Building blocks of e-government: lessons from developing countries

E-government is about changing how governments work, share information, and deliver services to external and internal clients. It harnesses information and communications technology to transform relationships with citizens and businesses, and between arms of government. Benefits can include reduced corruption, increased transparency, greater convenience, higher revenues, and lower costs. But case studies show that these benefits do not result solely from the use of information and communications technology. Instead, e-government initiatives should be part of broader reforms to improve public sector performance in: • Delivering services to citizens. E-government can benefit citizens by reducing delays, consolidating multiple services under one roof, eliminating the need for frequent visits to government offices, and containing corruption. In addition, publishing rules and procedures online can increase transparency. Moreover, because poor people bear the largest costs of administrative inefficiency and corruption, delivering services through rural kiosks leads to their economic and social empowerment. For example, 7 million farmers in Karnataka, India, can now obtain printed copies of land titles (needed two or three times a year to secure bank loans) online in 10 minutes at 177 government-run departmental kiosks or at privately operated Internet kiosks. The fee is 15 rupees (about 33 cents). Under the previous titling system two-thirds of E-government