E-governance, corruption and public service delivery in Ethiopia: evidence from Jimma town water supply and sanitation sector - Oromia national regional state

This paper aims at investigating and exploring the potential of e-governance applications to reduce corruption and increa e efficiency, responsiveness, accountability and transparency in water supply and sanitation service delivery. To this end, the study employed mixed method, which involves both quantitative and qualitative data gathering tools. This survey was conducted over 400 respondents in Jimma town using multistage cluster sampling. A structured questionnaires and interview schedules were mainly used to collect data concerning corruption and poor water supply and sanitation service delivery. It further asked respondents on how egovernance can cut corruption in water supply and sanitation service delivery. Conclusions are derived from a mix of descriptive and inferential analysis. Findings reveal that corruption and demands for bribes are increasing in Jimma town water upply and sanitation service delivery. It is quite evident that time, cost factors and red-tape procedures are the major constraints in water supply and sanitation service delivery. Most of the respondents are aware of e-governance and feel that it can help in curbing corruption and increasing efficiency, responsiveness, accountability and transparency in the provisions of sanitation and water services. However, its potential still remains unexploited in JTWSSS because of unsuccessful implementation and limited use of e-governance initiatives. By exploring the role of e-governance for reducing corruption that has afflicted water supply and sanitation service delivery in this town, the main finding is that e-governance is positively related to government -citizen relationship and water supply and sanitation service corruption reduction. However, government agencies do not seem to be much motivated to build sound government citizen relationships. The study proposes that in order to mitigate negative forces in the implementation of e-governance such as limited access to ICT infrastructure, sustained strategic commitment and effective leaders and urban bias, the government agencies need to design sound policy and strategy which integrate information and communication technology (lCT) with development agenda of the country 10 expand lCT infrastructures and raise the awareness of citizens, staff and other stakeholders about the benefits, adoption and implementation of e-governance iniatives to dismantle corruption in water supply and sanitation service delivery.