Information Openness

Chapter 18 - Using the Web for Enhancing Decision-Making: UN Project Failures in Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA)
Managing IT in Government, Business & Communities
by Gerry Gingrich (ed)
Idea Group Publishing 2003

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The control of information flow by official government sources in Africa is seen as a gatekeeper mechanism that has the potential to distort decision making within international aid organisations such as United Nations and the World Bank (Pettigrew, 1972; Bloomfield and Coombs, 1992). The Internet has the potential to be used by aid agencies in SSA as a tool for ensuring other sources than the official regional government sources of information are available to international aid organisations. Exactly how this might be undertaken needs to be researched in the context of the problem.

In response to obvious failures in the current SSA development investment where monies are not reaching the intended projects, the international community has begun to demand more accountability and openness of information flows (UNRISD, 1995). Seeking to promote improved information management and the increased efficiency and effectiveness of aid programs, Graeme and Weitzner (1996) recommended a government-wide requirement for agencies to set goals and report annually on projects' program performance. The author believes these reports could include local peoples' confidential feedback.

Jones (1995, 1998), Montealegre (1996), and Simon (1996) assert that the Internet serves as a medium for sharing knowledge, communicating knowledge, acquiring useful information, and knowledge transfer to allow communities to grow. This, however, downplays the power issues. In SSA those with the resources can ensure an unequal flow of information, especially given the large investment costs of the technology (Uimonen, 1997). This has particular application in SSA countries that are constantly seeking aid (World Bank, 1987).

It is believed that good flow of public information will assist the effective use of aid from overseas. The bias in feedback from governments to international aid organisations often makes it unreliable. This feedback needs to be evaluated, and it is believed that the best people to do this are the locals. Decision-making on project funding has often been hampered by the lack of accurate information on the results of international aid organisations (IAO) programs' efforts.

Allen (1984) suggests that the rapid advances in information and communication technology will create a democratic atmosphere in the areas needed. The Internet can allow "free" flow of information that will help progress of projects and socio-economic development. Madon (1999), in her paper on the "Internet and Social Development," asserted that the dominance of democratic institutions in a country is considered a key criterion for socio-economic development. Moreover, writers like Press (1996) and Mueller and Tan (1997) have also argued that Internet connectivity promotes democracy. Can the Internet be a democratic institution?

Kenney (1995) and Mansell and Wenn (1998) asserted that the importance of expanding the access of developing countries to the Internet has been recognised by governments and international agencies with increasing consensus that the Internet and related telecommunications technology should be regarded as strategic national infrastructure. However, Goodman et al. (1992) claim that the ways in which different developing countries are adopting these new technologies and supporting business strategies and entrepreneurial initiatives have received little critical attention.

With the advent of the Internet, Jones (1995) argues in his book Computer-Mediated-Communication that methods of accessing and disseminating information have been fundamentally changed, with profound implications for individuals, civil society, and governments. The Internet offers opportunities to exchange ideas and promote cultural and economic progress. The Internet is global in its reach to a degree that no other technology is: it transcends national borders and eliminates barriers to free flow of information for the common person at anywhere and anytime.

The Internet can be used to provide continuous feedback on project implementation, and to identify actual or potential successes and problems as early as possible to facilitate timely adjustments to project operation. The creation or strengthening of monitoring activities under a project is not a temporary requirement to meet aid organisations information needs, but an institution-building component, which should permanently improve overall management practice within borrower agencies

The Internet is infrastructure-independent, open, decentralized, abundant, interactive, user-controlled, and global in its reach, and can be used by the public. The World Bank (1999) experience on projects aimed at developing governance and policy-forming capacity in Africa, for example, finds that government failures in Sub-Sahara Africa are often attributable in whole or in part to governments' unwillingness to make themselves accountable to the citizens they are supposed to serve. The Internet has tremendous potential for fostering democratic participation, giving voice to the voiceless (Bimber, 1997). Figure 2 shows that the Internet could allow the public to communicate with aid organisations about the progress of a project. The author sees the Internet as multi-directional.

Figure 2: The Internet is an Intelligence-Gathering Tool

It is important that the reliability of the source and the accuracy of the information, as judged by data available at, or close to, their operational levels, are re-examined. Beacham (1997) argues that Internet technology can allow for participatory democracy in developing countries (Africa in particular) to enhance decision-making. Of particular interest is whether aid organisations are correctly informed about the application of their contributions.

United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) (1995) has already suggested that both the international aid organisations and the developing countries' governments need carefully evaluated information to help them make useful decisions about the programsthey oversee. Also they need to implement information and communication technology(ICT) tools that tell them whether, and in what important ways, an aid project is working wellor poorly, and why. Madon (1999) stated that, in the past, the tools for information evaluation have not proven to be reliable. This is supported by the uncountable number of project failures in most parts of the developing world. Rice and McDaniel (1987) also suggest that the Internet can allow developing countries' public to send and receive information on ongoing projects. This should help with their personal development through feeling of self worth and less feeling of helplessness.

Comments from UNDP (1999) indicated that "assistance" from the western world for developing countries' socio-economic growth has not been carefully utilised by their leaders. The chapter draws on the author's experiences and knowledge of international and regional organizations such as the United Nations (UN) and African Development Bank (ADB), respectively; national governments and non-government organisations (NGOs); as well as research from related regions of the world.

Professor K. Griffin, a former chairman of the UNRISD Board, discusses the intrinsic value of human development and cultural diversity, and also their instrumental value in promoting growth (Griffin, 1997). In discussing the ties that bind human development and economic growth, Griffin places emphasis on investing in human capacities, pointing out the positive economic repercussions of keeping such investments high and well-distributed across society as a whole. He argues that creativity new knowledge, new technology and new institutional arrangements is the fountainhead of economic growth, and these contribute to creativity in all fields of endeavour. United Nations and other aid organisations are in a strong position to achieve economic growth and higher rate of project success by encouraging public involvement and the use of the Internet.

The Internet is today's electronic medium that can profoundly influence economic and political development in developing countries. The extent of this influence, and its positive and sustainable effects, will depend on a myriad of factors some predictable and others not. The potential contribution of electronic media to political outcomes in Sub-Sahara Africa, such as its impact on effective use of aid for socio-economic development, needs critical attention.

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