Government Electronic Network (GovNet)-Phase II

PROJECT DONORS
THE EUROPEAN UNION	UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Contract Reference:	2004 / 084-899
Duration:	15 January 2007 to 15 August 2009
Total Budget:	185,666 Euro European Union Funding 110,000 Euro UNDP Funding $ 91,495
Overall Objective:	Improve the quality of governance in Albania by speeding up the exchange of a wider range of information within government, and increasing public access to information.
Description:	The Project is jointly funded by the European Union and UNDP Albania and implemented by UNDP AL in close collaboration with the Council of Ministers as the key Government cooperating agency. This Project is the continuation of the first phase of GovNet. The specific objectives of the GovNet2 Project are to expand the GovNet coverage to include other main Government institutions and agencies, to improve accessibility and communications among institutions by implementing a VoIP system for the Government and to raise ICT capacities by providing training to the staff of participating Government agencies and institutions. In addition, the Project assists the Government in improving network security and the management environments. The success of the Project will largely depend on the political commitment from the Albanian Government to maintain and further the reform agenda in the ICT and in IT structures in each ministry; the commitment from the Albanian Government to provide the necessary support and financial resources for the operation and maintenance of the Government Electronic Network established during the first phase; and in a good and regular co-operation among key actors. To ensure full involvement of the key Government actors and representatives of other sectors (donor community, academia and private sector), the Council of Ministers will lead an E-Government Steering Committee (SC). The Committee will play a very important role in addressing various concerns related to procurement, set-up and existing options for having a functional and optimal Government network.  The kick-off meeting for GovNet took place on 24 January 2007.
Outputs:	Expanded GovNet coverage to include some main government agencies Trained IT staff and capacity building Improved accessibility and communications amongst line Ministries through the establishment of IP telephony system (VoIP).
Beneficiaries:	Council of Ministers IT Department in the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications Participating Ministries, Albanian Parliament and Government Agencies Albanian public at large
Partnerships:	EU, USAID, World Bank
Regions covered:	Tirana
Implementing Agency:	UNDP Albania
Contact Person:	Mr. Sokol Haxhiu ICTD Cluster Manager E-mail: sokol.haxhiu@undp.org Tel: (+355-4) 222 54063 Fax: (+355-4) 2230 406
Address:	EU – UNDP "Government Electronic Network (GovNet)" Project Rruga "Perlat Rexhepi " Pallati Unikom, kati II, Ap 11, Tirana, Albania