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Vikas Nath Founding President: DigitalGovernance.org Initiative DevNetJobs.org Initiative. Building Accountable and Democratic Governance Institutions: How is ICT changing information flows in Developing Countries ?.
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Vikas Nath Founding President: DigitalGovernance.org Initiative DevNetJobs.org Initiative Building Accountable and Democratic Governance Institutions: How is ICT changing information flows in Developing Countries ? THE ROLE OF NEW INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN DEVELOPMENT: BECOMING AN INFORMATION SOCIETY 18 October 2005, Wilton Park Conference, UK
Information Access and Information Flows Information ACCESS The different sources available to individuals to seek information. Eg: from other individuals, from institutions, from libraries, public domains and databases. Information FLOWS The supply of information within a society. Eg: Information flows may be ‘restricted’ in some societies and ‘open’ in others.
Case A: The pre- ICT situation V= Value of Service being derived by the user U V1B A B V1A U1 V2C C U2 U4 V4D U3 V3D D V5D U5 USERS (5) SERVICES (A, B, C, D) Total Public Value of Services derived = U1V1 + U2V2 + U3V3 + U4V4 + U5V5
Case B: Desired post- ICT situation G U6 U8 A B U1 U7 C E U2 U4 U3 F D U5 RURAL USERS (5) SERVICES (A, B, C, D) New Public Value = U1V1 + U2V2 + U3V3 + U4V4 + U5V5 +….. + UiVj
Some Learnings! ICTs enhances Information Access and Flows… almost automatically in project designs But if ICT has to create Politically Relevant and Inclusive Community Networks, then there is a need to RESHAPE the “Geometry of Information Flows” within the Society.
Guidelines for weaving Politically Relevant Networks • Who are our Target groups that we want to reach out to, through Internet? • What are the key information needs of the disadvantaged community? • What are the existing channels by which information reaches to the disadvantaged community? • What is the weakest link in the chain of information flows: from source to the disadvantaged communities?
E-Governance Models for building Accountable and Democratic Governance Institutions • Wider Dissemination Model • Critical Flow Model • Comparative Analysis Model • E-advocacy/ Lobbying and Pressure group model • Interactive-Service Model
Wider Disseminating Model Information: Public Domain Wider Public Domain Wider Domain • Laws and Legislations • Local Govt. Offices and Officials Information • Government Budget, Plans and Expenditures • Key Judicial Decisions: state vs. citizen decisions Public Domain Information
Examples Brazil: Official Government Website www.brazil.gov.br South Africa: Idasa’s Political Information and Monitoring Service (PIMS) www.pims.org.za/monitor India: Directory of Government Ministries www.goidirectory.nic.in Armenia: Online forum for Democratic Participation www.forum.am
Critical Flow Model Critical Information: Private Domain Wider Public Domain • Corruption Information • Enquiry reports, scientific research, impact studies commissioned • Company’s Green Ratings • Human Rights Violations Records • Whistle Blowing Wider Domain Private Domain Information
Examples Bangladesh: Human Rights Portal www.banglarights.net Mexico: Declarenet www.declaranet.gob.mx El Salvador: Probidad www.probidad.org India: Central Vigilance Committee www.cvc.nic.in Bloggers
Comparative Analysis Model Information: Private / Public Domain + Public / Private Domain Wider Public Domain Public/Private Domain Wider Domain Public Domain Information Public/Private Domain
Comparative Analysis Model • Court Rulings / Historical Archive • Tracking Performance Records / Financial Assets Growth of Ministers • Electoral Candidates Information • Based on Precedence Information • (time line) • With and Without Information • Bringing out Best / Worst Practices • Disaster Response • Comparative policies- Bt Cotton & Trademark Potatoes Campaign
Examples Argentina: Cristal (Budget comparisons and use of public funds) www.cristal.gov.ar Sri Lanka: Kothmale Project (Comparison of Education Indicators) India: Green Ratings of Chief Ministers www.cseindia.org India: Comparative Learning from Disasters www.nic.in
Mobilisation and Lobbying Model Building Allies / Networking Networks for Concerted Action Virtual Community Communities Individuals Real Community Common Goal Networks Interest Groups
Examples • Planned, Directed, Strategic flow of Information to build strong issue-based Allies / solidarity to complement action in Real World. • (often through combination of other models) • e-Signature Campaigns • e-Groups on Agriculture • Zimbabwe Kubatana.net (using emails for lobbying) • SMS and Mobile Campaigns- Philippines and Ukraine
Service Delivery Model USER SERVICE PROVIDER E-Government E- debates E-ballots E-procurement of services E-administration: taxes, parking tickets, licenses
Examples Brazil: Citizen Services Centre Mongolia: Citizens Information Centre Nepal: Municipal Services Online www.bharatpurmun.org.np India: Bhoomi Project (Karnataka) www.revdept-01.kar.nic.in Namibia: Parliamentary website for bill discussions www.parliament.gov.na
www.DigitalGovernance.org For more information: Vikas Nath Founding President DigitalGovernance.org KnowNet.org Initiative DevNetJobs.org Geneva, Switzerland A network of over 2800 e-governance professionals from developing countries Vikas.nath@gmail.com or v.nath-alumni@lse.ac.uk