[kictanet] Day 3 of 10- BPO Discussions, Institutional Frameworks

[muriuki mureithi]

Hi walu

I think the more the organs - govt/ private sector participating in the bpo
sector the merrier. Each of the organisations comes in with   resources and
goodwill to the help the sector based on its specialised mandate and
mission.  The tragedy is if the organisations are pulling apart or
uncoordinated and thus lack of synergy. The resources and goodwill is lost.

Two approaches borrowing heavily from the strategies to mainstreams icts in
1990s have been tried for such industry initiatives. In the first approach,
a coordinating organ based on   policy and regulatory mandate is established
and positioned to operate at a level higher that the participating
ministries/departments. In our situation such a body would be
interministerial   operating under the auspices of the President, Prime
Minister or Vice President (I am not expert on protocol and this is not
intended) . At this level such an institution is able to easily draw and
coordinate the resources that are necessary to   take the BPO sector to the
next the level. If you recall in 1990s those countries who wanted to
mainstream ICT for fast development largely used this model.  This model
avoids BPO being seen as ministry of Infocom project and therefore any
contribution to its success is an infocom success and their input 'wasted'

Another approach is a legal mandate and through it establishes a purpose
built independent body. Appointments at the board and any of its other
organs will be selected to ensure all stakeholders are integrated in its
decision making. Such a body would need to be positioned in the ministry
that provides most resources or backward/forward linkages. In the Kenyan
scenario, we need to address the big question - is bpo a telecom issue or a
trade issue. In South Africa it is trade issue, globally, it is an activity
of International Trade Centre of UNCTAD/WTO. ITU provides technical skills
if necessary.

Act we must act   now to tap the goodwill and resources

Cheers 
MM




-----Original Message-----
From: kictanet-bounces+mureithi=summitstrategies.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+mureithi=summitstrategies.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.k
e] On Behalf Of Walubengo J
Sent: 04 June 2009 08:14
To: mureithi at summitstrategies.co.ke
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: [kictanet] Day 3 of 10- BPO Discussions, Institutional Frameworks



Dear Listers,

I am encouraged by the flood of ideas that kicked in after Bill and Dr.
Ndemo's interventions.  Ofcourse Kenduiywo, Bakuli and Peres your discourse
is as insightful as that of MM and Barrack.  Lets keep the ideas flowing on
previous themes even as we move onto today's theme - just ensure you pick
against the corresponding subject line and post.   

I wish to open today's theme on Institutional Frameworks. The Researchers
found that in S.Africa, Mauritius, and India, the Private Sector BPO lobby
groups, Data Security Groups and Government Agencies were working
harmoniously with clear, non-overlapping mandates to support the BPO sector.
In Kenya it was found that several bodies were involved in the BPO Sector.
These were largely Government agencies such as the Min of Education
(Technology Parks), Kenya ICT Board, KenInvest, Export Promotion Council,
CCK amongst others. The biggest challenge in Kenya was that there seemed to
be no overall, cordinating body overseeing these functions - leading to alot
of duplicated and un-cordinated effort from the various Players. And so our
next Qtn is:

Qtn 5: What needs to be done to improve/strengthen the institutional
framework in order for the BPO and outsourcing sector to play its planned
role in the Kenyan economy?

We have today on this since tmrw we shall move into the Government
Subsidiy/Incentive Issues for the BPO Sector.

walu.



      

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