A Nation’s Plan to Empower its People through ICT

1. A Nation’s Plan to Empower its People through ICT

2. Connectivity (RTNs) ICT as a growth Sector ICT as an enabler for Socio Economic Development TASS Why e-Sri Lanka? • What are the problems facing the country today? • Can ICT make a difference? • Specific mechanisms to take the growth in Colombo/ South-West to other areas of the country • Grow the ICT Sector AND use ICT as an enabler for socio-economic development Rural Access (VGKs) e- Government Entrepreneurship E-Society Current Concentration of Growth

3. Vision & Macro Strategies Take the dividends of ICT to every village, to every citizen, to every business and also transform the way government works • Improve public services and governance using ICT • Improve ICT infrastructure and enhance quality of life through providing affordable access and opportunities • Build a strong ICT industry & enhance competitiveness thro ICT • Enhance the quality of education, learning and research through use of ICT • Proliferate access to ICT in rural areas and use of ICT applications for rural socio-economic development

4. A REALITY CHECK FOR DEVELOPING NATIONS • Unique issues & dependencies for success e.g. physical infrastructure, public awareness, political will • Acute disparities across geographical zones • Physical deliverables are not the key… “soft issues” are the key • Govt must lead a national programme undertaking the min. critical mass of projects – points of failure • Basic capacity issues.. Often non ICT - The need to “build the road AND the car to drive it!!!

5. EMERGING MODEL FOR E~DEVELOPMENT IN DEVELOPING NATIONS • The need for a pan-country, holistic approach • Integrating a programme of projects • In-built flexibility to make “in-flight” changes • Provision for “bottom up” flow of ideas

6. An Integrated e~Development Model & Programme Interdependencies

7. THE NEED FOR AN NATIONAL ICT AGENCY • Policy setting • Build implementation roadmaps & frameworks • Make it happen • Put together partnerships • Build project management & institutional capacity • Funding mechanisms • Monitor, evaluate & adjust direction • Strategic Communication

8. Lessons Learned thus far… • ICTA birth linked to CINTEC demise • Overplayed corporate image • Formal authority essential • Treading on others territory • Leadership from the top • Out of the box solutions • Manage expectations

9. Lessons Learned from Pilots • Clarity on objectives & ownership • Survey of similar projects • Assess scalability & replication issues upfront • Focus on outcomes not outputs • Integrate an effective communication strategy

10. Critical Success Factors: e-SL • Integrated approach • Commitment from WB • Seed capital & critical institutional capacity integral to the project • Apolitical positioning

11. Critical Success Factors: e-SL • Stakeholder led • Not a “big bang” approach – pilot & scale up • Partnership strategies in entire programme lifecycle • Flexible design

12. Critical Success Factors: ICTA • Vision driven team culture • Leadership from the top • Operational freedom & building a true meritocracy • Results oriented

13. Critical Success Factors: ICTA • Give credit to our partners • Staying Small, dynamic with a “can do” attitude • Integrity & transparency in our work • Flexible & adaptable but focused on priorities • Mix of experience & ability to multi task

14. CHALLENGES AHEAD • Evolving role • Independence of ICTA • Managing increasing demands • Continuity of leadership • Retaining our talent & keeping them inspired! • Effective project management Timely availability of funds • Effective M&E and communications

15. “The Empires of the Future are Empires of the Mind” Sir Winston Churchill Transforming the way we think and work THANK YOU