Designing e-Government for the Poor - Tanzania Development ...

64
Summary of Country Reports
servants per one computer in state agencies. As of May 2003, only 3 per
cent of computers belonging to state agencies are connected to the Internet.
Issues that need to be addressed are lack of access to the Internet for
governmental agencies, insufficient level of ICT training for managers,
insufficient development of databases in departments, incompatible technologies
and software used in departmental and regional office work, lack
of clear-cut regulations. Future plans include Intranet of state agencies,
securing full participation of all state agencies and local authorities, approve
and develop a programme to introduce electronic and Internet technology.
O. Viet Nam
Viet Nam is in the initial stages of expanding ICT access and usage.
A permanent countrywide network was established in November 1997. The
network connects 61 provinces, cities, and nearly 40 ministries and governmental
offices. ICT in Viet Nam recorded a 29 per cent growth rate in
2003. Computerized management is available in 50 per cent of domestic
enterprises, but only 30 per cent of businesses have Internet access.
Approximately half of Viet Nam’s government ministries have their own
web sites, but information is not updated regularly. Approximately 52 out
of 64 provinces have operating web sites, but only five of these have twoway
interactive communication. More than 300 out of 6,776 post offices in
communes across the country are connected online. Currently, 7.9 per cent
of the population uses the Internet, and the rate of penetration is below
1.85 per cent. Although efforts are being made to strengthen the IT sector,
numerous challenges remain. The infrastructure remains underdeveloped, a
definition of e-government has yet to be established, government officials
and citizens lack training and IT knowledge, and capacity is still low. In
the future, Viet Nam plans to spend D 20 billion to facilitate the establishment
of an Internet-based network, and streamline administrative procedures.
By 2010, the government plans to handle many of its administrative
services online, with a web site for every state agency.