The Role of ICT’s in Enabling Effective Services at Local Government

2. Today’s Programme:11:00 Registration11:30 Welcome11:40 SALGA Local eParticipation Study Results12:00 Local Government ICT (LGICT) Network12:20 LGICT ConnectIT Event12:40 Thank you & closing12:45 Finger lunch

3. The Role of ICT’s in Enabling Effective Services at Local Government Launch LG ICT Network SALGA 30th May 2011 Douglas Cohen Specialist: Economic Development and ICT National Office

4. ICT’s @ LG

5. The Opportunity… • "In the recent two decades, we have witnessed an extensive use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) by national and local governments worldwide to enhance the efficiency of governments and bring them closer to citizens’ demands.” • ICTs for Good Governance – Experiences from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean

6. The Reality… • “Some municipalities see the vision of ICT as a tool that enables world class service delivery. Some municipalities still view ICT as a computer instead of seeing the bigger picture.” • Municipal ICT Researcher

7. The Symptoms… • Municipalities operating in a very isolated non-uniform manner; • Municipalities ill-prepared to facing the ICT resource, skill and budget constraints; • Small or remote areas continue to be marginalised without affordable broadband connectivity and support • Budget constraints; municipalities face increased demand for efficiency and cost control without a corresponding increase in budget for ICT’s. • Differentiated requirements makes a “universal solution” approach difficult. • Ineffective strategies to manage the procurement of ICT’s

8. The Causes… • ICT policies, institutions and programmes of National Government are limited in terms of their support and involvement of (or consultation with) Local Government. • Limited mainstreaming of ICT’s, due to a lack of understanding, budget or political will, has resulted in ICT’s not being regarded as a strategic investment priority at local government level:

9. Budget Issues • Aggregate budgets are easily skewed • Wide rage of Municipal ICT Budgets >R250 Million and < R50k. Source: ForgeAhead 2008

10. Skills Retention Low retention levels Attracting and retaining staff with scarce skills remains a critical challenge Source: ForgeAhead 2008

11. Connectivity ICT Household Penetration Source: AMPS, 2009 Household, BMI-T 2010

12. Financial Systems • Commonality (causality) between the financial management / accounting and ICT challenges for municipalities: • Capacity • Governance • Leadership involvement • Repeated use of consultants without skills transfer Information Systems Risks • The multiple financial systems poses a challenge for the provincial treasury and Accounting Standards Board Unreliable financial reporting • Multiple systems = increased risk or errors • Business Continuity • Service Level Agreements • Security (physical / environment controls) 14 difference systems in oneprovince • Common qualification areas • Inadequacy of fixed asset registers • Unreliable financial reporting • Non-compliance with regulatory requirements Auditor General MFMA audit outcomes 2008-09

13. Drivers of Change “it is estimated that up to 80 percent of citizen-government transactions take place at the local level” In terms of ICT, the Post 2011 LGTAS priorities: Each municipality has the necessary ICT infrastructure and connectivity ICT systems must be put in place across all municipalities to accelerate service delivery, improve efficiency and accountability South Africa now boasts almost 100% mobile phone penetration.

14. Where to begin… • Political support and oversight (governance) • Addressing budgets constraints • Investing in and retaining the “right” skills • Improved planning between IT and other departments • Standardising on defined business processes • Replacing outdated fiscal management & reporting systems • Managing partnerships with the private sector • Ensuring affordable connectivity & access • More effective ICT tendering and procurement • Leveraging all levers for economies of scale • Sharing peer to peer knowledge

15. The Role of SALGA SALGA mandate: • Representative of Local Government (Voice) • Advisor to municipalities • Profiling Local Government SALGA therefore becomes a platform for… • Consolidating local government policy perspective on ICT policy matters and lobbing National Government on such issues • Sharing experiences and providing guidance on good practices on ICT matters • Building capacity and awareness to best leverage ICT’s • Developing partnerships within, across and beyond Gov.

16. The Role of SALGA Approved resolutions at the SALGA NMA 2010: • Recognition that ICT’s can be better leveraged to effective administration, service delivery and socio-economic development and are therefore integral to the functioning of any well run municipality. • Raising the political and actual profile of ICT within local authorities (and down to the community level). • To mandate and capacitate SALGA to be an effective coordinator and champion in driving for more for effective use of ICT’s for and in local government.

17. Thank You