A2p

ICT-FACILITATED

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

INNOVATIONS

IN

BANGLADESH & INDIA

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SCOPE & LIMITATIONS

The Right to Information (RTI) is the legally enforced entitlement of citizens to claim information from public authorities through a written application process.

7 innovative ICT practices : 5 from India and 2 from Bangladesh – that are aimed at advancing access to information for transparency and accountability in governance towards the goal of improved democratic practices and public service delivery.

User Analysis – sample size, time constraints, availabilityNonuser Analysis – targeting a control groupBiases – field restrictions/constraints

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

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Assessing ‘Access’

Government to Citizen (G2C)

Third Sector/Hybrid to Citizen

(32C)

Citizen to Citizen (C2C)

Assessing ‘Information’

Use/Level

Type

Form

Assessing ‘Innovation’

Innovative/Unique

Appropriate Technology

Sustainable

Replicable

Impactful

APPROACH

Action-Oriented, Participatory & Applied

SECONDARY RESEARCH

•Scholarly government reports, working papers, and case studies

•Respected media sources

•ICT research and organizational websites

•Right to Information (RTI) research and related knowledge portals

PRIMARY RESEARCH

Focus Group Discussions (FGDs)

Observation of Use

Interviews

Surveys

FRAMEWORK FOR IDENTIFICATION & ANALYSIS

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JAANKARIBihar, India

Launched in 2007, Jaankari aims to support the creation of an efficient and effective Right to Information Act through a statewidecall center cum integrated web portal .

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ANALYZING DESIGN & OUTCOMES

Technology• Web-based platform

Bilingual input and displayReal-time application trackingOnline feedback mechanism

Access• Inclusiveness

Catering to remote, illiterate, disadvantaged and female sections of the population

Impact• High user satisfaction

Substantial number of first time users Repeat usage

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RECOMMENDATIONS

• Leveraging mobile usage

• Decentralizing the Jaankari model Establishing local level offices to increase usage from all

districts

• Augmenting the financial model Diffusing the choice of service provider Moving to a toll free number Employing a sustainable revenue model

• Using Jaankari to enhance PIO capacity

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DAISY FOR ALLChittagong, Bangladesh

Features

•Launched in 2005

•YPSA- DAISY Consortium

• Areas of Operation- 3 Chittagong subdistricts and Chittagong Hill Tracts

• Hybrid model – G2C, 32C

• Digital Talking Books -audible reading materials for print-disabled persons

•Talking Dramas on social/legal issues in story format

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TECHNOLOGIES & INFORMATION

Open Source

software

Digital talking books

Talking Dramas

National Content

Repository

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RECOMMENDATIONS

• User access

• Preference of technologies

• Utilization of information for real impact

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Matching user needs and preferences with technologies and information

Feedback and Continual Interaction

• Strengthening existing partnerships, building new partnerships

Capitalizing on High Potential Scope

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CITIZENS’ VOICESFeatures

• Launched in May 2011

• C2C model

• Web portal to facilitate engagement between service providers and citizens

• Citizen journalists facilitate submission of reports – photo, video, written

•Pilot areas: Rajshahi, Barishaland Panchagarh

• To ensure citizens’ welfare by improving public service delivery

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ICT & GOOD GOVERNANCE

27%

18%

55%

What have you learned from your engagement?

Technology How to submit reports, use flipcams etc.

GovernanceTransparency/accountability, public service delivery etc.

JournalismHow to write reports, media relations etc.

18%

55%

27%

Why do you participate in Citizens' Voices?

Citizens should have a voice

Helps to make service provision transparent and providers accountable

Will encourage the government to ensure basic services are delivered to all citizens

TECHNOLOGIES•Use of open source-Ushahidi, Frontline SMS, Wordpressand AVRO

•Multiple mediums of technologies for content submission

•Graphical display of reports on platform

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EXPLORING GAPS

RTI RTSCitizens’ Voices

0

2

4

6

8

10

Verification of reports

Engagement of Service Providers

Building awareness amongst citizens

Technology-relatedNo

. of

Cit

ize

n J

ou

rnal

ists

Area that can be improved upon

What needs to be improved the most?

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SMS-BASED MONITORING SYSTEMBihar, India

Launched in 2009, the SMS-based monitoring system aims to facilitate daily monitoring of development schemes at the local level and its transfer to the State level by leveraging cheap mobile technology.

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USE OF TECHNOLOGYForm• Low cost technology

Mobile Internal dashboard Public website

• Use of existing and multipurpose hardware

Access• Availability of data in the public domain allows for citizen engagement

Impact• Enhancement of ‘responsible’ reporting of scheme progress• Mitigation of corruption

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RECOMMENDATIONS

• Motivating compliance in reporting Identifying gaps and providing appropriate training Encouraging blockwise competition

• Addressing data issues Linking village to block level reporting Building rich data through qualitative support -Incorporating citizens’ feedback Engaging social organizations to use public data

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

District

SMS Compliance RateNovember 2009- April 2011

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ICT ECOSYSTEM FOR MGNREGSRajasthan, India

E-enable MGNREGS to strengthen public accountability

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ANALYZING TECHNOLOGIES & IMPACT

Innovative features

Touchscreen computers

Text-to-speech feature

Biometric & GPS attendance

Impact

Access to accurate information about the Scheme

Empowerment of beneficiaries – especially women

0 50 100

Info Kiosk

Biometric Attendance System

Community Radio

SMS Job Card Retrieval System

No. of respondents

Useless Somewhat useless Semi useful

Useful Extremely useful

User Perceptions of Program Components

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RECOMMENDATIONS

Enhancing portability for inclusivenessUse of a handheld device to offer information to remote

locations

Include text-to-speech feature for mobile-based solutions

Ensuring long-term sustainability Integrate banking component for direct deposit into

individual accounts

Research nonusage for understanding awareness and preferences

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GEOINFORMATICS FOR FOREST RIGHTSMaharashtra, India

Spatial technologies are used for the effective implementation of the Government of India, Forest Rights Act, 2006.

Satellite images of an ineligible claim case

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CREATING ACCESS TO INFORMATION

Geoinformatics is facilitating information flow at two levels:

• between various levels of government(G2G)

• between government and citizens(G2C)

Key benefits:• Easy to use and cost effective

technologies

• Increases transparency

• Community inclusion and empowerment

• Long term value

1.6 lakh cases have been measured by GPS and a total of 1.05 lakh cases have been decided in favor of the claimants.

0

20

40

60

80

Disagree Neither agree nor disagree

Agree Strongly agree

Has technology expedited the forest rights' claim process?

0102030405060

Disagree Neither agree nor disagree

Agree Strongly agree

Is geoinformatics better than the plane table survey method?

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EXPLOITING OPPORTUNITIES

Targeted approach towards awareness generation amongst end-users by:

Utilizing the potential of local actors

Holding ‘on-the-spot’ demonstrations.

Experience based technological improvements over time by:

Modifying aspects of GPS machines based on feedback

Expanding accessibility of website by using text-to-speech technology

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I PAID A BRIBEIndia

Reforms

Demand Side

Supply Side

Information

Bribe Data

Citizens

Citizens/Government

“Uncover the Market Price of Corruption”

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INFORMATION DISSEMINATION

Web Portal

Bribe data collected

Info-graphics presents real time data

Online Information

Concentration of corruption

FAQs

Advice column

Published Reports

Janamahiti report

Citizens’ advisory

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RECOMMENDATIONS

More inclusive technology

Take advantage of high teledensity

Interactive Voice Response System

Multi-lingual interface

Forming coalition of actors

Network across the country – NGOs, Groups of Citizens, Political leaders

Create pressure for institutional reforms

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COMPARATIVE ANALYSISLearning Across Countries

Citizens’ Voices as a ‘Jaankari-like’ platform

I Paid A Bribe & Citizens’ Voices on crowdsourcing platforms

Use of Spatial technologies– ICT Ecosystem for MGNREGA, Citizens’ Voices & Geoinformatics for Forest Rights

Use of Text-to-speech – DAISY for ALL, ICT Ecosystem for MGNREGA

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CONCLUSIONS

CROSS CUTTING ANALYSISLearning Across Innovations

1. THE MODEL OF ACCESSCHOOSING THE RIGHT PLATFORM

AWARENESS FOR ACTION-ORIENTED USAGE

2. INFORMATION TYPE AND USERICH, UNBIASED AND CREDIBLE

MULTI-STAKEHOLDER ACCESS

TRANSFORMING INFORMATION INTO ACTION

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CROSS CUTTING ANALYSIS (CONT.)

Learning Across Innovations

3. MODE OF TECHNOLOGYAPPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY CHOICEOFFERING MULTIPLE MEDIUMS MATCHING USER NEEDS OPEN SOURCE VS. PROPRIETARY

4. SUSTAINABILITY AND IMPACTCLOSING THE LOOP – ‘LAST MILE CONNECTIVITY’INSTITUTIONALIZATION

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THANK YOU

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