Records, Archives, and Transparency in the Development Community Initiatives from the World Bank Group Archives

1. Records, Archives, and Transparency in the Development CommunityInitiatives from the World Bank Group Archives Elisa Liberatori Prati, World Bank Group Chief Archivist eliberatoriprati@worldbank.org Federal Information and Records Managers (FIRM) Council FORUM @FOSE 2007 Washington, DC, March 20, 2007

2. Developing Nations: WBG Projects 69 active projects that involve a record-keeping, archives or government information delivery component at the World Bank. The objectives of these projects primarily fall into three groups: Rural development and promotion of industries from increased access to government services and market information via the Web or other connectivity. Enabling efficiency, transparency and accountability in government (Anti-corruption). Disaster recovery. The World Bank�s vision is a world free of poverty, and we try to achieve this by pursuing economic development of the world�s poorest countries. The Bank is a multi-lateral institution comprising 184 member countries and was established in 1946. (very young for most institutions � especially compared to Italian ones!) More specifically, the Bank provides low or no interest loans and grants to countries that have unfavorable or no access to international credit markets, and we also provide analytic and advisory services and capacity buildings to members. When disasters strike developing nations, the World Bank proceeds to create and implement development projects that will help the recovery efforts of the country: including infrastructure development, strengthening government institutions, health and education services for the displaced, etc. Occasionally record-keeping, archives or government information delivery objectives are included in the disaster recovery projects. The World Bank�s vision is a world free of poverty, and we try to achieve this by pursuing economic development of the world�s poorest countries. The Bank is a multi-lateral institution comprising 184 member countries and was established in 1946. (very young for most institutions � especially compared to Italian ones!) More specifically, the Bank provides low or no interest loans and grants to countries that have unfavorable or no access to international credit markets, and we also provide analytic and advisory services and capacity buildings to members. When disasters strike developing nations, the World Bank proceeds to create and implement development projects that will help the recovery efforts of the country: including infrastructure development, strengthening government institutions, health and education services for the displaced, etc. Occasionally record-keeping, archives or government information delivery objectives are included in the disaster recovery projects.

10. International efforts to reduce poverty control corruption protect civil and human rights strengthen democracy preserve the cultural heritage of nations are directly dependent upon properly managing records as evidence of accountability and as shared memory for governments and their citizens Records Management: The Missing Link in Development Work?

14. Evidence-based Governancein the Electronic Age  World Bank DGF Grant Partnership Project -- completed development of �Records Management Capacity Framework� http://www.irmt.org/evidence/ http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/rmcas/ TOOL: Provide a standardized, systematic means of assessing the strengths and weaknesses, and associated risks, of records management systems against objective international standards of good practice Assist in planning the migration from poor practice to good practice for specific components of records management repair �collapsed� records management systems leverage ICT to improve records management quality and efficiency ensure that electronic records are properly managed and preserved

15. Records Management CapacityAssessment System (RMCAS) The RMCAS software tool has become the focal point of the Framework PURPOSE: The RMCAS software allows users to: gather data about records and information systems through stakeholder questionnaires and documentation analysis senior management and decision-makers records management staff, ICT staff, record creators/users analyse the data to identify strengths, weaknesses and major risk areas in records management systems identify training and self-study resources to build records management capacity in high-risk or sub-optimal areas

17. RMCAS Capacity Levels Level 0: Records management policies, systems and processes are non-existent or informal/ad hoc/personal and ineffective. There is little or no use of IT for creating or managing records. Level 1: Basic records management policies, systems and processes are defined but are not consistently and effectively applied across the organisation. There is little or no connection between records management and business functions. There is little or no effective use of IT for managing records. Level 2: Key records management policies, systems and processes are in place across the organisation and are working. The organisation recognises the need to link records management policies, systems and processes to business functions but has not yet achieved this. IT is used for records and information management but its effectiveness is limited. Level 3: Records management policies, systems and processes are in place across the organisation, are working effectively, are linked to business functions and support organizational management goals. A mixture of IT and paper systems are used in the creation and management of records and information. Level 4: Records management policies, systems and processes are in place, applied effectively, are integrated with all business functions and support organisational governance and accountability. Policies, systems and processes are reviewed and improved regularly. Extensive use is made of IT to create, manage and exploit records and information. Level 5: A knowledge management environment is in place and used effectively to support all business functions and governance objectives and the needs of all stakeholders. A learning culture exists in which monitoring, compliance and improvement takes place continuously. Advanced technology systems and networks are used for the creation and sharing of records and to enable effective communication and collaboration within the organisation and with other partners.