The initiative will involve creating a master plan for e-governance in Myanmar and reviewing information technology capacity in the country’s academic institutions.
The deadline for applications was August 8 and this week the shortlisted companies will be asked to submit proposals within 20 days.
Official government approval for the initiative is yet to be received but ADB spokesperson Karen Palmer said companies are being invited to apply now so work on the project can begin in September, by which time the project should be approved.
“While waiting for the government’s approval of the technical assistance we are advertising the consulting firm selection for two of the three [project] outputs,” Ms Palmer said. “Negotiations and selection of firms is likely to happen in September-October.”
The development of e-governance will support the government’s efforts to revive and upgrade sectors of the economy so they can better compete on the global stage, the project description said.
“One of the key issues facing the government as it seeks to introduce ICT systems to help strengthen performance of public services is the lack of a coherent and systematic approach to the design, evaluation and adoption of such systems,” it said.
The ADB said this means there is a danger that e-governance will develop on an “ad-hoc basis”, particularly given many donors are offering support for ICT development to government ministries.
Presidential adviser Aung Tun Thet said that while the government had introduced an e-government system into ministries last year it has not yet “reached the level we want”.
This inter-ministerial task force to streamline the bureaucracy is headed by a minister in the President’s Office and includes deputy ministers from a range of ministries. Its initial focus is on economic-related sectors, including trade, investment, electricity and communications.
“The Myanmar Ministry of Communication and Information Technology is leading the e-government project and we hope to develop it further in the future,” he said.
He added that government working practices are changing to involve fewer people and rely more heavily on technology. Budget support is being made available to assist that process, he added.
IT specialist U Zaw Naing, managing director of Mandalay Technology, said earlier efforts at e-government had failed to make much progress because of a lack of ICT infrastructure, poor implementation and the mindset of government officials.
He said the “good news” is that the infrastructure issue is being addressed and that continuity in government had improved.
“We should not be pushing things on and off, and doing things as and when the boss commands it. We need steady enforcement, steady improvement and continuous [implementation],” U Zaw Naing said.
“Our experience has been that when a government leader or a minister or a prime minister changes, the projects he had developed are put aside … [and] the momentum is lost.”
He said changing the mindset of government employees was difficult but necessary because e-governance is about improving service delivery.
“They should be serving the public … instead of being a burden to the public.”
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Shwe Yee Saw Myint
Quelle/Source: Myanmar Times, 11.08.2013
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