Mobilising ICT Applications and Projects for Effective Corporate, National and Regional Development

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Open Source and Free Software for eGovernment
Gbenga SesanAfrican Youth focal point for
FOSSFA, Nigeria Nigerias Information Technology
Youth Ambassador www.fossfa.org
me_at_gbengasesan.com www.gbengasesan.com
Mobilising ICT Applications and Projects for
Effective Corporate, National and Regional
DevelopmentThe Fifth Annual African Computing
Telecommunications SummitAbuja, NIGERIA. 27
August 2003.
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OVERVIEW

• eGovernment and Africas Response
• Open Source and Free Software in eGovernment
• Its NOT Just About TALKS
• Building Capacity for Sustainability

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eGovernment and Africas Response

• Governance has always been connected to the
  drivers of the economy of the day (and the New
  Economy is driven by ICTs)
• Efficiency of governance is strongly influenced
  by the medium of delivery
• Globally, governments are looking at better ways
  of meeting the peoples needs and Information and
  Communication Technologies (ICTs) are proving to
  be dynamic tools in governance
• Governance structures and models are aligning
  with the expectations and atmosphere of the
  21st century. Governance processes are
  electronically enabled in phases. E.g.
  government records, taxes, getting feedback from
  community, information dissemination,
  data/information gathering, elections,
  administration, etc
• Some African governments are responding to
  eGovernment with web presence, I(C)T policies and
  other actionable steps
• As at 2002, only 3 countries had no web
  presence. 2 had affiliated (diplomatic
  missions) web presence and others had between 1
  and 138 websites (www.uneca.org/aisi/nici/africago
  vinternet.htm)
• 3 (Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Somalia)
• 2 (Libya and Democratic republic of Congo)

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Open Source and Free Software in eGovernment

• Among the many considerations for effective
  governance, issues such as COST and ACCESS have
  always been top priority. Enthusiasts and
  experts highlight these two promises (cost and
  access) in the adoption of Open Source and Free
  Software in eGovernment
• Global trends reveal that Open Source and Free
  Software are highly considered as alternatives to
  proprietary software. Examples include
• Rhode Islands efforts in employing open source
  LAMP (Linux operating system, Apache web server,
  MySQL database and PHP, Perl or Python as
  programming language) as a technology development
  model (eGov Links website, www.egovlinks.com)
• Texas state Sen. John Corona introduced Bill SB
  1579, which would enable the state to consider
  open source technology in its software
  procurements (eWeek reports)
• EGOVOS endorses South Africas Open Source
  strategy (www.egovos.org/SouthAfricanStrategy.htm
  l)
• NITDA hosted the African workshop on open source
  and web technologies for development in order
  to reduce the costs of software implementations
  to optimise the limited bandwidth available in
  developing countries and adapt applications to
  local needs (www.nitda.org/events/wkshop/oswtd/wo
  rkshop.php)

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Its NOT Just About TALKS

• African governments must go beyond receiving
  seminar reports and take action with respect to
  the use of open source and free software in
  eGovernment
• Specific areas (among others) to consider are
• Commitment Statements and Policies will go a
  long way in providing the adequate environment
• Procurement A level filed should exist and
  selection should be made based on technical
  proficiency, without sentiments
• Process Management An organisation or
  specialised agency should be responsible to the
  government (without the usual bureaucratic
  bottle-necks)
• Implementation Phased implementation will
  prevent the cash now and crash later model that
  has bedeviled African government contracts
• Capacity The need to build capacity for the
  deployment of open source and free software in
  eGovernment cannot be over emphasised

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Building Capacity for Sustainability

• A nationwide survey should be conducted to
  understand the readiness level of the nation to
  deploy open source and free software in
  eGovernment
• Global trends and best practices should be
  monitored as this will help to understand what
  gaps exist and how much work needs to be done.
  Lessons from similar economies should be given
  priority
• The present workforce, especially the civil
  service should be empowered with the intended
  technology. (The private sector has its own way
  of dictating required skill sets)
• Young people who represent the hope for a
  sustained eGovernment MUST be equipped with
  appropriate tools. Beginning from what they study
  in schools to what theyre exposed to within the
  community, young people must be exposed to, and
  equipped for, the technology platform that will
  drive any nations eGovernment process
• Implementation MUST adopt a multi-stakeholder
  approach civil society, academia, private
  sector and special interest groups (women, youth,
  specially abled, etc) must be involved in the
  process

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Open Source and Free Software for eGovernment
THANK YOU
Gbenga SesanAfrican Youth focal point for
FOSSFA, Nigeria Nigerias Information Technology
Youth Ambassador www.gbengasesan.com
me_at_gbengasesan.com
Mobilising ICT Applications and Projects for
Effective Corporate, National and Regional
DevelopmentThe Fifth Annual African Computing
Telecommunications SummitAbuja, NIGERIA. 27
August 2003.