Fighting Poverty and Accelerating Socioeconomic Development in Poorer Countries - Coursework Example

Assignment: Management Essay Task: How does e-government serve as a tool for fighting poverty and accelerating socioeconomic development in poorer countries? Review e-government literature and identify a few e-government projects that have shown promising results in this regard. What lessons would you like to draw based on the experience of these projects? Student’s Name: Student number: Name of the unit: Unit Code: Unit coordinator: Introduction Electronic government otherwise commonly referred to as e-government involves a government advancing services to its citizens, businesses and government agencies electronically (Soliman and Affisco 2006, p. 5). According to Scholl (2015, p. ix), e-government is the use of information and communication technologies that is ICT tools to aid in government functions and service and to help citizens in their participation in political processes. Information and communication technology is in an increasing rate becoming a necessity for driving the economic growth of developing countries. This is because they serve as important sources of information for developing countries and such tools include mobile phones, internet based applications, e.g. electronic mails, interactive video and CD-ROM programmes as well as radio and television. These tools accelerates the flow of information thus enabling economic activities to be carried out faster and efficiently since economic agents get the information in time and accurate information for that matter (Maumbe and Okello 2013, p. 114). The rapid adoption and use of information and communication technologies by business enterprises, civil society, private institutions and governments has seen rapid socio-economic development in the global arena. It has fostered more efficient and global linkages between governments, businesses and citizens. People’s livelihoods have been transformed through the creation of “information societies” and “knowledge societies” which has seen the increase in both the effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of public service, business performance, global communications and the participation of citizens in governance and policy development (Maumbe and Okello 2013, p. 114). This essay will look at how e-government has enabled the fight against poverty and acceleration of socio-economic development showcasing some of the e-government projects that have had tremendous success. E-Government and poverty Alleviation In developing countries, the use of information and communication technologies provides an opportunity for the alleviation of poverty. Poverty is the lack of what is considered to be the minimum requirement for an individual or household to sustain a livelihood in a given society (Maumbe 2009, p. 21). Poverty is multidimensional and extends beyond the perimeters of lack of food and income to include lack of access to goods, nutrition, opportunities, political freedom and equal rights. ICT use has had an important role to play as a tool for alleviating poverty in that its use increases opportunities for the poor to access markets and hence increase their incomes and assets. It also enhances empowerment and through better co-ordination in the provision of basic needs and the removal of social barriers by institutions and agencies of the state. ICT use also improves the security of poor people by improved access to micro-finance and world markets (Maumbe 2009, pp.23-26). ICT does this by enhancing the flow of information communications enabling developing countries to gain access to global markets and create conditions that enhance economic growth (Adera et al. 2014, pp. 9-12). The use of ICT tools can also enhance social inclusion by becoming facilitating factors that link social, economic and wellbeing by improving communications and networking. It also fosters inclusion by information processing and dissemination, promoting economic inclusion and building of social capital. ICTs enables the poor to learn new production strategies and technologies, access accurate market information at a faster rate, and keep in regular contact with peers and other social and economic contacts (Adera et al. 2014, pp. 9-12). The use of ICTs also facilitates the access of timely information by relevant government agencies and other bodies to combat hunger. ICTs have also been used during humanitarian emergencies in Africa as a tool for monitoring and managing procurement, storage and distribution of essential food to combat hunger. ICTs are also being used to aid and enhance poverty monitoring, mapping and assessments by use of geographic information systems to enhance timely and informed decision making in order to minimise or prevent the impact of poverty and hunger among poor communities (Adera et al. 2014, p. 19). E-government and Agriculture Governments have embraced the use of information and communication technologies in fostering success in agriculture otherwise what is commonly called e-agriculture. Agriculture is a very important industry especially for developing countries. The contribution of agriculture to development heavily depends on the generation and dissemination of new agricultural technologies and most of which are information intensive (Maumbe 2009, p. 21). Food insecurity, poverty, malnutrition, environmental degradation and state failure are trends that need to be slowed down and reversed. One of the major ways of achieving this end is through the agricultural sector and the strengthening of ICT use within this sector. The use of ICT in this sector has already seen reduced transaction costs, increased producer incomes and increased rural participation (Belden and Birner 2010, p. 314). Computers and electronic based mechanisms are now being utilised to collect, arrange and process information in an automated way to control and manage agricultural production and marketing. Some of the projects that have had breakthroughs in the use of e-government include among others the use of ICT to manage risks. Case in point is the use of satellite images by ILRI (International Livestock and Research Institute) in Kenya. ILRI established index-based livestock insurance to extend insurance to 3 million pastoralists in Northern Kenya whose livestock were at the risk of dying whenever drought sets in. satellite images that captures the amount of vegetation on the ground are used to assess the magnitude of damage. Payments and premiums are collected by a rural agent through point-of- sale systems (Belden and Birner 2010, p. 320). This approach has reduced logistical costs as satellite images and point-of-sale systems ensures that government workers have no longer have to travel to remote locations. Satellite images improve the capacity to accurately assess and analyse damages and creates opportunities for long term data collections. This adoption of ICTs will also ensure that corruption is eliminated or does not have room because of the digitalized process which also monitors financial transactions prevent losses by government and producer (Belden and Birner 2010, p. 320). In the Dominican Republic ICT has been utilised in the management of irrigation systems where digital orthophoto quads are used in aiding the government and local communities to manage and respond to problems of maintenance, canal structuring, drainage, system monitoring and payment. This digitalization in irrigation management helps reduce time spent in the field in monitoring and evaluation. The digital orthophoto quads collect data to help public agencies plan and implement better functioning irrigation systems. These systems can also be used to foretell anticipated water challenges making users to be more active in irrigation networks. It also indicates to public agencies the people and areas most hit by water challenges and with this information public agencies can adjust so as to target those areas with fewest water sources in order to better their farming hence high returns (Belden and Birner 2010, p. 320). ICT has also been utilised in land administration in Indonesia. Through the Indonesian National Land Agency, there has been the creation of SMS-based property inquiry service and a remote titling program dubbed the People’s Land Title Service (LARASITA). The service makes use of a vehicle with a wireless connectivity laptop and has enabled the people of Indonesia access land services, especially titles which has enhanced agricultural productivity since possessing a title deed serves as an incentive to farmers to invest more and in a permanent orientation on their farms. It has also reduced the costs of having to travel to the main city to register property. It has also reduced the time taken to register properties as this does not involve a lot of paper work because it is simply entering information into a computer connected to the central database. It has seen more people access land and make better use of the land even in remote areas. It provides accountability and reduces discrimination and also capable of raising red flags if illegal processes are utilised in the acquiring of land (Belden and Birner 2010, p. 320). Statistics from ICT-based market information services (MIS) projects from Kenya that is the Drum Net and Kenya agricultural Commodity Exchange (KACE) charged with the responsibility of linking farmers to better markets by the development of online forums where farmers can obtain information saw the increase of farmer incomes due the adoption of the technology (Maumbe and Patrikakis 2013, pp.23-24). E-government, e-governance and service provision In South Africa and Kenya, the interactions between the government, businesses and citizens changed for the better when e-governance was adopted in 2001 and 2007 respectively. The establishment of e-governance in South Africa was propelled by a restless society unhappy at the way the government was advancing public service to its citizens, thus the government of South Africa established e-governance to change the way it interacts with its citizens. In Kenya e-governance was adopted to facilitate quick delivery of services being part of the social reforms to enhance the access to public services by citizens. The e-government has aided several developing countries in improving the quality of their public services by making quick, dependable and available in real time and citizen centred (Maumbe and Okello 2013, p. 114). In both South Africa and Kenya the adoption of e-governance has so far seen increased access to government services to the citizens. Case in point being forms and job applications and announcements are accessible for free online; one can also check the status of the processing of their passports, driving licences and passports. Citizens through the use of e-government can also access the performance of their parliamentary representatives online. And individual can access his or her credit status from the comfort of their homes (Maumbe and Okello 2013, p. 114). In Kenya all students having taken the Kenya National examinations can check for their results online or through a mobile phone service. This enables quick access to results at reduced costs. A Kenyan citizen can also register as a taxpayer online and fill in tax returns online. Job vacancies can also be accessed through an online platform (MICT 2015). The use of ICT tools enhance and fosters community based decision making, governance by reducing or completely doing away with social, economic and geographical barriers to access to information and effective community based interaction and communication. This is enabling the poor to get information and hence take part in decision making process which can improve their economic lives thereby elevating them from poverty and hunger. A good example is the Nakaseke Multipurpose Community Telecentre Project in Uganda which provides rural communities with ICT resources such as CD-ROM, telephone, e-mail, internet and print video. The project has empowered the community and has positively impacted on the social and economic lives of the communities it serves which include primary and secondary schools, a university, a teacher training college, hospitals, local administration, businesses, farmers, women and youth groups and the general public (Dzidonu 2010, p. 19). E-government and gender equality and women empowerment Several African states have put in place ICTs and gender policies which have resulted in reduction in gender disparities. For instance, Ghana has had a comprehensive ICT and gender implementation strategy which has seen the mainstreaming of gender in such areas as agriculture, education, health, private sector development, decision making, security, law and order among others. For instance, Rwanda has started many programs that has been addressing gender inequalities using ICTs. Several other African countries have also implemented specific projects targeting the use of ICT to empower women which include the use of internet by businesswomen in the textile industry in Doula Cameroon, the engagement of Ugandan women in using mobile pay business in order to empower them economically, the use of ICT to fight gender violence in Morocco, women fishmongers being empowered by use of mobile phones in Dakar, Senegal. (Dzidonu 2010, p. 24). Most developing countries have also adopted the use of ICT in education where digital content is produced in CD-ROM and distributed to schools and colleges to be used to enhance learning. The use of ICT in schools in Kenya has had profound effects on education which include rapid expansion of knowledge, improved examination outcomes, increased communication and technical efficiency as well as decentralization of implementing education services. It has also enabled students to obtain skills and competencies that are important for them in global knowledge economy (MOE 2006, p. 11). In the awarding of tenders, e-government through the initiatives of e-procurement and e-tendering platforms has gone a long way in ensuring that there is no biasness in the awarding of tenders and has to some extent eliminated the possibility of bribing government officials in order to influence their decision in the award of tenders. This saves time and reduces the costs of carrying out government functions. E-banking and e-payment systems also ensure that corruption is avoided when the government is advancing payments to contractors (Kumar 2015, p. 7). From these projects that have embraced the use of ICTs a few lessons can be drawn from the use of ICT in alleviating poverty and facilitating socio-economic development. One such important lesson that can be drawn is that the use of ICT in service provision by governments makes the same government to be more accountable to its citizens. This is because the process and information about service delivery is available for all to access. The government is transparent in its undertakings. And a transparent government is automatically made accountable and responsible (Kumar 2015, p. 7). E-government also ensures that the information available to citizens is increased. The accessibility of government information to its citizens is enhanced through the use of ICT affording the citizens an important resource in making decisions the will economically and socially impact on their lives. This accessibility of information can also be a platform for professionals to monitor the quality of their own service (Kumar 2015, p. 6). Through e-government, a government becomes more efficient. Governments become more productive because much of the attention of its employees is directed towards critical activities of the government and routine inquiries and lesser critical activities are dealt with electronically. An e-government has an increased esteem in the face of its citizens. E-government ensures that doing business with the government becomes easier and accessing information from it becomes enhanced. This improves the citizens’ perception of the responsiveness and relevance of the government (Kumar 2015, p. 6). To its citizens e-governance promises economical and convenient service since there is no need of travelling long distances to access services because this platform brings public services to its citizens on their schedule and venue. Citizens access government services at their homes without foregoing a day’s work to travel to get a service. It ensures equity as anyone can be services without discrimination (Kumar 2015, p. 6). For businesses e-government ensures better conformity to government regulations by businesses. It also reduces the time required to setting up of business because e-government reduces the red tape associated with government undertakings. It also helps businesses to be carried out online through e-business and e-commerce (Kumar 2015, p. 7). E-government also ensures that the cost of doing business by the government is reduced because paper based communication requires a lot of stationery, printers etc. which calls for heavy expenditure. ICT makes communication cheaper saving valuable money for the government which can be used for other development projects (Kumar 2015, p. 7). Conclusion In conclusion, e-government has improved the way the government advances it services to citizens and businesses by making government easily accessible. Citizens get the information faster at the touch of a button and at the comfort of their homes without having to travel long distances and enduring long queues in order to receive government services. Setting up of business has become easier with e-government and corruption has lost its place in e-governance ensuring more development and alleviation of poverty. Through use of ICT citizens, governments and businesses get access information about business opportunities and markets which enhance economic revival hence alleviation of poverty. References Adera et al.(eds.) 2014, ICT pathways to poverty reduction: Empirical evidence from East and Southern Africa, Practical Action Publishing, Warwickshire, UK, pp. 9-19 Belden, C and Birner, R 2010, Strengthening rural governance, institutions and citizen participation using ICT, pp. 314-320, viewed 27 May 2015, https://www.ictinagriculture.org/sites/ictinagriculture.org/files/final_Module13.pdf Dzidonu, C 2010, An analysis of the role of ICTs to achieving MDGs, working paper, United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs, Accra, pp. 19-24. Kumar, TMV (ed.) 2015, E-governance for smart cities, Springer Science+ Business Media, Singapore, pp. 6-7. Maumbe, BM 2009, E-agriculture and e-government for global policy development: Implications and the future directions, Information Science Reference, New York, pp. 21-26. Maumbe, BM and Okello, JJ 2013, Technology, sustainability and rural development in Africa, Information Science Reference, New York, p. 114. Maumbe, BM and Patrikakis, CZ (eds.) 2013, E-agriculture and rural development: Global innovations and future prospects, Information Science Reference, New York, pp. 23-24. MICT 2015, E- services, viewed 27 May 2015, http://www.information.go.ke/?cat=39 MOE 2006, ICT in education, viewed 27 May 2015, http://www.education.go.ke/Documents.aspx Scholl, HJ (ed.) 2015, E-government: Information technology and transformation, Routledge, New York, p. ix. Soliman, KS and Affisco, JF 2006, E-government, Business Process Management Journal, vol 12, no. 2, pp. 1-67. Read More