1. Data collection on e-government in Arab countries
4th Meeting of the Working Group on
E-Government and Administrative Simplification
(Tunis, 29 May 2008)
Data collection on e-government in Arab countries
Marco Daglio
Administrator
Governance for Development Initiative in Arab countries
OECD

2. Why data collection on e-government?
Clear overview of progress made
Self-assessment of existing challenges and identifiation of directions for change
Provide evidence-based input to decision makers
Illustrate good experiences and practices that can be shared among Arab countries

3. Approach with data collection
Start small..
country presentations
country questionnaire
booklets on thematic seminars
E-procurement
5 countries
Portals
2 countries
Measurement and Evaluation
12 countries

4. What do we know ? Overview of available data (as of March 2007)
Data on readiness
Data on access
Data on inputs
Data on processes
Data on outputs
Data on outcomes
Algeria √
Bahrein
Dubai
Egypt
Jordan
Lebanon
Lybia Na
Mauritania
 Na
Morocco
Oman *
PNA
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Sudan
Syria
Tunisia
Yemen
UAE
..BUT WHAT ABOUT DATA
ON E-GOVERNMENT
FRAMEWORKS ?
- coordination / collaboration
legislative / regulatory
budgetary
technical ..
Legenda
*work in progress
Data on readiness: e.g. statistics on digital divide, IT education of the population, etc.
Data on access: e.g. number of computer per household, broadband penetration, etc.
Data on inputs: e.g. cost of IT hardware
Data on processes: e.g. time saved by process automation
Data on outputs: e.g. number of services online
Data on outcomes: e.g. level of satisfaction of e-government users

5. Data on e-government frameworks (1): distribution of e-government portfolios
1. Minister with specific responsibility for IT
2. Minister of Finance
3. Minister with responsibility for public administration
4. Ministerial Board/Committee/ Council or shared ministerial responsibility
5. Unit/group created by or in the executive office
6. Minister within the executive office
Jordan
PNA
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Oman*
Egypt
Lebanon
Morocco
Tunisia
Bahrain*
Qatar*
Sudan*
Kuwait*
*Notes:
In Oman, the Information Technology Authority (ITA) has responsibility for e-government. It is an autonomous body affiliated with the Minister of National Economy. It has both financial and administrative independence in its operations.
In Bahrain, the Supreme Committee for Information and Communication Technology (SCICT) is responsible for e-government in the Kingdom. The Committee is chaired by H.H the Deputy Prime Minister and consists of a panel of key Cabinet ministers.
In Qatar, a Supreme Council for Information and Communication Technologies has responsibility for e-government development.
In Sudan, the National Information Centre (NIC) has been created within the Ministry of the Council of Ministers to establish a national information policy and develop use of ICT in government
In Kuwait, a central body called the Central Agency for Information Technology has been created under the leadership of the Minister of State for the Council of Ministers Affairs.
In Dubai, the eGovernment Unit reports to the Dubai Ruler’s office

6. Data on e-government frameworks (2): Legislative and regulatory
E-transaction /
E-signature
Processing and protection of personal data
Security
E-commerce
E-procurement
Bahrain
The eCommerce Law lays down the foundation for electronic transactions and e-commerce (through recognition of digital signature and other forms of contracting and transaction over the Internet).
Dubai
Law on Electronic Transactions and Commerce N.2/2002
Egypt
E-Signature Law No. 15, regulates and formalises the use of electronic transactions, guaranteeing that they are accorded the same legal merit as paper transactions
Egyptian Procurement Law n. 89 issued, sets the framework for procurement.
Lebanon
Law on electronic transaction has been drafted (currently under scrutiny by the Parliament)
Saudi Arabia
E-transaction Law
Cyber Crime Law
Tunisia
Loi n° du 9 août 2000, relative aux échanges et au commerce électroniques. Loi n° du 13 Décembre 2000 modifiant et complétant le code des obligations et contrats qui a introduit les notions de document et signature électronique en leur conférant la force probante.
La loi organique n° du 27 juillet 2004, portant sur la protection des données à caractère personnel.
La loi n° du 3 février 2004 relative à la sécurité informatique.
Loi n° du 9 août 2000, relative aux échanges et au commerce électroniques.

7. Data on e-government frameworks (3): measurement and evalution
Yes, Some measurement and evaluation activities are conducted at
National level
sectoral level
ministry/agency level
e-government program/unit level
project level
Algeria √
Bahrein
Dubai
Egypt √R
Jordan
Lebanon
Lybia
Mauritania
Morocco
Oman
PNA
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Sudan
Syria
Tunisia
Yemen
UAE

8. Data on e-government frameworks (4): national e-government portals
Name
Data of establishment
Portal functions
Number of public services* provided online
Type of public services* provided online
number of public services* provide online accessible through the portal
portal personalisation
portal usability and branding
User authentication, security and privacy
URL
LEBANON
Lebanese Government Portal for Information and Forms
2001
GR, IS, SP 4
job search services; personal documents (passport/drivers license); application for building permission; registration of a new company
change of colors of general layout; folders creation and management; web links organisation; automatic filling of feedback and contact forms with user informations saved in user profile database
OMSAR promotes use of common web publishing standards (pre-defined templates and layouts) to ensure consistency of govenrment websites with national portal.
Not yet in place
TUNISIA
Tunisian E-government Portal (Bawaba)
2005
information - forms - procedures - services online 15
income taxes, job search services, social security benefits, car registration, appllication for building permission; public libraries, certificates, enrollement in higher education; health-related services, social contribution for employees, VAT, registry of a new company, custom declarations, environment related permits, public procurement
presentation by category of users (citizens, business and Tunisians abroad); services classified by topics corresponding to citizens'interest (political life, family, employment and trainign at work, teaching and scientific research, health environment and social security, investment and privatisation; finance, economic sectors, ICT, administrative businesses
for certain services that require authentication, electronic certificate is needed to self authentification and signature
Legenda:
IS: provide information on services (e.g. availability online/offline, organisation responsible for delivery, fees, estimated time of completion), administrative procedures, e-government-related laws and regulations
SS: provide self-service services (e.g. tax calculator)
SP: allow the possibility to start an administrative procedure online (e.g. downloading forms)
CP: allow the possibility to complete an administrative procedure online to obtain a service (full transactional services)
DM: allow user to provide input in government decision-making (e.g. feedback on service quality)
Note: Systemic functions of portals such as providing digital signatures, individual document vaults, ID management, etc. are not covered in this typology

9. Next steps what? - Complete and update existing databases
- more extensive data collection
focus? description NOT EVALUATION of e-government frameworks
output? Overview study

10. Where to focus? Main areas for data collection
Institutional Arrangements for
E-Government
Distribution of e-government portfolios
Structures for e-government coordination (e-government units, CIOs, inter-agency bodies)
Tools for e-government coordination (e.g. enterprise architecture, voluntary agreements)
Roles, functions and organisation of e-government units in ministries, agencies and local governments
2. E-services, sectorial initiatives, shared applications
E-service enablement, service delivery strategies, methods to improve take up
Shared applications (e.g. e-budgeting, e-payment, e-forms, document archiving)
E-procurement
Sectoral initiatives (e-health, e-learning, e-taxation)
3. E-government strategy formulation and implementation
E-government strategies at central and local government; strategy formulation for ministries and agencies
Use of monitoring tools and mechanisms (e.g. use of indicators)
4. Technical infrastructure for e-government
Communication networks (e.g. internal government networks, ministry intranets)
Service infrastructure (e.g. service gateways), central databases, technical standards
Digital identification and authentication infrastructures and outlets (e.g. ID cards, PKI)
5. E-government for administrative simplification
E-government applications to simplify the administration (e.g. online one-stop shops, data reporting systems for businesses)
6. E-government training and capacity building
E-government competencies and skills distribution (e.g. technical, project management, etc)
7. Legislative infrastructure for e-government
Digital signature legislation
Privacy protection
8. Measurement and Evaluation of e-government
Measurement and evaluation tools and methods at ministry and agency level

11. Question for discussion
What are the basic frameworks and mechanisms for e-government implementation, in addition to those presented today, for which you wish data to be collected?
How can the OECD assist in ensuring that common data collection frameworks on e-government be established and used for the benefit of individual Arab countries?
What are your needs in terms of collecting data and information for better policy-making in the area of e-government?