“For Botswana to flourish and prosper in the 21st century, we will need to become innovative users of ICT, and have a high performing government that is providing convenient and efficient electronic services to all of our citizens,” said Seretse Khama Ian Khama, President of the Republic of Botswana. “e-Government can help us achieve both of these objectives, and the 2011-2016 Strategy provides us with a pragmatic roadmap for getting there.”
The strategy outlines five major programmes and 25 interrelated projects that will “move all appropriate government services online”. Government laws, forms and policies will also be loaded onto thumbdrives or CDs in a project called ‘Government on a Stick’, similar to how Thailand is distributing curriculum to students and educators. Botswana will also consider creating the role of a Government Chief Information Office (GCIO).
“We are going to have to think differently, collaborate in new ways with colleagues, and accept new levels of authority and responsibility. We will all need to become more technically competent and learn a variety of new skills. We will have to clearly understand that we are in the business of service delivery—and not in the business of bureaucracy and red tape,” the strategy paper said.
- The Portal Enhancement Programme (PEP)
14 projects will be introduced in three phases over a five-year period. PEP will redesign the current e-government portal that has “the look of a rather dated government website”. This portal will be the primary service delivery medium for 300 government services and drive back-office systems integration. PEP will also be responsible for implementing a mobile government initiative that will become the “most prevalent location for engaging citizens in government surveys and poll”.
- The Multiple Access Programme (MAP)
This programme consists four projects that will assess the feasibility of a central government call centre; introduce government service centres across the country; standardise e-government service delivery through community access points called Kitsong Centres and Telecentres; and accelerate the introduction of direct ministry e-government services like The Passport Office, Motor Vehicle Registration, and the National Identity Card.
- The Technical Rationalisation and Integration Programme (TRIP)
The government’s technical infrastructure and IT management function will be extensively reviewed to make sure that the government has in place a high-performing, secure and trusted technical environment, and appropriate resources to maintain and enhance the various networks, systems and applications that support the e-government programme.
- Botswana’s e-Government, Service Transformation, Reform, Organisational & Network Governance (Be STRONG) Programme
The Permanent Secretary to the President will review and redesign the governance arrangements required to effectively move the national e-government programme forward over the next five years. The role of a Government Chief Information Officer (CIO) will be considered as part of the Be STRONG Programme, as will the strengthening of the e-Government Programme Management Office (PMO) which will be responsible for the day-to-day delivery and integration of the various e-Government programmes over the next five years.
- Skills Transformation in support of e-Government Programme (STEP)
The Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM), in conjunction with other government and private sector training and skills development institutions, will carry out a review of the skills and training requirements for the Botswana public service to function in an online environment. The review will start this year and a detailed training programme will be designed from 2012 to 2013, and civil servants, whether junior staff or middle and senior management, will undergo training from 2014.
“I will be a regular user of our e-Government services. I encourage everyone to join me online,” said Khama.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Xinghui Guo
Quelle/Source: futuregov, 10.06.2011
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