Question

E-governance as an effective tool to curb corruption

Answer 1

e-Government refers to government’s use of ICTs to work more effectively, share information and deliver better services to the public. e-Government is essentially more about the process of government reform and resulting benefits than about the application of specific technological solutions or services. A well-planned e-government strategy can make leaps into building a more efficient, accountable and transparent government. If planned with representation from key stakeholders, e-government applications can rebuild citizen trust in government, promote economic growth by improving interface with business, and empower citizens to participate in advancing good governance. While e-government is not a panacea for the complex and deep-rooted problems of corruption, it cannot be ignored that ICTs possess the ability to contribute effectively towards any anti-corruption efforts. This APDIP e-Note looks at how e-government can help fight corruption; gives two well-known examples from the Republic of Korea and India where e-government has successfully helped to fight corruption; and discusses the challenges in designing and implementing similar programmes. When e-government applications are used to fight corruption, it is critical that four key anti-corruption strategies – prevention; enforcement; access to information and empowerment; and capacity building are integrated in the design and implementation process. A few case studies of e-government applications from the Asia-Pacific region report some impact on reducing corruption in several ways: Prevention: Introducing e-government applications provide an opportunity to simplify rules and procedures, and re-engineer processes and systems. The use of computers and online transactions eliminate gate keepers, depersonalize and standardize the delivery of services and thus, reduce abuse of discretion and other opportunities for corruption. Enforcement: Computerized procedures make it possible to track decisions and actions and thus, serve as an additional deterrent to corruption. Where data are centralized, unbiased sampling procedures can be applied for audit purposes. Access to Information and Empowerment: Publishing of government information online builds accountability by providing documentation to citizens to substantiate their complaints against corrupt practices. Capacity Building: Introducing e-government applications requires that telecommunication infrastructure is strengthened, human resources are developed in ICT literacy, and the culture of good governance promoted.