Dear GKD List Members, Earlier this year, USAID organized a workshop on Decentralization and Local Governance in the Asia and Near East Region. The workshop took place in Cairo, Egypt. You can find out more on the workshop's web site <http://www.localgovernance.org>. I was lucky enough to be attending the workshop and to present in a panel on "IT and the Media". One of my co-panelists made a presentation on a very interesting project in Lebanon where ICT is being used to support local administration at the level of municipalities.
Link to the Presentation: http://www.localgovernance.org/binderdocs/pres_freij.pdf One element of this project in Lebanon, which is also present in one of our dot-ORG projects in Central America is the use of GIS (Geographic Information System) to assist local planning and track all cadastral, financial and administrative data related to the community. "The Geographic Information System (GIS) dramatically increases the accuracy of information utilized in municipal operations and planning through computerized 'mapping' of more than seventy layers of physical, financial, and personal data. Electronically linked to administrative and financial databases, the system provides a wealth of information that will be used in the planning, inspection, audit, assessment, and collection processes. The GIS is a powerful tool that can be used by municipal councils in assessing the needs of the community, and in identifying, implementing, and sustaining economic development projects related to tourism, industry, agriculture, and other sectors. Importantly, use of the GIS will enable decision-makers to promote transparency and accountability in the appraisal and collection of taxes and fees, ensuring that, for example, outdoor advertising licenses and construction permits are issued appropriately." >From the SUNY / CLD web site: http://www.suny-cld.edu.lb/ui/systems.aspx I was wondering if there were other examples of successful use of GIS for local government? Actually, as I wrote the last sentence, I decided to do a little web search and came upon what looks like a goldmine: Lessons that can be learned from using GIS in LGUs in developing countries (part of a larger student thesis): http://www.gisdevelopment.net/thesis/thesis1/less4.htm Best regards, Barbara Fillip Barbara Fillip, Ph.D. Communication Specialist DOT-COM Alliance http://www.dot-com-alliance.org (202) 884-8003 ------------ This DOT-COM Discussion is funded by the dot-ORG USAID Cooperative Agreement, and hosted by GKD. http://www.dot-com-alliance.org provides more information. To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd For past messages, see: http://www.dot-com-alliance.org/archive.html
