ICT for Public Participation, Leadership and Governance Course

INTRODUCTION

In present times, everyone needs a basic understanding of ICT and how to make productive use of it, just to be a good public employee, citizen or even a leader. Learning how to be competent users of ICT technologies is important so that one becomes successful in their careers in leadership and also be able to effectively participate in the modern day society.

If one was to count its more than one billion users, Facebook could be considered the third largest nation in the world. Twitter’s more than 200 million monthly active global users can communicate instantly with one another about any subject at any time.

In this era of ICT dominance, citizens, businesses, journalists, and government officials use ICT in a variety of ways: to praise or voice concern about their governments, to spread news, to engender action, and to make government work smarter and better.

New media provides a platform for leaders to help citizens in many directions such appreciating their diversities; solving their problems, sharing experiences and voicing out their salient issues without worries and shame.

This course is designed to enhance ICT knowledge and skills for MPS, Senators, Governors, MCAs, County Coordinators, Ward Coordinator, County Assembly Speakers, Clerks, Assistants to Public Officials, Chiefs, Sub chiefs, all public servants, civil servants and any other individual but is also suitable for other individuals working in the private and public sectors who might be interested in sharpening their ICT skills and techniques for social and economic development.

DURATION

5 days.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The program will equip participants with practical hands-on ICT and social media skills and knowledge for governance, economic and social development.

At the end of the course, participants will become familiar with using ICT tools, techniques and skills for personal development, governance, social and economic development and the use of new communication technologies to build digital citizenships

TOPICS TO BE COVERED

Module I: IT Refresher for executive leaders

• Quick Introduction to IT
• Document processing and spreadsheets

Module II: Online Literacy, privacy and security

Online Information gathering, verification and communication

• The world wide web
• Internet and how it works
• Searching the internet
• Email
• Introduction to Online security

Navigation in foreign lands, new places and cities (GPS, GIS)

• A tool for easy and accurate directions everywhere in the world
• Using Google maps

Module III:  Presentations and their roles in governance and public participation

• Office Presentation Tool and Tactics
• Powerpoint tools for communication
• Creating a PowerPoint Template custom with own logos and corporate colours
• Inserting graphics and flash applications to PowerPoint
• Microsoft word refresher
• Microsoft Excel refresher

ICT enabled Office communication: Emails, e-meeting and conferences, intranet and portals

Module IV: Social Media for Social Change and Governance

• What is governance?
• Working Facebook, G+ hangout and Twitter for governance
• Using Skype
• Using WhatsApp
• Dealing with privacy issues
• The dos and don’ts in using social media for governance

Module V: Public participation Tools

• What is public participation?
• Shortcode for public participation and feedback
• Social networks , groups  and online community
• Blogs
• Bulk messaging tool for  direct, fast, real time and guaranteed transmission of information

Module VI: ICT Tools and strategies for social engagement in public organizations

• ICT Model for social engagement
• E-administration,
• e-government
• Open government
• Smart government

Case Studies:

• How internet campaign changed politics
• A review of social media use in government
• E- parliament and ICT based legislation
• ICT policy in Kenya