USAID/Guinea: Grant of Computer Equipment Advances E-government Initiative

AUGUST 8, 2007

Grant of Computer Equipment
Advances E-government Initiative

Computers and networking gear put five ministries online and gives Guinea's Education Ministry a new learning laboratory.

CONAKRY - Guinea's new government has a new tool to develop its capacity to serve its country's citizens - at least those with access to a computer - thanks to more than $500,000 of "E-government" grants from USAID/Guinea.

The E-government project is intended to provide ministries with Internet access and hands-on experience with computer technology, furthering their ability to interact with other government and non-government institutions.

Computer workstations, servers, printers and related equipment were installed this year in offices at the ministries of cooperation, the office of the prime minister, the ministry of agriculture and environment.

Government officials receive training in the Ministry of Education's new computer laboratory.

In addition, a 12-seat laboratory was established at the Ministry of Education to provide government workers with 10 days of computer training donated by Microsoft. USAID would like to expand this project to other partner ministries.

The computer lab also will be used to train school administrators in budget planning, said Youri Diallo, director of information technology for the Education Ministry.

The E-government project has several goals, according to Alpha Amadou Bah, who has been the project's coordinator since December 2003. "First there is the reinforcement of the government's capacity. Then there is the transparence of the financial management of the state," he said. "There is good governance involving the connection between government and the citizens."

For example, the Ministry of Education intends to launch a website where exam results will be publicized; today results are broadcast by radio. And parents who want to ask a school administrator about an issue at their child's school can do so by email.

"That's the direction. That's the vision," said Bah. "All of the partners should be connected electronically. Whether it's a student in school or a citizen who needs an identity card, they should be able to go online to find the information they need and, in some cases, send their information via an online form."

Alpha Amadou Bah with the Guinean government's new VSAT antenna.

Bah notes that government officials who receive information requests by email previously have to respond from a local cyber-café. Now they can do it from within the government offices.

The E-government project also will make it possible for government officials to respond to international communications on a more timely basis, as well as engage in distance learning, he said.

Statistics compiled by Bah's office indicate that the Guinean government had 1,252 computer workstations in 2004. That number grew to 3,443 workstations last year. The government has about 52,000 employees.

USAID/Guinea's grant of network servers and communications equipment, most notably a VSAT antenna, also has enabled Guinea's recently formed government to disseminate information on a new website (http://www.primature.gov.gn/). Besides providing a public window into the government, Bah said, the new site houses password-protected "working documents" that are being prepared for distribution.

Story and photos by Richard Stirba