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Search by Keywords: Advanced Search Sign-up here! Subscription is free and allows you to receive email newsletters, alerts, and to access a comprehensive member directory and network with other development professionals. Sign-up here About this Report This Special Report provides a multi-sectoral perspective about public sector transparency. Participating in this Special Report are our online communities focused on: Afghanistan Reconstruction Aid Effectiveness Business Environment Civic Engagement Culture E-Government Environment Foreign Direct Investment Gender Governance HIV/AIDS Indigenous Issues Information and Communication Technologies Iraq: Relief and Recovery Knowledge Economy Non-Governmental Organizations Poverty Trade Urban Development Water Resources Management Youth for Development     Our next Special Report "Aid Harmonization: What Will It Take to Meet the MDGs?" coming in July 2005. Become a Development Gateway member, and you will be notified of our upcoming reports. Sign-up! See previous Special Reports here Special The requested resource (/editor/default/) is not availableReport The requested resource (/editor/default/) is not available From Our Members Are e-government expenses justified? E-government is perceived by many as almost a panacea for transparency. Still, important concerns have been raised by development professionals worldwide: if not managed properly, implementing e-government solutions can become a “smoke screen” for real-life transparency problems. In this regard, many questions need to be answered by the development community: A Development Gateway survey asked our users: To what extent are e-government solutions a justified expense and an effective measure for achieving transparency? Who bears the cost of implementing e-government solutions? Here is what our members had to say: Dr. D.C. Misra Ultimately it is the citizen who will, and does, bear the cost of implementing e-government solutions. Traditionally, governments always had access to, and deployed the best available technologies of the time. E-government is, however, different. Being supply-driven in developing countries (unlike the developed countries where it is demand-driven), the private sector has to share the cost of implementation of e-government solutions in public-private partnership mode. As to the cost, the word "always" is again troublesome as no absolute statement can be made in this regard. Speaking generally, however, such cost is justified if proper e-government solutions are implemented. Citizen satisfaction with public service delivery itself is a "big benefit" in any cost-benefit analysis of e-government implementation. The problem with e-government is that it is not being properly appreciated in developing countries, that is, how it can revolutionize governance and thus enhance the well being of its citizens. Mpumi Bikitsha Government, through taxpayers' money, should bear the cost of e-government. E-government projects should be commissioned with a very clear mind as to what the expected outcomes should be the problem with all government projects rears its head at the implementation stage, where everyone thinks they can make a quick buck either by pushing consultants of their own choice at the detriment of whatever tender processes were in place, obviously with the hope of cutting a slice of the big cake. That's where most projects collapse and, in that case, they cease to be justifiable in terms of cost effectiveness. Vikas Kanungo The best model in my opinion is a public, private, society partnership in bearing the cost as all are equal stakeholders and beneficiaries of the e-government projects. However, the cost for building the requisite infrastructure may be born by the government in the first phase to facilitate the development of e-government projects. The cost of such projects is not always justified as the factors that influence the cost are dependent of influence from many stakeholders. I have this specific experience in India where the funding agency wanted the cost of a project to be scaled up 5 times as they were not interested in funding the smaller project. The applicant govt. agency in this case had to scale up the operations of the project against the actual needs of the project. Mohit Bhattacharya E-government is very fashionable among higher and middle class communities. The poor would always be kept out of the loop for lack of knowledge, access, and 'class capture' of new devices. Initially, a culture of e-governance needs to be spread through government initiative. When people would come to appreciate and benefit from this method, some social funding can be expected. Khalil Alsharjabi Society is followed by the international community. However, the cost is justified as it brings changes into the realm of the people's daily lives and could plant the root of advancement, equality and transparency. It revolutionizes backward and ignorant societies. Subhransu Tripathy The cost of implementing e-government must be charged equally from the individuals, who are interested to access the information. But initially, the cost could be borne by the organization. This cost is justified, because it helps to reduce corruption and has many externalities. Roy Joseph As a strong proponent of ICT for Development, my position is that, properly implemented and costed, e-government can deliver the same results at less cost; do more with equivalent person-power as before; vastly expand the scope of government interventions to foster development; and be far more effective in its functioning. Graham Douglas As with all other goods and services, public or otherwise, the cost of implementing e-government solutions is borne by end-consumers/citizens. The way to ensure this cost is always justified to ensure e-government solutions which reflect the changing needs and wants of end-consumers/citizens. This will involve a change to a bottom-up model for organizations and their governance from the prevailing top-down, hierarchical, command and control model. Sardar Taimur Hyat-Khan For a developing country without widespread electronic usage, the costs have to be borne by the central government. This cost can only be justified if transparency is assured. Amitadyuti Kumar Ultimately it is the taxpayers, because they The requested resource (/editor/default/) is not availableprovide the infrastructure, initial and running capital. The cost of e-governance shall have to be borne by the citizen, either in the form of enhanced product cost or in the form of accumulated loss. However in the long run it is cost effective and, as a better mode of management and enhanced capacity utilization, it is a meaningful investment. Seema Arif The public bears the cost, because good governance will benefit public...and if even one is learning to make better decisions, the cost is justified. The requested resource (/editor/default/) is not available Email this page Sign-up Quick Poll From Our Members How did Development Gateway members respond to our Public Sector Transparency Survey questions? How best can developing countries achieve public sector transparency? Does civil society involvement always lead to better outcomes? Transparency: The next generation of government reform Daniel Kaufmann, Director of Global Programs at the World Bank Institute Read NGOs promote transparency through rewarding excellence Rhoda Kadalie, executive director of South Africa’s Impumelelo Innovations Award Trust Read How media pluralism advances government transparency Wijayananda Jayaweera, director of UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development Communication Read Points of View: Government Read what government officials from Bolivia, Guatemala, and Tanzania say about public sector transparency. Read and comment Points of View: Civil Society What role does civil society play in advancing transparency in Bangladesh, Georgia, Romania, and Tanzania? Read and comment Points of View: E-Government How do online government tools promote transparency? Hear from e-government leaders from across sectors. Read and comment In Numbers How does global transparency measure up? Charts and graphs on how transparency measures up. 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