Electronic government means different things to different people. Some observers have defined e-government in terms of specific actions: using a government office to receive information, applying for benefits through a website, or creating shared data bases for multiple agencies. For Rwanda, e-government is still at the stage of infancy and can only promise to evolve in due course. The Rwanda government is determined to ensure that its IT policy, which has been described as comprehensive, is implemented. However, there will be need for "e-readiness" in terms of infrastructure, accessibility to the population at large and the effect of the legal and regulatory framework. This is what Rwanda is attempting to do; and it is by no means a simple challenge.
To realise the fullest potential of e-government requires transformation, a new paradigm for government service delivery centred on the application of technology.
Like most governments, Rwanda's path to e-government will be evolutionary. The government's support for the e-government programme is part of the ICT-led Socio-Economic Development Policy and Plan for Rwanda ( NICI-Plan) toward achieving a knowledge-based economy as envisioned in the country's Vision 2020.
E-government strategy focuses on the evolution of existing systems and implementation of new ones in order to promote a variety of issues including portability, scalability and security.
Other components include: Capacity development, electronic transaction legislation, security issues and access plus networking in the public sector and addressing minimum technology standards on systems, hardware and software.
An electronic documentation centre, funded by the United Nations Development Programme, is already completed at the Kigali Institute of Science, Technology and Management. The centre will be the cornerstone in Rwanda's strategic plan for safekeeping and fast retrieval of vital documents and materials generated through the country's development.
Autor: Oscar Kimanuka
Quelle: AllAfrica, 27.06.2005
