4. Sector absorbtion
While the network was initially used as a tool to support financial systems, its success led to a new role for RAFE. Suddenly everyone wanted RAFE’s services and they could not provide Internet connections fast enough. A project for computerizing the Ministry of Justice was entrusted to RAFE. The popularity of its technical services have accidentally made RAFE one of Cape Verde’s driving ICT forces. Today RAFE is as much involved in technical issues as it is in providing financial applications. Within two years, RAFE’s staff increased from three technicians to 50, around 30 of which have a university degree. And, according to their staff, they are still not enough to cope with all the work there is. Ultimately RAFE wants to connect all government agencies—including the local governments—across all of Cape Verde’s islands to the government network, and provide schools and notfor-profit organizations with Internet access.
Figure 4.1: RAFE at Work
RAFE has created an internal database and applications to facilitate the municipalities’ accounting system and a database on the government’s human resources (including information on staff, their CV, photo, etc.). RAFE hosts some 20 government sites, with the server located in the Ministry of Finance. RAFE’s tasks also include training on how to use the Internet, email and government databases. Some training modules are available online, and staff can follow them at their convenience.
1998 within the context of a World Bank project on public sector reform. RAFE’s initial tasks were to: i.
Improve the quality and availability of public finance data;
ii.
Increase the accountability of the use of public resources by all public institutions;
iii.
Improve the management of external and internal debt; and
iv.
Develop capacity to manage public resources at the municipalities, which acquired financial autonomy with the 1998 Local Finance Law.1
RAFE is planning to make public administration more user-friendly by providing government forms and services on the Internet. This would include a one-stop portal uniting different activities in a single location. For example, importing and registering a car in Cape Verde requires completion of almost a dozen forms located at multiple locations. With RAFE’s solution, the paperwork associated with an automobile might be as easy as a mouse-click. RAFE also wants to help Cape Verdeans living abroad to stay in touch with home, by creating useful content.
The development of computer systems and training were essential in order to carry out those activities. RAFE initially established a Local Area Network (LAN) to connect the Ministry of Finance with the main government building (Palacio de Gobierno) across town. Soon afterwards RAFE connected the government to the Internet via a 256 kbps leased line.
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