{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,27]],"date-time":"2026-04-27T14:34:18Z","timestamp":1777300458534,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2008,7,18]],"date-time":"2008-07-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1216339200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2008,7,18]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p>The purpose of this paper is to compare the e\u2010government status of sub\u2010Saharan African countries with developed and transitional countries.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title><jats:p>The paper is based on an analysis of eRepublic.org web directory and desk research. Besides, analyses of global e\u2010government, digital opportunity and information society indices are used.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Findings<\/jats:title><jats:p>Wide disparities in e\u2010government exist within regional trading blocs in sub\u2010Saharan Africa with Southern Africa far ahead of east and west Africa regions. Compared with other continents, sub\u2010Saharan Africa lags far behind Europe, North America and Asia in e\u2010government. Several barriers including infrastructure, policy, legal and skill factors are identified as limiting the opportunity for sub\u2010Saharan Africa to move government services online.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Research limitations\/implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>Providing an accurate comparative picture of e\u2010government of sub\u2010Saharan Africa with developed and transitional economies is difficult because most e\u2010government studies hardly cover Africa. Besides, there is a general lack of reliable data about e\u2010government status in Africa as most government web sites are undeveloped.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Practical implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>Africa must invest more in infrastructure and enhance a legislative and policy framework to effectively compete with developed and transitional nations not only in e\u2010government, but also in international economy.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p>e\u2010Government comparative assessment of sub\u2010Saharan Africa with developed and transitional economies is based on several indices, thus providing a more informative picture of e\u2010government status in Africa. Africa can learn from the experiences and best practices of developed and transitional countries in e\u2010government development.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/09685220810893199","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2008,8,16]],"date-time":"2008-08-16T07:38:18Z","timestamp":1218872298000},"page":"235-250","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":33,"title":["Comparison of sub\u2010Saharan Africa's e\u2010government status with developed and transitional nations"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Stephen M.","family":"Mutula","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"140","reference":[{"key":"key2022020519550283100_b1","unstructured":"Abissath, M.K.A. 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