The use and application of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in re-engineering the way government provides services to citizens has been explored at some length. We now take a look at how technology can be utilized in the process of governance itself.

Governance refers to the exercise of political, economic and administrative authority in the management of a country's affairs, including citizens' articulation of their interests and exercise of their legal rights and obligations. E-governance may be understood as the use and application of information and communications technologies to strengthen and forge a stronger relationship between government and the people and in addition to support the establishment of an environment whereby accountability and transparency are facilitated and the achievement of good governance thereby significantly enhanced.

E-governance is generally considered as a wider concept than e-government, since it can bring about a change in the way citizens relate to governments and to each other by promoting new concepts of citizenship in terms of both citizen needs and responsibilities. Its objective is to engage, enable and empower the citizen.

Why e-Governance?

E-governance enhances good governance which is characterized by citizen participation in the affairs of government and transparency and accountability by officials engaged in the process of government itself. In this regard, many countries have noted recent advances in information and communication technologies particularly the Internet and the opportunities these technologies provide to develop a relationship between governments and citizens that can contribute to the achievement of good governance goals.

Initiatives tried by countries

On-line discussion groups

Government sponsored discussion groups have been widely used in some countries to encourage involvement of citizens in the process of government decision-making at all levels. This facility can be seen as a useful extension of more traditional methods of feedback such as letters to the editor. There are however additional technological benefits from using this method namely enabling quick and rapid response from the various participants and contributors and the ability to obtain an automatic comprehensive electronic record of the discussion and the various views that have been expressed. Readers can see an excellent example of the use on-line facilities to encourage citizen discussions and views by visiting the e-Reach portal of the Government of Singapore at their website http://app.reach.gov.sg/ reach/ default.aspx.

On-line polls

ICTs provide an easy platform to conduct quick polls to ascertain citizen views on current issues of import. Governments generally assume that the rights granted to them through the vote translates into automatic citizen approval of everything that they do. This is not so and politicians should always be cautious in uttering statements such as " the majority of people in this country want ……" since in most cases they have taken no steps to determine what indeed the majority of people really want or how they feel. An on-line poll can often provide a quick guide to test the pulse of the citizenry and thereby provide useful input into decision-making that is of course, if such input is in fact really desired.

Providing electronic government services

Implementation of e-government services such as on-line provision of government information, public documents, legal documents and processing of requests for certificates, permits and licenses contributes in a great way to lessening corruption and enhancing transparency. Automated computer based applications require minimal levels of human interaction and this greatly reduces opportunities for corrupt functionaries to demand bribes and other forms of consideration from citizens who require these services.

High rankng government people when addressing complaints about corruption usually make shrilly but unconvincing protestations about requiring proof before action can be taken. Such proof is seldom easy to obtain on account of the way these transactions are enacted. Automation therefore is an excellent way for progressive governments to deal with problems of corruption by limiting avenues where dishonesty can proliferate through these illicit acts transacted in secret most times with the unwilling complicity of hapless clients who generally feel they have no option.

We will explore these concepts a little further next time and see how they enable countries to empower their citizens and to enhance and promote good governance.