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2.
The policy goals |
 The ICT strategyof the Czech Republic focuses on digitalising government administration and on making it easier to access government services onlin
However, end of 2008 only 25% of public services to citizens are available online. Moreover, while broadband penetration — over 17% — is high for the region, 33 % of the population has never accessed the Internet.
Nevertheless the Czech ICT strategy is aimed primarily at improving government efficiency. The decentralised nature of government has meant that each ministry — with its own ICT budget — has developed its own accounting and operating systems, leading to substantial administrative costs and lack of transparency when transferring funds or communicating across the administration.
A new e-Treasury system, spearheaded by the Ministry of Finance and with an estimated budget of Kc2.6bn (€98m), aims partly to rectify this by developing a single integrated accounting system for all ministries and departments. The finance ministry forecasts substantial savings of Kc10bn (€377m) per year.
The essential aim of the strategy is to transform and simplify the public services processes so as to use modern ICT in a way that is similar to their use in the commercial sphere. Modern ICT makes it possible to create a completely new portfolio of services and to substantially simplify the communication of citizens and companies with the Public Administration, as well as with related bodies. At the same time, the aim is to significantly increase the efficiency of Public Administration.
As far as citizens are concerned, the aim of the new strategy is to provide comfortable, secure and reliable electronic communications with all levels of Government, for as many life events as possible.
From an infrastructure perspective, the strategic goals include:
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Consolidated databases, used for building content and applications;
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A consistent set of laws in order to provide both a legal basis and support to eGovernment;
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A robust, secure and efficient infrastructure allowing the access to data sources, with potential for further development;
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A set of key applications to handle businesses’ normal life events and the companies’ communication with the State Administration;
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By 2013, a 20 % reduction of administrative costs as a result of the eGovenrment development.
The strategy’s milestones are summed up as follows:
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By 2009, availability of the 'Data Box' (a personal register of one's electronic communications with public authorities) and of a developed network of Public Administration contact points (Czech POINT network), where it will be possible to obtain certified extracts from selected registers. The Czech POINT network was successfully launched as a pilot in April 2007 and it was generalised to the entire country in January 2008. In August 2009, the network consisted of more than 3700 physical contact points where citizens can access all public records and request excerpts through a one-stop point, rather than having to visit several different offices. As for the 'Data Boxes' Information System, it is one hundred percent ready for its full operation which is to begin on 1 November 2009.
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The legal basis for achieving the objectives of the strategy will be fully established in 2010.
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By 2012, implementation of the functional applications necessary for the health, welfare, administrative, judicial and fiscal management, as well as the operational infrastructure for long-term storage and archiving of electronic documents.
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By 2015, the process of digitisation of databases will be completed (including the geo-information system).
There are three principles underpinning the implementation of the strategy:
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Focus on the citizen rather than on the authorities;
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Result-driven implementation, with clear benefits for the citizen;
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Efficiency and effectiveness – the value generated exceeds the costs incurred
During the Czech EU Presidency in 2009 the Czech Repbulic had to key priorities:
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4.
The gender dimension |
During 2007 APC Europe introduced the project 'Women into IT' sponsored by IBM to challenge stereotypes around women and ICTs and attract more women into the IT field. The project was sponsored by IBM and aimed at secondary school-leavers, women reinserting themselves into the labour market after maternity leave (which can last up to four years), and those attracted to IT but lacking the confidence to pursue a job in the sector.
During the year gender and IT awareness sessions, training sessions and public roundtable discussions were held in the cities of Prague and Brno. Twenty women in high-level positions at IBM exemplified the diversity of professions in the IT field and were keen to support the project, serving as role models during sessions, talking about their work, and challenging myths around women and IT. The project was very well received by educators, media, other IT companies and women’s organisations, who all participated in the public roundtable discussions, and especially by women and girls who took part in the workshops.
The major point emphasised by participants in their evaluations was that the project provided not only technical training and know-how, but also a space to share and reflect on women’s personal and work-related goals and issues, their relationship to ICTs, and their motivation to work in technology. |
