Challenges and Prospects of e-Government implementation in Afghanistan

Abdul Mateen Samsor

doi:10.1108/itpd-01-2020-0001

Abstract

Challenges and Prospects of e-Government implementation in Afghanistan

Highlights

The concept of e-Government can save time and resources through facilitating communication among the public and government institutions
Post-conflict countries are under even greater pressure to create such services because they replace the vacuum caused by the violence and will be the only services offered, rather than an upgrade of current government offerings that already meet citizen needs
A literature review shows many challenges common among developing countries: a lack of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) literacy, incomplete infrastructure, a digital divide existing between the rural poor and the emerging urban middle class, an uncertainty about data privacy and data security, the absence of comprehensive ICT policies and legislation, lack of an ICT culture in government and the traditional components of the economy, questions regarding the government’s ongoing financial commitment to the project, e-Government awareness, willingness of ministries to engage in information sharing, a void of ICT leadership outside the technologically oriented ministries, resistance to change, an historic lack of intergovernmental coordination and low stakeholder involvement are just some of the many challenges identified

Summary

Introduction

The concept of e-Government can save time and resources through facilitating communication among the public and government institutions. The terms of digital government, electronic government (e-Government) and electronic governance (e-Governance) are representing the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a time-needed mechanism for the gathering and dissemination of government information and the delivery of governmental services. Information, Communication Technology (ICT) in public service delivery, and there exists obstacles in implementing e-Government in developing countries. The reason is that e-Government projects in developing countries are frequently outsourced to the private sectors, which may ignore sensitivities to the cultural status quo It can result in unintended consequences and a gap between the public campaign promoting e-Government and the program as designed (Drljaca and Latinovic, 2012; Hwang et al, 2004; Basu, 2004). Researchers agree that lack of ICT literacy is the main obstacle hampering e-Government implementation, in developing countries where the ICT literacy rate is very low (Nkwe, 2012; Zeleti, 2010; Weerakkody et al, 2009)

ICT obstacles

Research strategy implementation

Social obstacles Culture Digital divide Awareness ICT literacv