibar principle to a full functioning decorated eGovernment scheme.

Reference

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USA.

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Ambition into Action, 9th Benchmarking Measurement, European Commission,

Directorate General for Information Society and Media, November 2010

HAJI, H. M. (2003), Do Converged Regulatory Authorities Represent the Optimal Way

Forward for the Regulation of the Communications Sector? : A Case of Tanzania,

University of Strathclyde, June 2003, Glasgow, UK.


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WENDY GINSBERG (2010), The Obama Administrations OGI, Washington, DC:

Congressional Research Service, 7-5700, 2010.

UNITED NATIONS (2010), United Nations E-Government Survey 2010 : Leveraging

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Department of Economic and Social Affairs, New York, 2010.

JULIE NYANGAYA (2011), 2011 East Africa Security Study Report : Protecting What

Matters, Enterprise Risk Services, Deloitte East Africa, November 2011.

RICHARD HEEKS (2003), Most eGovernment for Development Projects Fail : How Can

Risks Be Reduced?, The Commonwealth Network of Information Technology for

Development, UK.

WORLD BANK (2011), Tanzania Takes Seventh Place in African Telecom, In By

Citizen Reporter, (ed) The Citizen on Sunday 16 October 2011, Dar es Salaam, 2011

CAROLYNE STANFORTH (2010), Analysing eGovernment Project Failure : Comparing

Factoral, Systems and Interpretive Approaches, IDPM SED, UK.

ZANZIBAR GOVERNMENT (2011), The Public Service Act No. 2 of 2011, House of

Representative of Zanzibar, 27 January 2011, Zanzibar. Part IX, Part X

SIGNORE, O. (2003), W3C Technologies : A Key for Interoperability, Journal of

Computer Resources Management, Issue 110, 2003

TALERO, E. et. al. (1998), Harnessing Information for Development: A Proposal for a

World Bank Group Vision and Strategy, Information Technology for Development,

Washington, USA.

Documents

Zanzibar eGovernment Agenda - Impact Assessment