IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

Move aims to utilize information and communications technology to improve services and accessibility. “A set of strategic objectives, made possible by the facilitating role of ICT (information and telecommunication technology), backed by the necessary institutional and legal frameworks constitute the core of the program,” he said. Since its establishment in 1994, OMSAR has been entrusted with the task of managing the implementation of a comprehensive government and national ICT strategic development plan. The e-government strategy has been aligned with the OMSAR Administrative Reform Strategy which was approved in 2001, for the realization of effective government services through productive and ICT-skilled civil servants.

According to Khoury, the greatest benefit has been the increase in public administration efficiency, which was achieved by the implementation of modern ICT infrastructures. LANs (local area networks), PCs and office productivity applications in a majority of ministries and public administration offices have led to procedure simplification, performance improvement, planning and human capacity building. “Some 4,550 forms are currently available on ‘informs’, an online government information portal dedicated for citizens to complete their administrative formalities,” said Khoury. “Some 1,700 forms are for ministries and public agencies, and some 2,855 are for the governorates and municipalities. The portal is available on the internet as well as … through a hotline number ­ 1700.

” Khoury said that another achievement was the effective citizen-centric government, which provided for the fulfillment of all citizen-related public sector services online. These are available for individual or company use, either at a government office or through the internet, regardless of the geographical location of the office or residence of the citizen. Khoury said that data, once entered in the government information systems, should not require re-entry, since any citizen can use a single point of notification to inform the government of any change in personal or business information.

“The aim is to offer efficient services by reducing to a minimum the information and supporting documents required of a citizen … Currently it takes 46 different signatures to import a kilogram of coffee into Lebanon,” he said.

Khoury also announced that the design for a national ID or e-government smart card, with machine readable formats and biometrics security measures to support the reduction of data entry was already in the works.

“Work is under way to design government-wide data centers to tackle the elimination of re-entry data as the respective databases can be cross-referenced and checked at these centers,” he said. Efforts are also under way to create a wide area network to connect government offices, ministries and agencies, with their branch divisions. A national government wide area network is also being studied for implementation, he said.

“The aim is to establish a comprehensive intra-government information exchanges and communiques online … The objective is to greatly reduce, if not eliminate, the dependency on courier services and/or the diplomatic pouch for embassies abroad. A pilot project, linking the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Lebanese embassies, consulates and UNESCO mission in France over a secure network, is being tested,” he said.

Khoury called for continuous collaborative efforts from key stakeholders, government decision makers, pivotal civil servants, citizens and local and international IT providers to achieve the desired goals.

“OMSAR is also collaborating with the UNDP (United Nations Development Program) to identify national cross-sector ICT and, specifically socioeconomic development policies,” Khoury concluded. “The digital divide must be bridged,” he said.

Quelle: The Daily Star