Suggested path to browse this website:

1. Read the notes and updates below.

2. Then go to the Left-hand side menu and browse: Digital Governance Concept, Generic Models and the 5 different models, Information Access and Flows, and the Geometry of Information Flows. Follow up with case-studies, network and other links.

3. Do not forget to sign for updates and do leave your feedback

UPDATE: Empowerment of Women through ICT-enabled Networks: Towards the optimum ICT-impact Model by Vikas Nath, Founder, Digital Governance Initiative [Published in Hafkin & Huyer (eds.) Cinderella or Cyberella: Empowering Women in Knowledge Society. Kumarian Press: Connecticut]

UPDATE: Breaking the Traditional Perception of Rural India: Information technology vision for rural India. By Vikas Nath [Published in Information for Development (i4d) Journal. Centre for Science, Development and Media Studies. February 2006]

UPDATE: Connecting Agricultural Sector through Electronic Governance Models and 2 Lessons:

When applied to the Agricultural Sector, electronic governance refers to the use of ICTs in delivering governance products and services which are of use to farmers or those working in the agrarian sector, including livestock breeders and herders, milk dairy workers, agriculture extensionists, agricultural traders, and NGOs working in the agriculture sector. And there are a range of governance products and services that are useful for the agrarian community to fulfil common needs of all developing countries: enhancing crop productivity, efficient cattle farm management, providing for national and household level food security, and conservation of bio diversity. Read More

UPDATE: Increasing "Public Value" of Information through E-Governance Models

There is no doubt that governments going online through websites has positive utilities. Yet it would be imprudent to state that -maintaining an online government presence has significantly enhanced the flow of government information of "value" to the public. Thus the need to enhance the "Public Value" of information - to understand the difference between information being provided and information of "value" to the public being provided by the governments. Read More

What is DIGITAL GOVERNANCE ?

Digital Governance is often referred as Egovernance, E-governance or Electronic Governance. In simple terms, it refers to governance processes in which Information and Communications Technology (ICT) play an active and significant role.

The role of ICT in Governance Sphere could be 4 fold:

• Improve quality of governance products and services being currently provided

• Provide new governance services and products

• Enhance participation of people in choice & provision of governance products & services

• Bring new sections of society under the governance sphere (including those who are most likeable to remain excluded - namely the poor, the illiterate, the differently abled, indigenous people, the migrants and displaced people)

In other words, it is WRONG to equate Digital Governance with simply digitalization, or automation of governance services. It is much more than that. Digital Governance has to be seen as a 'tool' for good governance and human development.

UPDATE: KEY LEARNINGS from the DigitalGovernance.org initiative

• E-governance has to be viewed as a political process dealing with reform of governance towards good governance. And governance reform is a slow process- requiring engaging with institutions & bringing about attitudinal and constitutional changes.

• Where political will exists, electronic governance can significantly catalyze the reform process towards good governance.

• In absence of political will, the impact of electronic governance models will be weak and may not lead to qualitative change in governance processes. In such cases, there will be far greater onus on civil society organizations to build strong citizens movement to either create a political will or to bring about a change in leadership. 

NOTE FROM THE FOUNDER, Digital Governance Initiative:

Digital Governance aims to study, design and propagate Electronic Governance (e-governance/ egovernance) Models. The focus of the DigitalGovernance.org Initiative is on developing countries where ICT can play a significant role in building accountable and democratic governance institutions. What is required is strategic application of knowledge and innovative use of available technology to provide governance services to all sections of the society. And the focus of electronic governance has to be on those who have mostly been marginalized of benefits of good governance.

E-Governance models described in this initiative are simple and suited for developing countries. They are based on innovative application of knowledge & technology. The idea is dual:

• bring more people under the governance sphere and,

• improve the services being provided under the governance sphere.

Vikas Nath 

 

Founder, DigitalGovernance.org and KnowNet.org Initiative

Inlaks Scholar (2000-1), London School of Economics, UK

 

Email: vikas.nath@gmail.com or v.nath-alumni@lse.ac.uk 

URL: http://www.vikasnath.org

comments and feedback:  vikas.nath@gmail.com   or  v.nath-alumni@lse.ac.uk  

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