Public Administration and Information Technology 27 Rowena Cullen Graham Hassall E ditors Achieving Sustainable E-Government in Pacific Island States Public Administration and Information Technology Volume 27 Series editor Christopher G. Reddick, San Antonio, TX, USA More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/10796 Rowena Cullen Graham Hassall (cid:129) Editors Achieving Sustainable fi E-Government in Paci c Island States 123 Editors RowenaCullen Graham Hassall Schoolof Government Schoolof Government Victoria University ofWellington Victoria University ofWellington Wellington Wellington NewZealand NewZealand Public Administration andInformation Technology ISBN978-3-319-50970-9 ISBN978-3-319-50972-3 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-50972-3 LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2016960724 ©SpringerInternationalPublishingAG2017 Thisworkissubjecttocopyright.AllrightsarereservedbythePublisher,whetherthewholeorpart of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission orinformationstorageandretrieval,electronicadaptation,computersoftware,orbysimilarordissimilar methodologynowknownorhereafterdeveloped. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publicationdoesnotimply,evenintheabsenceofaspecificstatement,thatsuchnamesareexemptfrom therelevantprotectivelawsandregulationsandthereforefreeforgeneraluse. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authorsortheeditorsgiveawarranty,expressorimplied,withrespecttothematerialcontainedhereinor foranyerrorsoromissionsthatmayhavebeenmade. Printedonacid-freepaper ThisSpringerimprintispublishedbySpringerNature TheregisteredcompanyisSpringerInternationalPublishingAG Theregisteredcompanyaddressis:Gewerbestrasse11,6330Cham,Switzerland Foreword IamdelightedtobeinvitedtowriteaForewordtothisverytimelyvolumewhichis about a subject ofconsiderable importancetothe small island states of thePacific. E-government, the application of information and communications technologies in the public sector in Pacific Island countries, has the potential to make a major contribution to their developing economies and to link our small countries to the globalknowledgeeconomy.AsthePacificRegionalDigitalStrategyof2010noted, information and communications technologies (ICTs) are ‘universally acknowl- edged as powerful tools for development essential to social development and economic growth.’ They are also ‘critical to the development of good governance [and] vital for sustainable development.’ InthePacific,wefacemanychallengesincludinglackofeconomyofscale,lack ofresources,tyrannyofdistance,lackofcapacityandexpertise,poorconnectivity, expensiveandcentralizedservices,tonameafew.ThisbookdemonstratesthatICT isakeyenablingandtransformationaltoolessentialtoaddressingthesechallenges. Due to the lack of resources, there are competing interests when allocating these. Do we use resources to build roads, climate proof schools or promote e-government?Forthisreason,theknowledgeandinsightspresentedinthevolume are important to us as Pacific leaders. The book gives us an overview of what has beenachievedtodate,andremindsusoftheimportantroleofleadershipandgood public policy in bringing technological change into our countries, in seeing policy throughtoimplementation,andensuringthatsuchchangeissustainable,andleads togoodgovernance.Soitisvaluabletoreadofsomeoftheexcitinginitiativesthat have been taking place in both our regional organizations, and in individual countries andthereal gains that have come from them. It isevenmore valuableto have them all brought together in one place, and to be able to get such a com- prehensiveoverviewofe-governmentinPacificIslandcountriesandthebenefitsit brings. In fact this book localizes e-government, making it more e-government for SIDs.Inaddition,thebookofferssomevaluableanalysisofwhatworksanddoesn’t work, and what makes for sustainable change, applying relevant theoretical approaches to help us see the bigger picture. v vi Foreword MostPacificcountriesconsistofwidelydispersedislandsthatarepoorlyserved by airline and shipping services. The poor transportation services are further compounded by lack of connectivity in these outer islands. The connectivity optionswhich arediscussed inthe book,especially theprovision ofservicesusing mobilephones,affordthemostpromisingsolutiontomitigatethelackofaccessible servicesintheseremotecommunities.Governmentservicesthatcanbeprovidedon a mobile phone, mobile and online banking promoting financial inclusion that can enable government officials and customers to manage their financial affairs online, online tutorials that can supplement the lack of teachers, e-health systems that can improve health services, and early warning systems that can provide life saving information;areallpartofarangeofe-governmentservicesthatcanbeprovidedto the comfort of your beautiful Fale in your remote island. But these services can only be provided through better and more affordable connectivity,bothinternationallyanddomestically.Since2010wehavemadegreat progress.Wearebuildinginfrastructureandcapacity,andlearninghowtomakethe mostofthesenewtechnologiesforgrowthandprosperity.Despitethesmallsizeof Pacific countries, collaborations with development partners, reductions in tech- nology costs and increased demand for capacity have made it possible to improve levels of connectivity through the use offibre optic cables and satellites to reduce theisolationofremotecommunities.Whowouldhavebelievedthatcountrieswith about 100,000 people could justify connecting up using these technologies. But morethan70%ofPacificSIDsareeitherconnectedorintheprocessofconnecting up via fibre optic cables. With increased affordability, communication services are moreaccessibleandaremakingthelivesofourpeoplebetterandprovidingaccess to global knowledge and global partnerships. E-government applications, such as e-procurement, e-business registration, and information portals, are starting to transform our governments, making them more efficient, relevant and accountable to citizens. The use of new communications technologies such as the world wide web,mobiletechnologyandsocialmediaisenablingPacificgovernmentstoreach more citizens and helping them become more informed and aware about the roles and responsibilities of government and citizens. At the same time I am very proud of the achievements of our regional organi- zations in leading e-government in the region—the Pacific Islands Forum, the University of the South Pacific, the establishment of Japan Pacific ICT Centre at USPanddevelopmentofnewICTprogrammes,andthePacificCommunity(SPC). The role oftheForum insetting regionalpolicyand assisting member countries to develop good cross-cutting policy and practice, and the role of the SPC with its focus on scientific and technical expertise, its regional databases and support for national e-government initiatives are rightfully acknowledged by the authors. Indeed,thefactthatPacificLeadersin2015identifiedICTasaregionalpriorityisa testimonytotheregionalorganizations’recognitionandadvocacyofthekeyroleof ICTindevelopment.FrommypersonalexperienceinICTinbothTongaandatthe SPC, I have learned what it takes to ensure that projects succeed and are sustain- able.E-governmentisacriticalissueforusandweneedtoexploittheopportunities it presents but be mindful that we do not have the resources to become a testing Foreword vii ground for ideas or ambitious agendas. We need national champions to drive its implementationbutwestillneedtobuildcarefully,reflectingonwhatworkswithin our own cultures and meets our particular needs, selecting carefully from the opportunitiesthatpresentthemselves,buildingcapacityandlearningfromourown as well as others’ experience. Theeditors,GrahamHassallandRowenaCullen,havedoneanexcellentjobin ensuring that so many perspectives on e-government have been covered, from global and regional policy, to infrastructural and regulatory issues, to key gov- ernment sectors that have been transformed by ICTs. The book’s emphasis on having the right legislative and policy framework and the importance of educating the lawmakers and policy makers is crucial as Pacific leaders can’t, or shouldn't, regulate what they don’t understand. The authors have integrated their extensive knowledge and experience of governance, their insight and knowledge of the region,toensurethatissuesareconsideredwithinthePacificcontext.Thebookalso identifies many of the factors that that are important for successful and sustainable e-government,andtheimportanceoflocalownership.Thereisnosilverbullettoa successfule-governmentprogramme.EachPacificcountryshouldidentifywhereit is in developing e-government, focus on its priorities, then develop its own e-government roadmap that can include legislative review to enable e-government services,establishinganindependentregulator,ICTcapacitybuilding,definingdata architecture, improving international and local connectivity, using ICT for climate change and disaster risk reduction, or implementing e-procurement. I hope that politicians, policy makers, administrators, technical advisors and development partners will all read this book; I am sure all will learn something of value. Let’s celebrate these successes while we take note of the challenges we face as small isolatedisland nations,andthemagnitudeofthetaskthatliesahead.Weare readyforit,andweembraceit—wehavecomealongway,butaheadliesaneven more exciting e-Pacific Island country journey. Malo ‘aupito Hon. Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga and Minister for Meteorological Services, Energy, Information, Disaster Risk Management Environment, Climate Change, and Communication (MEIDEC) Acknowledgements We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the many individuals and orga- nizations who have contributed to this research in some way. We are grateful for research funding support from the Victoria University of Wellington University Research Fund, the Victoria University School of Government, and Digicel Papua New Guinea. Thanks also are due to our research assistants,PotoAiafiandBertrandGuyanderwhoworkedontheprojectatvarious times, to Megan Clark of the Philson Medical Library at the University of Auckland,andespeciallytooureditorVicLipski,whosecarefulworkandexpertise have contributed in great measure to the quality and consistency of the text. We would like to express our gratitude to all our colleagues at Victoria University and elsewhere in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific for reviewing chapters: Arthur Jorari, Ioana Chan Mow, Keith Davidson, Emele Duituturaga, Vince Galvin, Gerald Haberkorn, Lenore Hamilton, Maureen Hilyard, Karl Lofgren, Frank March, Jessica Noske Turner, Geoff Rashbrooke, Simone Sala, EllenStrickland,SalanietaTamanikaiwaimaro,JanetToland,AmandaWatson,and Ruby Va’a. Wewouldalsoliketothankourco-authorswhohavebroughttheirconsiderable experienceandknowledgeofthePacificIslandstothisproject,andSiaosiSovaleni for his Foreword. Finally,wewouldliketothankthelargenumberofpeoplewhogavegenerously of their time and insights in our many visits to the Pacific Islands, and who understood the importance of getting this story told. Warm Pacific greetings and thanks to: Charles Ah Poe, Tuiamalo Ah Sam, Taniela Aiafi, Ronnie Aiolupotea, Cheryl Ala, N. Sadiq Ali, Iluminado Aloaina, Ronald Amigo, Winifred Kula Amini, Anthea Arnhambat, Howard Aru, Paul Asitewa, Audrey Aumua, Josephine Baig, Paul Barker, Jacquie Berrell, Ron Box, David Braun, Derek Brian, Manu Bobola, Alifereti Bulivou, Brett Collett, Marion Crawshaw, Douglas Creevey, Donnie De Freitas, Phoebe Dengate Thrush, Simon Donald, Nial Downey, Bredina Drollet, LynleeEarles,SamEra,ManaEtches,RichardFalvey,PeterForau,DerekFrench, ix x Acknowledgements Tau Geno-Hoire, Hon Nandi Glassie, Mary Harris, Kelly Haines-Sutherland, Lenore Hamilton, Hugo Hebala, Douveri Henao, Bernie Hill, Tepua Hunter, Margaret Inifiri, Elizabeth Iro, Kari James, Stuart Jones, Arthur Jorari, Lawrence Kalino, Julius Kane, Kevin Hwasihao, Kamrooz Khademazad, Narith Khamla, Cheryl King, Peniana Lalabalavu, Jeffrey Tila Langata, Tomas Lamanauskas, TupaimatunaIulaiLavea,AionoFanaafiLeTagaloa,JulienneLeka-Maliaki,Brian Lenga, Brian Louey-Gung, Marke Lowen, Joe McCarter, Dan McGarry, Darren McLean,SammieMaeasi,MoffettMaenao,DavidMain,PapaliiMalietauMalietoa, Anju Mangal, Anna Marikawa, Ellasalah Matatier, Roana Mataitini, Kyle Matheson, Robert Matheson, Leasiolagi Malama Meleisea, Dennis Meone, Sina Meredith, Samson Metofa, Jackson Miake, Ane Moananu, Adolfo Montenegro, Emmanuel Narokobi, Khamla Narith, Louise Nasak, Ann Naupa, Richard Neves, Jimmy Nipo, John Nirua, Rodel Nodora, Kora Nou, Ezekiel Nukuro, Roy Obed, Une O’Ome, Hinauri Petana, Charles and Barbara Pierce, Ivan Pomelau, Sascha Piggott,AaronPitqaue,IanRakafia,GeorginaRoberts,GregoryRofeta,SeyhaRos, Anthony Saaga, Paul Sai’i, Manu Samoa, Fred Samuel, Nicole Sarkis, Sir Bruce and Lady Keithie Saunders, Emma Scadeng, Cheryl Scott, John Secker, Gary Seddon, David Sheppard, Andrew Simpson, Christian Slaven, Rara Soro, Siaosi Sovaleni, Terence Sua, Peter Swain, Epeli Tagi, Taggy Tangimetua, Laeimau Oketevi Tanuvasa-Savea, Len Tarivonda, George Tasso, Ambong Thompson, Ian Thomson, Gibson Tito, Simon Tiwok, Sylvain Todman, Llewellyn Toulman, Ronald Tomausi, Sir Andrew Trawen, William Tuivaga, Beau Tydd, Lasse Vestergaard, Josiah Vira, Ione Viji, Save Vocea, Korai Vurobaravu, Johnson Wabaiat, Jeremy Watson, Thomas Webster, Shadrach Welegtabit, Ashley Wickham, Charles Yala, and Henry Yamo. Wellington, October 2016 Rowena Cullen Graham Hassall