Sri Lanka funds ICT for rural development: The government of Sri Lanka is inviting communities to apply for the next round of funding under the e-Society Development Initiative. The e-SDI was set up three years ago with the aim of "closing the development divide between urban and rural areas" with the help of ICT-based projects. Some 120 projects have been initiated since the start of the programme, with funding going to state bodies, private sector organisations and NGOs. The most recent round of funding awarded grants to seven initiatives. Among these were a telemedicine pilot, to assist remote diagnosis and treatment of certain medical conditions; online video tutorials and examinations, to improve access to science education; videoconferencing facilities for entrepreneurs; and the establishment of business process outsourcing units, staffed by skilled local youth, in rural areas. The fifth round of e-SDI grants will be advertised in March 2008.
US makes savings through e-gov projects: The US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) claims that government agencies saved USD508 million in 2007 through implementing e-government initiatives, reports FCW.com. In an annual 'e-government benefits' study, the OMB said much of the savings came from agencies closing down 42 duplicate systems, and noted that officials expect departments to terminate 74 more systems in 2008. Overall, agencies are set to spend USD161.6 million on e-government and lines-of-business projects this year, down from USD165.2 million in 2007 and USD192.9 million in 2006. "The sole and primary goal of e-government is not to save money," said Tim Young, OMB's deputy administrator for e-government and information technology. "But we have demonstrated that we have saved money and improved services to citizens." Young cited another example of savings at the Treasury Department, which did not spend USD402,000 on travel management fees because it implemented a new e-travel system.
Bahrain plans more online services: The government of Bahrain has pledged to make 56 government services available online this year, reports the Gulf Daily News. Cabinet Affairs Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Ateyatala Al Khalifa said that by 2010, a total of 167 services for citizens and businesses would be brought online. He noted that 31 citizen services and 26 business services had been identified as 'high priority'. "Even though the [31 citizen] services represent 5 percent of the services offered to individuals, they bring in 50 percent of the total revenue of services provided by the government," said Shaikh Ahmed. Since the launch of the government's website in May 2007, 2.6 million visitors have logged in and carried out financial transactions in excess of BD1 million (around EUR1.75 million), he added. "Those transactions include paying electricity and water bills, traffic fines, Bahrain University fees and renewing identification cards." Councillor Rashid Al Sabt criticised the announcement, however, saying that 167 services by 2010 -- out of a total of 1,370 government services -- was not enough.
Bord Gais crowned Irish e-gov champion: Bord Gais and Cork City Council were the two big winners at the 2008 Irish eGovernment awards. At a ceremony in Dublin on 21 February, Bord Gais picked up two awards as it claimed the title of overall winner and the award for Best Commercial State Body for its website bordgaisenergysupply.ie. The website, which allows users to pay their bills and submit meter readings online, was described by the judges as being in most cases "superior to almost any other transactional website. It is intuitive, fully functional and of great benefit to both the organisation and to its customers." Cork City Council also had plenty to smile about as it took home two awards -- the Accessible Irish eGovernment Award and the eProject Management Award -- for accesscork.ie, which helps people with disabilities to identify accessible shops, restaurants, pubs, accommodation and entertainment venues in Cork city. For more on this story see ENN.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Sylvia Leatham
Quelle/Source: ElectricNews, 29.02.2008
