e-DIRAP Interview with Kishor Pradhan, Nepal on 27 June 2013

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• published: 07 Jul 2013
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e-DIRAP Interview - Country Focus: Nepal Kishor Pradhan Chief Executive Officer, Development Knowledge Management and Innovation Services Private Limited View the full written summary of the interview at http://digitalreview.asia/resources/e-dirap-interview-country-focus-nepal EXTRACT FROM SUMMARY 1. Internet and Mobile Phones Internet services in Nepal were first made available in the mid-1990s by Mercantile Communications, a private company. At that time less than 1,000 people had access to the Internet. To promote the use of the Internet among local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Nepal, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) initiated NepalNet, an online network of 30 NGOs sharing information on development issues. Through this project, supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), ICIMOD provided training to these NGOs on Internet and email use, and website design. The project also distributed computers to NGOs and provided Internet connectivity through three Internet service providers—Mercantile, World Link and CCSL. Mobile phones were introduced to Nepal around the same time as Internet services. According to the latest statistics from the International Telecommunication Union, more than 60 per cent of Nepal's population have access to mobile phones. NGOs have made use of mobile technology to send alerts and reminders via SMS. 2. Policies and Strategies ICIMOD, with support IDRC, supported the Government of Nepal in developing the IT Policy of 2000, which led to an increase in Internet penetration in Nepal. The IT Policy provided directions for ICT infrastructure development, the establishment and provision of ICT services, human resources development and the mainstreaming of ICT in different development sectors. In 2008, the IT Policy was amended to provide guidance on cybersecurity issues. In the same year, the Electronic Transaction Act was passed to regulate the use of the Internet and provide legal recognition of electronic records and digital signatures. More recently, the e-Government Masterplan (e-GMP) was finalized in 2012. The Government of Nepal, through the Ministry of Information and Communication and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, is in the process of standardizing government websites and developing a "one-stop-shop" where citizens can access government services from one point. Government agencies are starting to provide basic e-services, e.g. making tax forms available online. The National Information Technology Centre (NITC) with support from KOICA has established a Government Integrated Data Centre (GIDC). The data centre will provide the infrastructure for e-government in Nepal, and for opening up government datasets. The Right to Information Act was passed in 2007, allowing Nepali citizens to access information on the functioning of any public body in order to make governance and policymaking more transparent and accountable. The Act is in tune with similar legislation around the world that recognizes Freedom of Information as a fundamental right of citizens. 3. ICT4D Initiatives In Nepal, the NITC and the High Level Commission on Information Technology (HLCIT) are the two government agencies looking at the use of ICT for development, including e-government, the set up of telecentres in rural Nepal and building ICT capacity. In the education sector, Nepal's ICT in Education Master Plan, a UNESCO supported blueprint for the use of new technologies in schools, was launched at the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Forum on ICT in Education in September 2012. In the health sector, HealthNet Nepal provides affordable Internet service, access to health information, and technical support for several regional information-sharing initiatives. ICTs are also being explored in promoting peacebuilding and conflict resolution, and in disaster risk management and emergency response. 4. Climate Change and ICTs ICTs are being used for monitoring the changing climate using geographic information system, remote sensing and other tools. ICTs are also being used for multimedia reporting to communicate and advocate for climate change issues, and for sending alerts to affected communities. The technologies and systems are in place but efforts should now focus on how they can be used more effectively and in a more timely manner. This year, the monsoon in India and Nepal was early and caused major landslides and heavy rainfall. The process of capturing the weather data, analysing it and then effectively warning affected communities of these extreme events need to be improved.