Introduction

Abstract

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) constitute an increasingly important element in the economic planning strategy of the vast majority of developing countries (OECD, 2003; UNDP, 2004). One application that has received special attention in recent years has been the use of ICTs in the pursuit of good governance, usually under the banner of e-governance. In principle, the deployment of ICTs to improve public sector governance is not new. ICTs have for quite some time now played an important role in public sector reform initiatives mainly to improve the efficiency of bureaucracies and to enhance the quality of information for public sector decision-making. What is new is the use of the prefix ‘e’ and the implications of that addition. Facilitated by the advent of the internet, only recently have these technologies become affordable for mass deployment in the public sector offering the opportunity to increase efficiency of public administration and improve the interface between government and citizens.