Got a request from DGG Directorate to furnish last minute inputs on the above for an anti-corruption meeting in Panama this week. This is what I sent. Needs editing and further thought. Potential of new ICT and networking technologies (latter are important) Streamline cumbersome government processes Increase the efficiency of the public sector Create new…

Last month, UNDP took part in the Seoul Cyberspace conference and we provided the inputs to BDP (see http://blog.raulza.me/?p=2379) for its engagement on a panel on capacity building. The Seoul gathering produced a framework as well as a series of recommendations and programmes that will support cyberspace, particularly in least develop countries. At the same…

UNDP Colombia is keen in beefing up its support to e-governance in the country by focusing on local governments – as the office has an important portfolio of projects that support local communities (see for example http://bit.ly/1fr1H0h). At the same time, the country has a rather large and well-known Digital Government (Gobierno en Línea) initiative…

As mentioned in a previous post, I am working in the development of a couple of the new UNDP IRRF indicators. Indicator 7.6.1 addresses innovative public-private partnerships but seems to put the emphasis on the mechanisms that UNDP country offices can use to forge such partnerships. I had an early meeting with a KICG colleague who…

Earlier today we had a good meeting with the LG DGG team to discuss possible synergies. LG is organizing, in partnership with the Brazilian government, a  large event in Foz de Iguazu  where at least 20 UNDP COs will be represented. LG is keen in pushing ICTs and innovation from the start to capitalize on…

The conference call with Orange earlier today went better than expected. Orange is quite strong in West Africa where it has large market shares and is the leading company in 12 markets. They have been doing quite a bit of CSR but apparently they have hit a wall as this has not translated into market…

I have been involved in discussions and meetings related to the design of the new Global Programme for the new BDP, a.k.a BPPS. The Executive Board has approved 60 million for the new GP (for the period 2014-2017) but now the bureau needs to prepare a proposal which presents WHAT  exactly are the areas of…

Earlier in the week I received a totally unexpected communication from UNDP Venezuela asking me to contact them as soon as feasible. During the ensuing Hangout, I was informed that the National Center for Information Technology (CNTI) had once again requested UNDP’s assistance.  Previous efforts starting in 2006 had led to nothing as we were…

Orange representatives have approached colleagues at BERA’s Private Sector division to explore possible collaboration. Orange also share with UNDP this presentation which seems to be a bit dated. At any rate, BERA has now approached me to support these efforts and provide substantive inputs to start a more formal dialogue with Orange. Orange claims t have…

In the late 1990s, we were deeply involved on what is today known as “Internet Governance” thanks to the old SDNP programme. Close to 10 national SDNP programmes  were either managing national CC TLDs or were directly involved in DNS issues.  10 SDNP managers and staff attended the ICANN meeting in Marina del Rey, California…

UNDP will be participating in the 3rd international Cyberspace Conference which will take place in Seoul on 17-18 October. More than 90 countries are expected to participate. The Director on BERA will be representing UNDP at the meeting. UNDP’s Seoul Policy Center is involved in the preparation process including speaking points, presentation and speech. The…

RBLAC is organizing a meeting on political participation and young Parliamentarians from 1 to 3 October that will take place in Brasilia. We have been invited to chair a session and run a panel dedicated to ICTs and participation. Here is the session description and content. Session title: ICTs and participation: What’s really new today?…

We are in the midst of completing the IRRF for the new UNDP Strategic plan and the work is now focus on completing indicators while developing methodological notes. One of the indicators for outcome 3 is: Level of public confidence in the delivery of basic services, disaggregated by sex, urban/rural and income groupswhich sounds great…

I have been thinking about this topic for a bit now but never really had a lot of time to put down some thoughts on a piece of virtual paper. That was the case until today when I got a call from UNCDF/Better than Cash Alliance Secretariat asking for talking points for the Administrator on…