Dubai School of Government to help modernize public sector organizations across Arab world

DSG will launch the portal with the aim to make it easier for regional governments to exchange knowledge, best practices, and experience about effective government policies, programmes, and solutions. This follows the goals of its patron, HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, to promote good governance through enhancing the region's capacity for effective public policy.

"We have identified e-government as a powerful tool to promote public-sector efficiency, transparency and accountability across the Arab world. That's why helping countries get this right is so important to us and why we have agreed to take over management and further develop this portal," said Mr Nabil Ali Alyousuf. Executive President of DSG.

"To ensure we have the most effective and user-friendly website, we are collaborating with Microsoft. Their global expertise, training, and software tools, as well as their proven commitment to supporting good governance with technology solutions and training, make them the ideal partner for this project," Mr. AlYousuf Dubai School of Government added.

Microsoft will help DSG launch the portal and then provide technical expertise, training, and post-launch assistance. The portal will use a Solution Sharing Network (SSN) from Microsoft program specifically to help the region's different public-sector communities share solutions and best practices, as well as Microsoft's server software that facilitates information sharing and management across diverse users.

Charbel Fakhoury, General Manager for Microsoft Gulf, said: "The portal represents a powerful example of how technology can be applied to help governments operate more effectively and provide better services to their customers - the citizens, residents and businesses located in their respective countries."

The Middle East portal will function as a repository for the exchange and discussion of ideas, research, strategy, and documents that can be used by other community members. Portal members include e-government practitioners and academics in the region, as well as e-government experts from around the world.

DSG worked closely with the Information and Communication Technology for the Development of the Arab Region (ICTDAR), which introduced the concept of the portal at the 2005 World Summit for Information Society in Tunisia. ICTDAR assists Arab states in harnessing technology to improve public administration performance, stimulate private-sector growth, increase private-sector participation in development, reduce poverty, and generate employment.

The Dubai School of Government is a research and teaching institution focusing on public policy in the Arab world. It collaborates with international institutions such as Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in its research and training programs. In addition, the School organizes policy forums and international conferences to facilitate the exchange of ideas and promote critical debate on public policy in the Arab world.