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UNDP and
ICT
Information and Communications
Technology (ICT) is an increasingly powerful tool for participating
in global markets; promoting political accountability; improving
the delivery of basic services; and enhancing local development
opportunities. UNDP helps countries draw on expertise and best practices
from around the world to develop strategies that expand access to
ICT and harness it for development. For more on UNDP's global programmes
using ICT click
here.
UNDP Turkey -- helping
to maximise Turkey's ICT potential
Such is the importance of
the role which ICT can play in helping Turkey achieve its outstanding
development goals that UNDP Turkey made ICT the central theme of
its 2004 National
Human Development Report for Turkey. The government of Turkey,
also recognising the importance of ICT, has highlighted it among
its development priorities for 2005.
Over the last decade there
have been significant developments in Turkey in formulating strategies
and policies to maximise the benefits of Information and Communications
Technology (ICT). These have included the establishment of an Internet
Council, the Public Internet Services Council (Kamunet), the e-Commerce
Coordination Council (ETKK) and finally a Telecommunications Council.
However Turkey still has no
national ICT strategy or policy which would integrate the full range
of programs and interventions in this field. Turkey's well-developed
physical infrastructure in telephone technology, radio and TV broadcasting,
places it an advantageous position for realizing the human development
benefits expected from ICT. The foundations have been laid for continued
development in the ICT sector and in the establishment of a comprehensive
legislative and regulatory framework. In addition, for the first
time, the Government has earmarked significant financial resources
for the "e-transformation" of Turkey.
UNDP Turkey has been working
in close relationship with public and private sectors as well as
with civil society to formulate and implement sound "e-governance"
initiatives. UNDP Turkey has been particularly active in helping
Turkey achieve a number of committed goals involving the harnessing
of ICT for development:
The
e-Europe + Action Plan was launched by the European Commission
in December 1999. Implementation of the Action Plan in Turkey is
known as e-Turkey. The Action Plan requires action in three main
areas:
- Inexpensive, fast and reliable
Internet
- Investment in people and
skills
- Encouraging Internet use
Within this context, UNDP
Turkey supports a number of initiatives to harness the potential
use of ICT:
The city of Yalova :
a model for e-governance:
As part of the e-Turkey
programme, UNDP Turkey is working in partnership with the municipality
of Yalova to pilot a local e-Governance model for Turkey. The
model also benefits from and contributes to UNDP's Local Agenda-21
programmes in Yalova and the Local
Agenda 21 network across Turkey. The Yalov@e-governance
project not only focuses on the increased use of ICT for improved
delivery of services of the local government, but also aims to
create an "e-citizen" by educating the wider city population
so as to enable interaction.
Enhancing efficiency
at Turkey's Ministry for Foreign Affairs:
Since the 1980s UNDP Turkey
has worked in with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen
the Ministry's human resources and ICT infrastructure. With the
successful implementation of a joint UNDP-MFA project, Automation
MFA, has been possible to demonstrate an effective use
of ICT for delivery of government services in Turkey. This has
succeeded in achieving an almost "paperless office"
and the best practice from this experience has been -- and will
continue to be -- shared with other governmental bodies for wider
use across Turkey.
Private Sector Partnerships:
UNDP in Turkey is also working
in partnership with the private sector in Turkey to facilitate
people's equal access to resources. UNDP Turkey has been in an
agreement with Cisco since 2002, to expand Cisco's
Networking Academy Program in less developed regions of
Turkey. This aims to enhance employment opportunities for Turkey's
young people and to strengthen Turkey's human resources capacities.
For more on UNDP Turkey's relationship with the private sector,
click
here.
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