UN Choose Bahrain to Conduct the First Specialized Workshop
Within the events of Bahrain International e-Government Forum 2009, taking place from 25 -27 May 2009, in Isa Cultural Center – Juffair, the first specialized workshop was held yesterday under the title “Measurement and Evaluation Tool for e-government Readiness- Meter 2” was delivered by Mr. Richard Kerby, Senior Inter-Regional Advisor, United Nations-Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA).
“Meter 2” is a collaboration between UNDESA and the Center for Technology in Government, State University of New York at Albany, to consolidate the second version of Meter 2, with technical advisory for the project from Microsoft.
Consisting of five main pillars, Meter 2 is considered pivotal to the establishment of a supportive enabling environment for e-government. The pillars are; commitment, legislation, vision and policy, organization, and technology. Within each pillar there are a number of sub-themes and related statements identifying essential factors, choices and challenges which can influence the capability of governments to effectively harness technology for government transformation.
The workshop was attended by a number of specialists in e-government programs from ministries and governmental authorities concerned with the United Nations e-Government Readiness Index, in addition to a number of participants from Singapore, Kuwait, UAE, and KSA.
“Due to its direct involvement with Arab countries, the UN decided that the Kingdom of Bahrain was the ideal centre to launch the first workshop of Meter 2, developed by UNDESA, to give governments the tools to identify the direct factors and effects that influence government employees,” said Mr. Kerby.
“I enjoyed working with such dynamic participants at the workshop. They had relevant questions and demonstrated an eagerness to learn,” he added.
Mr. Richard Kerby provides policy advice and provides technical cooperation to governments on issues connected with e-government applications; benchmarking and measuring progress in e-government development, and establishing support networks.
