Government Service Centers: New Pri
Government Service Centers: New Prime Minister Regulations Could Reduce Bureaucracy
On June 2008, Prime Minister Decree Number (1551) of 2008 was issued permitting the establishment of a new generation of Government Service Centers. The intention is a simple one: to establish new government offices which would provide citizens with a wide range of public services in a modern and efficient manner. The Centers are to be established by decision from the Minister of Administrative Development after consulting the Governor within whose jurisdiction the Center is located.
The Decree does not specify the services which are to be provided by the new Centers, thus permitting the Minister of Administrative Development to gradually include all basic government services: issuing formal documents, applying for permits, certification of documents, etc. The strength of the new approach is that it empowers those working in the Centers to fully represent citizens requesting the public services with other governmental agencies. In other words, those Centers and the officers working in them will act as intermediaries between those requesting the services and the original government providers.
The Prime Minister Decree includes a number of key ideas that are worth noting:
- It states that the new Government Service Centers may be managed and even established with participation from the private sector. This may encourage private companies to undertake the business of providing public services either in its entirety or by focusing on specific areas or functions.
- An important emphasis is placed on respecting the secrecy of information pertaining to applicants for services.
- The new Centers will be liable for any damage that may inflict those requesting the services as a result of negligence.
- This is a bold and innovative approach in dealing with red tape and government bureaucracy. However, its success will depend on the capacity to implement and structure the Centers, employ the right people, offer the right incentives, and follow-up its projects. Once this is implemented, one can properly assess the impact of this initiative on one of Egypt’s most pressing problems.
On June 2008, Prime Minister Decree Number (1551) of 2008 was issued permitting the establishment of a new generation of Government Service Centers. The intention is a simple one: to establish new government offices which would provide citizens with a wide range of public services in a modern and efficient manner. The Centers are to be established by decision from the Minister of Administrative Development after consulting the Governor within whose jurisdiction the Center is located.
The Decree does not specify the services which are to be provided by the new Centers, thus permitting the Minister of Administrative Development to gradually include all basic government services: issuing formal documents, applying for permits, certification of documents, etc. The strength of the new approach is that it empowers those working in the Centers to fully represent citizens requesting the public services with other governmental agencies. In other words, those Centers and the officers working in them will act as intermediaries between those requesting the services and the original government providers.
The Prime Minister Decree includes a number of key ideas that are worth noting:
- It states that the new Government Service Centers may be managed and even established with participation from the private sector. This may encourage private companies to undertake the business of providing public services either in its entirety or by focusing on specific areas or functions.
- An important emphasis is placed on respecting the secrecy of information pertaining to applicants for services.
- The new Centers will be liable for any damage that may inflict those requesting the services as a result of negligence.
- This is a bold and innovative approach in dealing with red tape and government bureaucracy. However, its success will depend on the capacity to implement and structure the Centers, employ the right people, offer the right incentives, and follow-up its projects. Once this is implemented, one can properly assess the impact of this initiative on one of Egypt’s most pressing problems.