Among the many promises of the digital revolution is its potential to strengthen democracy and make governments more responsive to the needs of their citizens. E-government is the use of information and communications technologies (ICT) to transform government by making it more accessible, effective and accountable. E-government includes:

• providing greater access to government information;
• promoting civic engagement by enabling the public to interact with government officials;
  making government more accountable by making its operations more transparent and thus reducing the opportunities for corruption; and
• providing development opportunities, especially benefiting rural and traditionally underserved communities.

E-government is not a tool limited to the richer countries. Indeed, some of the most innovative uses of the Internet in governance are appearing in the developing world, as ICTs are being used to streamline government and connect it more closely with the people it is supposed to serve.

E-government is not a panacea. Although it can facilitate change and create new, more efficient administrative processes, e-government will not solve all problems of corruption and inefficiency, nor will it overcome all barriers to civic engagement.

Moreover, e-government does not happen just because a government buys more computers and puts up a website. While online service delivery can be more efficient and less costly than other channels, cost savings and service improvements are not automatic. E-government is a process that requires planning, sustained dedication of resources and political will.

But it is now clear around the globe that the utilization of ICT has the potential of revolutionizing the way people interact with government and each other. From the rural farmlands of Gyandoot in India to small villages in Africa, e-government is improving the condition of people in developing countries by improving access to information useful to their daily lives, providing government services, and offering new opportunities to participate in the political process.

see also --> eGovernment Handbook for Developing Countries