Thursday 12 August 2010

Is DPADM duplicating UNDP or vice-versa? Millions spent for double entry databases !

The above is the latest, revamped UNDP E-governance and Access to Information via ICT website. UNDP's Governance Unit has invested heavily in this new website, with dedicated 35 staffers (4 Million USD in salaries only) as well as time dedicated from their respective Governance Focal Points in each UNDP Country Office (CO) worldwide. In short this makes UNDP's website a one-stop-shop for every development expert, donor, government employee as well UN specialist who wants detailed info on Governance areas from specific country or group of nations. In this website you can find detailed info on:

- ICT and Governance;
- eGovernance case studies;
- gender & e-governance;
- eParliaments; and much more

Now, here at UN-DESA, DPADM is fully embarked on developing its "own" databases on Government around the world. The only problem is that DESA/DPADM management wants to do all these without recognizing the existing capacity of UNDP extensive governance Network at all COs, nor taping into the wealth of information already made available from UNDP, UNESCO or other sister Agencies. Thus blowing away $$$ Millions of USD from taxpayers in "Chinese and South Korean database experts". ($7 million so far in salaries and consultants)

Instead of "reinventing the wheel" DESA/DPADM should try to complement the work done so far from other agencies.

Wouldn't be better that instead of burning money in some nepotism hiring at NY/HQs we could have send money and help the Chinese whom are suffering these days in latest mud-slides???



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