Press Releases
USAID and Local Governments of Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska County Sign MOU to Implement E-Government System
EMBASSY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Public Affairs Section
Zagreb, Croatia
USAID and Local Governments of Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska County Sign MOU to Implement E-Government System
Zagreb, July 24, 2006 - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) , the Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska County and cities and municipalities of Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska County will sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to introduce E-Government system into the County and each local government within the County.
USAID Mission Director, William Jeffers will join County Prefect Damir Bajs and mayors of 23 local governments from Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska County in celebrating the beginning of a new partnership between USAID, the County and its local governments. The event will take place in the County Hall in Bjelovar on Tuesday, July 25 at 10 am.
USAID's E-Government system is a communications portal of a local government, supported by an Intranet/Internet software application. The three most important characteristics of this system are: (1) real-time on-line service provision to citizens and businesses, (2) interactive communication between the local authority and the citizenry, and (3) improvement in work performance within a local government. Citizens with computers at home and businesses can directly contact local government officials and gain access to local government services.
Fifty-five Croatian local governments are implementing the e-Government system, as well as four county governments: Zagrebačka, Primorsko-Goranska, Vukovarsko-Srijemska and Požeško-Slavonska. To date, over 1.5 million citizens have access to this system.
Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska County will be the first county in Croatia to have the County and all local governments introduce the system of e-governance.
This assistance is part of USAID's multi-year Local Government Reform Project. The project supports local governments throughout Croatia to improve services and adjust to new challenges stemming from decentralization and Croatia's aspirations to join the European Union.
USAID is the primary assistance organization of the United States Government. Since 1992, the United States has provided over $407 million to Croatia (much of it through USAID programs) to strengthen democratic institutions and assist in postwar reconstruction and the return of refugees, to support de-mining and economic development, and to provide educational and training opportunities. The U.S. has also provided guidance and support to the Croatian judicial and military sectors to further Croatia's integration in Euro-Atlantic institutions.