World Dialogue on Regulation

Abstract

E- governance is an increasingly important theme for development and information society initiatives. Within this framework, websites and web portals constitute an important vehicle for information dissemination, communication and transparency. National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) as information society drivers and facilitators have a key role in providing an example of using new technologies, and in facilitating access to regulations, standards, and best practices for information and communication technology (ICT) adoption and development. Websites can play a role in each of these respects – from sending signals to the provision of services and information. As most NRAs already have a website or are in the process of establishing one, it is clear that this is viewed as an important or necessary activity. Yet, while there exists a plethora of e-governance studies, and exponentially more for e-commerce, NRA e-efforts have received little attention or speculation as to what constitutes effective components. This study contributes some analysis and benchmarks in this regard. This current survey, carried out during March – April 2004, focuses on African NRA websites. In addition to the qualitative survey of the different website elements, the NRA websites have been ranked by an indicator developed during the study.

Migrating regulatory information processes to an online website, and subsequent ongoing maintenance requires commitment of financial and human capital resources – both of which are likely to be in short supply for developing economies. Further NRAs in developing regions serve populations that for the majority do not have PCs, Internet access or even telephones. Thus, website development must be assessed in terms of NRA priorities, benefits ands costs. Such assessments will be better informed by an awareness of what other NRAs are doing. This study grew out of a collection of regional preliminary surveys examining the extent to which NRAs were using websites to inform and communicate with the public – including citizens, businesses and other governmental and non-governmental organisations. Finally, this study tests and introduces a new indicator for ranking NRA websites. This measurement is an attempt to capture the incidence of different aspects that are important for NRA web presence. It is recognised that a website presence indicator for NRAs cannot capture overall effectiveness, efficiency or transparency of the regulator. What this benchmarking process does attempt to do, however, is to clarify categories of information and their respective users, and to indicate responsiveness and interactivity in providing information.