e-Government and New Technologies: Towards better citizen engagement for development

1. e-Government and New Technologies:Towards better citizen engagement for development The Role of NGO Actors in the Development of New Technologies for Citizen Engagement and the way forward... Michael Szafraniec CareWays Community Australia Unites Nations ,Geneva 13-14 May 2010

2. Outline • 1. Definitions • Defining Citizen Engagement • Defining Non-Government Actors • 2. NGO’s Role in Development • Local, National, Regional and Global Actors • Services, crisis, economic development, social development and social protection, accountability, independent • Upstream and Downstream • 3. Importance of NGO Actors in Citizen Engagement Development • NGO’s have links to citizenry; the private sector and; governments and authorities • NGO’s are independent of gov, citizens and of themselves governed by laws enacted by authorities to enable them • NGO’s provide social protection.... Michael Szafraniec.

3. Outline • 4. Standardising the way forward • NGO Perspective – a need for International Standardisation of Engagement • Importance of Standardised Frameworks for ICT development and data management • Opportunities to build global Social Data Warehouse based on standardised inputs and outputs • Creating an Index of Measurement to categorise and measure impacts, capacity and uptake of new opportunities • 5. Access and Equity an ethical model • Creating Access and Equity through the development of Engagement • Importance of ICT in enabling all actors to engage • Collection, Collation and Storage of Data and Knowledge Management Michael Szafraniec.

4. Outline • 6. Standards; Principles; benchmarks; and resources • Standards of engagement • Principles of engagement • Benchmarks • 7. Social Data Warehouse • A Knowledge Management System • 8. The way forward an International Action Agenda • NGO sector is in the unique position to be able to develop, influence and implement action agenda. • NGO sector is crucial to development of Citizen Engagement and the use of ICT to enable e-governance • NGO Role to develop resources and training to build government expertise and citizen capacity Michael Szafraniec.

5. Outline 8. The way forward an International Action Agenda • Role of UN EGM as platform and coordination for International development of Engagement framework including the development of new technologies • Role of UN EGM as platform and coordination for International development of ICT applications for engagement and e-governance • Role of UN EGM as platform and coordination for International development of e-resources and training • Role of UN EGM as platform and coordination for International development of “Social Data Warehouse” concept • UN adopt International Standardised Framework for the development of engagement • UN adopt International Development Framework for new technologies for engagement • Need for International community to commit to standardised approach to the development of engagement • Need for International Community to commit to measurement and evaluation of participation trough e-governance Michael Szafraniec.

6. Definitions For the purpose of this presentation the following definitions apply; • Citizen Engagement refers to –the processes of working collaboratively with and through groups of people affiliated by geographic proximity, special interest, or similar situations and individuals to address issues affecting the well-being of those people. It is a powerful vehicle for bringing about environmental and behavioural changes that will improve the health of the community and its members. It often involves partnerships and coalitions that help mobilize resources and influence systems, change relationships among partners, and serve as catalysts for changing policies, programs, and practices. It involves the following key attributes; • a focus on designing, developing, establishing, maintaining and evaluating communication between one or more parties  • processes and practices that enable communities and individuals to participate in the development of communities and build capacities • a systematic communication approach focused on process, documentation, measurement and improvement Michael Szafraniec.

7. Definitions • Non Government Organisation.: - • "The diversity of NGOs strains any simple definition. They include many groups and institutions that are entirely or largely independent of government and that have primarily humanitarian or cooperative rather than commercial objectives. They are private agencies in industrial countries that support international development; groups organized regionally or nationally; and member-groups in villages. NGOs include charitable and religious associations that mobilize private funds for development, distribute food and family planning services and promote community organization. They also include independent cooperatives, community associations, water-user societies, women's groups and pastoral associations. Citizen Groups that raise awareness and advocate and influence policy are also NGOs" - World Bank Michael Szafraniec.

8. NGO’s Role in Development • The actors within the NGO sector act at all levels of society; localised communities through to international organisations • Thus the sector has actors of all size of enterprise from small localised operations to global multi-national organisations • All NGO’s are connected to the communities in which they undertake their endeavour and as a result are important actors in the development and delivery of citizen engagement Michael Szafraniec.

9. NGO’s Role in Development • NGO’s are uniquely positioned being mid stream actors enabling and undertaking both downstream and upstream engagement; • Downstream with citizens and communities in which they undertake their endeavours • Upstream with governments and authorities who provide frameworks and policy instruments that enable NGO endeavour • NGO actors are thus well placed to assist in the development and delivery of both frameworks for engagement and the technologies that enable it. Michael Szafraniec.

10. Importance of NGO Actors in Citizen Engagement development • NGO’s have links to citizenry; the private sector and; governments and authorities • NGO’s act to provide social protection of those they serve and represent and as such can act to bring such provisions to the development of technologies for engagement Michael Szafraniec.

11. Importance of NGO Actors in Citizen Engagement development • NGO actors can also help regulate and measure the success of engagement provided a system exists to measure outcomes of engagement • NGO actors are independent entities that whilst often advocates for political change are by definition independent of governments and authorities, which can ensure equity in the development of engagement and e-Governance Michael Szafraniec.

12. Standardising the way forward... An NGO Perspective • In order to measure the success and continuously improve engagement and the technologies that deliver it, there is a need to undertake a standardised approach to its development and implementation • The development of an International Framework will enable a systematic approach to engagement and will give rise to the considerations necessary for the development of engagement and e-governance Michael Szafraniec.

13. Standardising the way forward... An NGO Perspective • The development of an International Framework will deliver agreed upon functions of measurement and enable the tracking of the development processes and new technologies • The development of an International Framework for engagement will also enable all actors at all levels of society equity in engagement • This also has a particular significance for the development of new technologies for engagement to ensure protection and availability of collected social data. Michael Szafraniec.

14. Standardising the way forward... An NGO Perspective • The management and use of the collected data is standardised and secured by an agreed upon standard of data management delivering measures of accountability and transparency • The use of this data is available to the International Community and thus is maintained and kept in a standardised way utilised and can be monitored by all actors, including the individual Michael Szafraniec.

15. Standardising the way forward... An NGO Perspective • Opportunities to build global “Social Data Warehouse” based on standardised inputs and outputs • Opportunities to create an Index of Measurement to categorise and measure impacts, capacity and uptake of new technologies and opportunities Michael Szafraniec.

16. Access and Equity • Community engagement activities are based on developing trustful relationships between stakeholders and decision makers, the ethical conduct of engagements is an implicit commencement point in all phases of and especially in the use of ICT for engagement • Creating Access and Equity through the development of Engagement is fundamental to the successful development of technologies for engagement • Technology will enable more marginalised citizens access and equity of engagement through simple adaptations of existing ICT software. Michael Szafraniec.

17. Access and Equity • A standardised approach to engagement and the development of new technologies will also create a system based on equity of all actors to participate • Access is also created through a standardised approach as the development of engagement and technologies will be developed in such a way as to guarantee access through appropriate ethical measures, regulated by all actors • A standardised approach to the Collection, Collation and Storage of data and the Knowledge Management system that supports it, enables unprecedented access of data to all actors at all levels • It also provides a system of accountability and transparency that is regulated and can be measured by all participants Michael Szafraniec.

18. Standards; Principles; Benchmarks; and Resources • Citizen Engagement Standards; • Community Engagement Standards are the underlying considerations that must be adhered to in order to undertake a standardised approach to engagement and the development of new technologies • These are supported by Engagement Principles and Benchmarks • Draft Standards • Leadership • Inclusiveness • Ethical and Transparent Engagement • Enhancement of Actor Participation • Promotion of Socio-Economic Sustainability • Capacity to respond to Change Michael Szafraniec.

19. Draft Standards – an example • Leadership – the ability to develop and implement engagement so that all stakeholders are enhanced and not diminished by the interaction • Inclusiveness – evidence of engaging with all potential stakeholders by utilising methodologies and technologies that dissolve barriers to participation • Ethical and Transparent Engagement - The conduct of all engagement activities will need to unequivocally demonstrate that all information exchanged and all interactions with communities impacted by the subject of the engagement are conducted on an ethical basis. Michael Szafraniec.

20. Draft Standards – an example • Enhancement of Actor Participation - demonstration that the engagement has developed the skills of stakeholders in participatory democratic processes and negotiating for their own future well being. • Promotion of Soci0-Economic Sustainability - ensures that citizens traditional means of livelihood, culture, environment and sources of economic activity are not negatively impacted by the engagement • Capacity to respond to Change – demonstration of evaluative techniques are utilised and how flexible their responses are to changing conditions Michael Szafraniec.

21. Draft Engagement Principles • Citizen Engagement Principles; • Organisational Sustainability – Engagement practices reflect the long term commitment to using standardised model to develop and deliver engagement; especially the commitment to data management systems • Continuous Improvement – Documentation and evaluation for continuous improvement and good practice implementation • Stakeholder Development – Professional development and learning of social research theory and practices • Relationships/Partnerships – Fair and inclusive engagement built on trust and good communication through development of relationships and partnerships Michael Szafraniec.

22. Draft Citizen Engagement Benchmarks • Citizen Engagement Benchmarks; • Planning and Design:- commitment to standardise the process and implementation for the development and delivery of citizen engagement practices. The planning and design needs to be performed using stringent social research methodologies. • Innovation and Creativity:- commitment to the design and development of creative and innovative engagement practices to increase the opportunities for targeted and inclusive engagement. Michael Szafraniec.

23. Draft Citizen Engagement Benchmarks • Inclusiveness (Access and Equity):- commitment to the development and delivery of engagement processes and practices, in an equitable and inclusive manner that address the diverse needs of the population, whilst engaging a representative sample • Communication:- commitment to deliver clear, concise and consistent information through appropriate mediums taking into account the range of diverse needs within the population. Ensure the stakeholders are informed, involved and encouraged to participate Michael Szafraniec.

24. Draft Citizen Engagement Benchmarks • Documentation:- commitment to a standardised and complete documentation of all processes and practices utilised for citizen engagement. To utilise and enhance appropriate methodologies for the recording and reporting of engagement data, and a commitment to the centralised storage and dissemination of information accessible to the organisation • Capacity Building:- commitment to the creation of stakeholder expertise through the development and training of stakeholders Michael Szafraniec.

25. Draft Citizen Engagement Benchmarks • Assessment and Evaluation:- commitment to continually review and analyse all processes and practices to enhance the planning, design and delivery of community engagement practices • Improvement:- commitment to the development of existing processes and practices through effective research, training, planning, delivery, examination and responsive action Michael Szafraniec.

26. Knowledge Management and Citizen Engagement • The considerations of knowledge management systems and the maintenance and security of collected data is paramount to the success of any engagement and the success of any technologies developed to enable engagement • The importance of assurances about the way in which all data is collected, collated, stored and used is a key factor in the development and implementation of engagement • The Social Data Warehouse is an example of the products that can be built within a standardised environment that provides integrity of data and enables all actors to have equitable access and use of the information that is collected. Michael Szafraniec.

27. “Social Data Warehouse” • Social Data Warehouse:- This is a database of information that has been collected during engagement. • This database operates like a website portal and can be accessed via data filters that include demographic information, issues and concerns, reports, learnings , evaluations, etc. • This Social Data Warehouse provides ease of access and can be utilised by all actors for conceivably all issues, because the inputs and outputs are standardised and therefore can be measured Michael Szafraniec.

28. “Social Data Warehouse” • This database also holds all the raw data from consultations and complete reports including strategy developments, plans, project designs, as well as all the necessary information about each consultation, providing a comprehensive knowledge management system • Internationally developed and supported by the UN the Social Data Warehouse can empower all actors with relevant and needed information that can enable and enhance their own endeavours • This becomes of utmost importance to the NGO sector as these are the actors who act for the social protection of the citizenry Michael Szafraniec.

29. “Social Data Warehouse” • This database will also give rise to new unforeseen developments that can assist in the management of crisis, enable the under represented to participate in meaningful ways, and develop new technologies that ultimately work because they respond to the needs identified through engagements Michael Szafraniec.

30. The way forward an International Action Agenda • Contribution to the International Action Agenda • The following is a list of directions that should be considered in the development of the action agenda on Citizen Engagement and E-governance; • NGO sector is in the unique position to be able to develop, influence and implement International action agenda and • NGO sector is crucial to development of Citizen Engagement and the use of ICT to enable e-governance • There is an important role that NGO actors have to develop engagement and e-governance resources and training to build government expertise and citizen capacity Michael Szafraniec.

31. The way forward an International Action Agenda • There is a role that the UN WSIS ?? can use as a platform and for the coordination of International development of Engagement framework including the development of new technologies • There is a role that the UN WSIS ?? can use as a platform and for the coordination of International development of ICT applications for engagement and e-governance • There is a role that the UN WSIS ?? can use as a platform and for the coordination of International development of e-resources and training Michael Szafraniec.

32. The way forward an International Action Agenda • There is a role that the UN WSIS ?? can use as a platform and for the coordination of International development of “Social Data Warehouse” concept • UN can lead development and adopt International Standardised Framework for the development of engagement • UN can lead development and adopt International Development Framework for new technologies for engagement Michael Szafraniec.

33. The way forward an International Action Agenda • For the successful development of engagement and new technologies there is a need for the International community to commit to standardised approach to the development of engagement • As part of this there is a need for the International Community to commit to the measurement and evaluation of engagement and e-governance structures, for the continuous improvement and development of new technologies for engagement Michael Szafraniec.