2
When delivering services to the Myanmar people, MCRB recommended that services
should be widely available in Burmese and also in ethnic languages in the ethnic regions.
In addition, MCRB highlighted that time should be given to ensure local level stakeholder
engagement and communication with regards to building towers and laying fibre, and
requiring and enforcing adequate health and safety protection for workers involved (See
Chapter 4.6 on Labour and Chapter 4.7 on Land).
The E-Governance Master Plan
Myanmar is currently developing an E-Governance Master Plan 2015 with support from
the Asian Development Bank (ADB) 80. The Government is focusing on streamlining its
processes to improve efficiency through the development of a common framework for
ICTs, transparency and a wider reach of public service delivery. The Master Plan will
guide continuous and more detailed planning in the areas covered. For example, the
Master Plan lays out a conceptual architecture for cybersecurity, while the detailed
operationalisation will be developed to meet the needs and specific characteristics of
evolving e-governance interventions.
A draft E-Governance Master Plan shared with the ICT Sector Working Group focuses on
the use of ICTs in the reform of public-sector processes to implement a coherent and
systematic approach to the design, evaluation and adoption of the systems underpinning
public services to improve their delivery and efficiency. Out of a total of 21 Government
Ministries, only nine are included in the draft Master Plan. 81 Process reform is intended to
be supported by common infrastructure and shared software applications among the nine
participating Ministries.
The common shared software being used across these ministries is intended to focus on
areas that will improve operational efficiency and communication within the Government,
including email, human resources management and payroll, and e-office tools. Under the
E-Governance Master Plan, the MCIT is also tasked with developing a ‘citizen service
centre’. It is unclear if this task overlaps with the Myanmar National Portal (to provide
accessible public information on Government services) being developed under the World
Bank’s Telecommunications Sector Reform Project (see section A above) 82 and what
80 ADB, “Project 47158-001: Design of e-Governance Master Plan and Review of Information and
Communication Technology Capacity in Academic Institutions” (2013)
81 Participating ministries include the: Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Ministry of
Construction, Ministry of Power, Ministry of NPED, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of
Home Affair, Ministry of Rail Transport. It is unclear why these ministries, and not others (or all), are
participating.
82 The World Bank’s Telecommunications Sector Reform project calls for the development of “A mobile
friendly Myanmar National Portal ($ 3.62 million) will be financed to provide citizens, businesses, and visitors
(comprising of foreign workers, investors and tourists) with a single window into the information and services
offered by the Government. Over time the National Portal will allow its users to find relevant information,
provide suggestions and feedback, and transact services in a safe and convenient electronic environment.”
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CHAPTER 2:
ICT GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS, POLICIES & LEGAL FRAMEWORK