Local Governance

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Local Governance ICTs Research Network for
Africa (LOG-IN Africa) Team Leaders' Meeting,
Entebbe, Uganda November 17-18, 2006
Makerere University Uganda
The International Development Research Centre
African Training and Research Centre in
Administration for Development

• First Project Progress Report
• By
• Faculty of Computing and IT
• Makerere University
• Uganda

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Introduction

• Progress report covers the period from June
  November 2006 (after the Methodological Workshop
  in Tangier)
• The research is a case study of DistrictNet
  Project whose general objective was to support
  the overall objective of the decentralisation
  programme by providing districts and lower
  councils with tools and infrastructure to handle
  increased responsibilities
• Initial focus was on e-Administration. E-Services
  now being introduced
• Piloted in four districts in all the regions of
  the country

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Objectives of Uganda Study (1)

• LOG-IN Africa general objective
• to inform, support and orient African countries
  in their policies concerning the application of
  ICTs as an element in local governance
• Specific Objectives at Makerere University
• Phase 1 objectives
• To establish the key factors necessary for
  successful implementation of e-governance
• To identify the challenges inhibiting effective
  implementation of e-local governance

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Objectives of Uganda Study (2)

• Phase 2 objective
• To assess the overall multidimensional aspects
  (political, social and economic) of ICTs on local
  governance with emphasis on business processes,
  service delivery, citizen participation and
  economic development New proposed framework
  provides all the 9 UNDP good governance
  characteristics under e-Administration,
  e-Services e-Citizens, e-Society, and local
  socio-economic development

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Activity Implementation Progress

• Desk Review and Refining the Framework
• Reconnaissance Visits to Study Districts
• Development of Research Tools
• Recruitment and Training of Field Interviewers

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1. Desk Review and Refining the Framework

• Uganda Team has continued with desk review of
  relevant literature sources
• Methodological Matrix updated as in Annex 1
  (indicating research areas, data to be collected,
  sources of data, data collection tools, data
  analysis techniques)

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2. Reconnaissance Visits to Study Districts

• Reconnaissance visits made to the study districts
  of Lira, Mbale, Mbarara and Kayunga during the
  months of September and October, 2006
• Objectives
• to obtain clearance from the district authorities
  for undertaking research in their areas
• to hold preliminary meetings with district
  officials involved in the implementation of the
  DistrictNet Project
• obtain initial picture regarding the status of
  the project
• undertaking sampling of the study communities,
  and
• identifying possible field interviewers.

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3. Development of Research Tools

• Four sets of research tools have been designed
• Methodological Matrix
• the interview guide for key informants (KIs) at
  district level
• individual questionnaire for community survey
• the focus group discussion (FGD) guide
• Questionnaires and other tools have been shared
  with the Uganda Research Partner in the network
  i.e., Ethiopia
• 50 questionnaires will be tested in the nearer
  district of Kayunga

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4. Recruitment and Training of Field
Interviewers

• 8 interviewers have been identified to administer
  individual questionnaires (at both the District
  and Sub-county headquarters 2 per study
  district)
• interviewers were locally recruited to ease the
  process of on-spot translation from English into
  the local languages
• Some of the interviewers have experiences of the
  DistrictNet project, and hence familiar with most
  of the ICT concepts being used
• the two Research Assistants will also conduct the
  FGDs and KIs interviews

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5. Current Status and the Way Forward

• Finalisation of the proposed Local E-Governance
  Conceptual and Methodological Framework
  (submitted by Prof Waema)
• Finalisation of data collection tools with input
  from the Team Leaders meeting (17-18 Nov 06)
• Further training of the interviewers on the
  methodological framework being developed
• Pre-testing of tools that have been stayed on
  advice of LOG-IN Africa Project Leader (until
  after Entebbe Meeting)
• Field data collection to commence after National
  Leaders Meeting in Entebbe

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Current Status and the Way Forward (2)

• Creating an Advisory Group comprising of the
  following
• National Coordinator, DistrictNet Project (from
  Local Government)
• Representative of Rural Communications
  Development Fund under the Uganda Communications
  Commission (Regulator)
• Ministry of Local Government (Government)
• Women of Uganda Network (Wougnet)( Civil Society)
• Information Society Foundation (Civil Society)
• Chairperson, ISP Association (Private Sector)
• The Advisory Group will among others
• Advise the National Research Team
• Provide a lobby and advocacy platform for the
  implementation of research recommendations

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THANK YOU