ORGANISATION OF EASTERN CARIBBEAN STATES ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT FOR REGIONAL INTEGRATION PROJECT KARLENE FRANCIS, PROJECT MANAGER

BUILDING BLOCKS FOR ICT National / Regional Policy – Legal, Regulatory & Institutional Framework – Universal Access and Funding – Competition – Consumer Protection National / Regional Strategy – Training & Education – e-Business, e-Government – Cultural Content and Creativity – Network Readiness and Infrastructure – Research and Development

BUILDING BLOCKS FOR ICT Projects, Initiatives & Programs Identify and Implement Quick wins Connection to the National and Regional Development Plan Political Champion (s) Availability of Resources, human and financial ICT as a priority sector

JAMAICA’S POLICY/STRATEGY FRAMEWORK Telecommunications Act 2000 National ICT Strategy, 2000 Draft Telecommunications Policy, 2002 Blueprint for E-business, 2003 Electronic Transactions Policy, 2003 Electronic Transactions Act, 2006 Draft Telecommunications Policy 2007 Draft National ICT Strategy National Development Plan 2030 (PIOJ)

Jamaica’s World Economic Forum Networked Readiness Index

EGRIP DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE To promote the efficiency, quality, and transparency of public services through the delivery of regionally integrated e-government applications that take advantage of economies of scale.

EGRIP PROJECT DESCRIPTION First phase of a regional program Instrument is Adaptable Program Loan (APL) Expected duration (Phase 1): four years Financed through 3 IDA credits for Dominica, Grenada and St. Lucia Million SDRs or US$ 2.4 Million Each Negotiations concluded with St. Vincent & the Grenadines in October 2009 Could be complemented in the future by 2 IBRD loans for St. Kitts & Nevis, and Antigua & Barbuda, when they become eligible for IBRD

EGRIP CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

COMPONENT 1- Horizontal E- Government Interventions Emphasis on Capacity Building of Public Administration by providing assistance to implement and further improve already harmonized: – Policy and Strategy – Legal and Regulatory Framework – Develop a structure to improve coordination of e-government on a regional level

1.1 - Policy and strategy implementation: – Strategic review and update of national and regional OECS e-government strategies – Monitoring and evaluation framework Legal and Regulatory Framework implementation: – Gap analysis and implementation support for harmonized legal and regulatory framework – Equipment and software for implementation of selected pieces of legislation e.g. digital signature ICT Standards and Total Cost of Ownership Optimization: – Standards and architecture assessment and definition – Framework for total cost of ownership analysis and optimization – Pooled procurement of software licences on pilot basis – Training and capacity building

1.4 – E-Government Institutional Framework Strengthening: – Strategic institutional design, business plan, implementation action plan for new institutional framework – Start-up implementation support – Equipment and software for implementation support – Support to national E-Gov Units, through country-based specialists – Office equipment and operating costs assistance to national E- Gov Units – Support to national E-Gov Steering Committees – Training and capacity building at the national level Automated Registries and Multi-Purpose Identification Systems: – Needs assessment and design of national ID system – Development and implementation of system – Implementation assistance in core user agencies – Pooled procurement of necessary equipment and National ID cards – Training and consensus building

COMPONENT 2- Vertical E- Government Interventions Emphasis is to harmonize and improve key e-government systems by concentrating on specific interventions in core areas of public finance : – Public Financial Management (SmartStream) – Tax Administration (SIGTAS) – Customs (ASYCUDA) – Procurement

2.1 – E-Government in Public Financial Management: – PFM systems specialists to assist in sub-component implementation – Gap analysis between government financial management needs and the PFM systems capabilities – Upgrade of the HR, budget, and financial reporting modules – Development of interfaces linking budget, revenue (tax, customs), expenditure and financial reporting – Development of web-based public information system – PFM system maintenance contract (and training, manuals, etc) 2.2 – E-Government in Tax Administration: – Tax systems specialists to assist in tax sub-component implementation – Design and implementation of e-filing system (and training, manuals, etc) – Hardware and software, training and manuals – Tax system maintenance contract

2.3 – E-Government in Customs: – Customs systems specialists to assist in customs sub- component implementation – Regional customs information network – Customs system upgrades including electronic filing module and interface with budget and tax – Hardware and software, training and manuals – Customs system maintenance contract 2.4 – Electronic Government Procurement: – Design an action plan for pooled procurement and PPP framework for e-procurement – Regional e-procurement platform and transactional system for competitive tendering – Upgrading the systems of the OECS PPS and integrating into e-procurement platform – Replication of the PPS experience in other sectors

2.5 a) E-government in Health Pilot Development/upgrading of facilities management systems and/or electronic patient records (digitization) 2.5 b) E-Government in other sectors Potential preparatory or complementary activities in Agriculture Linkages with Tourism Pilot Potential preparatory or complementary activities in Education

COMPONENT 3 – Project Administration ($0.49M) Regional E-government Unit – Project Manager – Procurement Specialist – Project Accountant – Country Based Specialists – Administrative Assistant The Country Based Specialists will be located in the agencies identified in each country as the focal point for the Project. Office equipment, as well as other operating costs Community outreach and public awareness Project audits

Implementation Arrangements Regional level: – Regional Technical Committee (RTC) for the Project – Regional E-Government Unit (REGU), specialized unit within the OECS Secretariat. – ICT Ministerial Council - Proposal National level (no new structures): – Respective ICT or e-government units coordinate project with Country Based Specialist assigned by REGU in each country – National e-government or ICT steering committees (NSCs) provide guidance

BENEFITS TO GOVERNMENT Avoidance of duplication Reduction in transaction costs Simplify bureaucratic procedures Greater efficiency Enhanced transparency Information sharing between agencies Security of information management

BENEFITS TO CITIZENS Faster service delivery Greater efficiency Increased flexibility of service use Greater Citizen participation & empowerment Improves national and regional competitiveness

ANTICIPATED PROJECT OUTCOMES Reduction in the cost of doing business Improved public sector efficiency Improved transparency and accountability Reduction in opportunities for fraud and corruption Improved revenue collection Improved service delivery Greater sub-regional harmonization and integration

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