Local Governance and ICTs in Africa: Case Studies and Guidelines for Implementation and Evaluation

With governance high on the agenda in Africa, many governments are using information and communications technologies (ICTs) to develop ways in which they deliver services to citizens. E-governance has the potential to enable local governments to engage citizens in greater participation, leading to socioeconomic developments at local and national levels. But this potential remains largely unexploited and, until now, there has been a lack of evidence on information technology in local governance in Africa.`

This book addresses that gap. It offers studies from nine African countries that explore how ICTs can transform service delivery, tax, financial management, land management, education, local economic development, citizen registration, and political inclusion.

A synthesis of the findings and a roadmap for implementing and evaluating e-local governance projects mean that this book is not only relevant to researchers and students but is also a practical handbook for government decision makers. With ICTs increasingly available in Africa, this timely book speaks to the current issues.

The editors

Timothy Mwolo Waema is an Associate Professor in the School of Computing and Informatics at the University of Nairobi. He holds a PhD degree in strategic management of information systems from the University of Cambridge.

Edith Ofwona Adera is a Senior Program Specialist at IDRC’s Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa, in Nairobi. She is also a council member of the Meru University of Science and Technology, board member of SiSi Kwa Sisi Inc., cofounder of the Kenya Information Society, and member of the International Telecommunication Union’s Gender Working Group.