Handbook on gender, ICT policy and e-government in Africa

Abstract

The Africa Information Society Initiative (AISI) has identified the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to enhance government efficiency and service delivery as one of the key challenges facing many African countries. E-government involves the use of ICTs for this purpose, to make governments more accountable, transparent, effective and responsive to citizens’ demands; and is based on a citizen-centred approach that tailors services to people’s needs rather than to the needs of the agency delivering them. The purpose of e-government is to enhance access to and delivery of government services to benefit citizens. This involves increasing the effectiveness and transparency of governance to better manage a country’s social and economic resources for development. Long-term, organization-wide strategies to constantly improve operations will result in: