Local e-Governance Among the applications of ICTs is in local governance, where their use can improve local management and administration, and also lead to greater participation and transparency in local government.

Among the needs is to improve the knowledge, skills and capacities of people in governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations in the use of ICTs in governance and government. It is within such a context that UNESCO’s work on building capacities in e-governance is unfurling, with initial training activities in Africa and the Caribbean. In the Caribbean, in collaboration with the Caribbean Centre for the Development Administration (CARICAD), and the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the UNESCO-Kingston Office has launched a series of electronic governance related capacity development activities. This initiative includes the staging of in-country workshops, with a final two-day workshop in February 2006 in Grenada following earlier events in Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Among related activities, a specialized course on local e-governance in the Caribbean has been initiated by the University of the West Indies Distance Education Centre (UWIDEC) and the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean in Kingston. The course is being offered on a twice-yearly, with a first such course comprised of four modules: Local electronic administration; Local electronic government; Electronic democracy; Future directions. And at the national level, UNESCO seeks to provide support to Member States in the use of ICTs to enhance government services and promote transparent and effective government. For further information, click here