Local e-Government
As developments of e-government on local level play important role in the general development of e-administration and e-democracy of the whole country, e-governance Academy has worked out special program for launching and coordinating projects for local governments.
In the framework of the program we offer local governments both in Estonia and abroad trainings and consultancy starting from general themes like Strategic planning of ICT or Legislative bases for implementing ICT to more specific topics like Use of social media in communication of local governments. Considering the level of development of Estonian Information Society – good level infrastructure, citizen’s closeness to Internet and state through the use of everyday e-services - one of the key isuse by now is e-envolvement and e-participation. It refers to the means of ICT-supported envolvement and participation in processes concerning administration, policy making, decision making, service delivery, information provision, consultation, deliberation, etc. For Estonian governments we have compiled Guidelines for e-envolvements (unfortunately available only in Estonian).
In our research projects we have analyzed the situation and problems regarding the use of ICT in Estonian local governments (in 2006, in cooperation with National Audit Office of Estonia, see report State support to local governments for developing the information society . We have also conducted several practical studies about websites as tool of e-involvement for local governments.
In framework of project EPACE (data collection project on several themes related to democracy and citizen participation. Project partners include the Ministry of Justice in Finland (coordinator), the State Chancellery of the Republic of Estonia and the Ministry of Integration and Gender Equality in Sweden) we compiled in 2009 the Handbook on e-Democracy for EU member states. One chapter in this handbook is dedicated on local governments.
We are waiting to our trainings leaders and officials of local governments all over the world. Our lectors are absolute top-specialist of the field of e-government and our trainings are very practical consisting of various in-site visits to Estonian state institutsions, ICT Demo Center and local governments. Please find our exemplary training agenda for local governments here! Please consider, that our agenda can be always adjusted to specific interests and needs of the group and country it represents. During last 4 years we have trained in our Academy more than 600 high officials and specialists from more than 34 countries, many of which are representatives of local governments. We have also compiled handbooks for ICT orgnaization and coordination for Macedonian and Serbian local governments.
Kristina Reinsalu, Director of Local Governments Program
tel. +372 5281392