IDSC

Infobox Organization
name = Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC)


image_border =
size = 200px
caption =

---

msize = 200px
mcaption =
abbreviation =
motto =
formation = 1985
extinction =
type = Government
status = Cabinet Think Tank
purpose = Information, Decision Support
headquarters = Cairo
location =
region_served =
membership =
language = Arabic, English
leader_title = Chairman
leader_name = Dr. Magued Osman
main_organ =
parent_organization = [http://www.cabinet.gov.eg/ Egyptian cabinet]
affiliations =
num_staff = 600
num_volunteers =
budget =
website = http://www.idsc.gov.eg
remarks =

The Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) Acting as the Egyptian Cabinet Think Tank…its mission is to impartially support the government decisions through advice on best policy scenario mix and analytical research to improve the socio-economic well-being of the Egyptian society.

Objectives

Strategically identifying opportunities and challenges confronting the Egyptian Government in implementing its plans & agenda.

Developing Regional and International networks/partnerships, to exchange know – how and research, which will result into the integration of international best practices in the government planning process and operations.

Supporting of Policy makers through carrying out state-of-the-art policy research leading to solutions to the reform and developmental challenges facing Egypt.

Disseminating our findings and views through a regular flow of publications and public events.

Work Strategies

External Strategies

Enhancing relations with the different state organizations and institutions for capacity building purposes in the area of decision support and future studies. Supporting relations with research centers and think tanks. Developing relations with the ministries and different governmental authorities aiming to adopt a team work approach instead of competitiveness.

Ensuring transparency in regard to information and data providing with emphasis on electronic provision.

Opening communication channels aiming to measure the public attitude towards the national issues

Internal Strategies

Disseminate quality standards during production stages to achieve highest levels of output quality.

Developing internal assessment systems in order to give more attention to work quality rather than deadlines.

Sustainable human resources development with the purpose of enhancing staff members’ skills and building new cadres to cover IDSC’s different fields of operation and crucial issues.

Creating an internal continuous learning environment.

Increasing the rate of employees’ job satisfaction and providing a stable work environment.

Supporting relations with experts and specialists stressing the need to work on scientific basis.

Building detailed databases pertaining to high priority economic issues. Priorities are determined according to results of surveys.

Strengthening the field monitoring network in order to enhance the effectiveness of the monitoring process of events and variables that have an impact on development.

Achieving the highest level of flexibility and dynamism in fulfilling the assigned duties.

Main Work Axes

- Decision support in economic, social and politicaldevelopmental issues. - Information analysis and provision. - Human resources development. - Development of internal work environment. - Develop societal relations and partnership on the local, regional and international levels.

IDSC National Projects

Decision Support in Strategic Issues - Social Contract Center - Monitoring and Evaluation Project of Egypt's Population Program 2007- 2012 - Post-enumeration Survey of the 2006 Population, Buildings and Establishments Census - Center for Strategic Documentation (CSD) - The Egyptian Observatory for Education, Training and Employment - Center for Future Studies - EgyInfo Database - The Arab Reform Observatory - Public Opinion Poll Center (POPC) - Employment and Labor - Monitoring the Performance of the Egyptian Economy and Early Warning - Foreign Trade - Natural Resources Management - Foreign Debts - State Public Budget - Egyptian Industry - Constructional Planning Technological Infrastructure - Information Map - Using State-of-the-art-technology for Serving Children with Special Needs - Citizen’ National ID Project - Introducing the Internet in Egypt - Industrial Map Project - Studies’ National Database - Culture and Heritage Projects - Smart Card Community - Clubs of the 21st Child - Internet Caravans - Ministries’ Information Development Project - Real Estate Wealth Database - Project of the National ID for the Economic Establishments - The Egyptian Network of Governmental Services - Development of the Egyptian Libraries - Egyptian Family Grass Root Database - Database of Social Solidarity - The National Database for Egyptian Legislations - Egypt’s Development Indictors Database Information Provision - Egypt’s Information Portal - Egypt’s Description by Information - Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Portal - Project of Local Development on the Governorate Level Human Resources Development - Developing the Business Environment and E-Commerce - Distant learning - Training of Computer Teachers - Specialised Training on Information Technology - Computer Katatib Development of the Administrative Environment - Management of Governmental Assets - Direct Order Purchase Center - Performance Balance - Zero Stock Orientation

IDSC Awards

Best Policy-Oriented Paper Award (12/01/2006) IDSC was awarded for the best policy oriented paper "Targeting the poor in Egypt" –A Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) approach, presented to the Economic Research Forum (ERF) in Kuwait.

Award Organization: [http://www.erf.org.eg/cms.php?id=publication_details&publication_id=402 Economic Research Forum (ERF)] E- Inclusion competition (08/01/2005) The Egyptian Information Portal was chosen as the second best information portal in 2005 in a competition organized by the Information Technology Industry Development Agency

Award Organization: [http://www.itida.gov.eg/ The Information Technology Industry Development Agency] Best information portal (07/01/2005) The Egyptian Information Portal was chosen as the best information portal in 2005 in a competition organized by the Egyptian Ministry of Administrative Development for encouraging internet services. It was first launched in June 2003 with the aim of becoming one of the most important information providers, unifying and auditing data as well as their definitions in an effort to eradicate inconsistency. It also aimed at interacting with the community as well as providing it with information services and finally introducing centralized services to researchers in which they are able to attain information, data, studies, and many others.

Award Organization: [http://www.edara.gov.eg/ Ministry of State for Administrative Development] ISO 9001:2000 (12/11/2003) In view of the strategic vision of making IDSC an outstanding organization on the local, regional and international levels in the area of providing information and decision support to comprehensive development issues within an independent financial frame. It made sure to cope with the international quality standards. Thus IDSC's sectors were all qualified to conform with standards necessary to obtain ISO certificate 9001 – 2000 through the American Systems Registrar – ASR on 11th September 2003. Read more.

Award Organization: American Systems Registrar - ASR Mohamed Ben Rashed Al-Maktoum Prize 2002 (23/03/2003) IDSC was awarded Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Arab Management for standing as the best Arab governmental organization in 2002. IDSC became eligible for the prize as it met the necessary criteria being an outstanding organization in terms of administration and its commitment to set and apply comprehensive strategic plans for all operations, as well as launching innovative initiatives

Award Organization: [http://www.arabmanagementaward.com/ Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Arab Management] Global Bangemann Challenge 1999 Award (19/06/1999) The Stockholm Challenge Award is a non-profit initiative in partnership with the European Commission. It offers private, public, academic and non - profit IT pioneers a unique opportunity to present distinct projects. The Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) received this award for developing Egypt's Information Highway Project.

Award Organization: [http://www.challenge.stockholm.se/ The City of Stockholm in partnership with the European Commission] URISA Exemplary Systems in Government (ESIG) Award 1997 (19/07/1997) URISA awards this prize for exemplary systems in the government (ESIG). IDSC was awarded this prize for its role in improving the delivery and quality of government services through the application of information technology.

Award Organization: [http://www.urisa.org/ Urban and RegionalInformation Systems Association (URISA)] The G-7 Global Inventory Project 1997 (19/05/1997) An honorary prize for Egypt’s Information Highway and Health Information Network .

Award Organization: The G-7 Global Inventory Project The International Organization for Constructional Planning (19/06/1996) The Prize was awarded for the best government system operating in regional development .

Award Organization: The International Organization for Constructional Planning Internet 1996 World Exposition Gold Medal (19/02/1996) Egypt's Information Highway won a gold medal in "Internet 1996World Exposition " . The Gold Medal was awarded according to the votes of visitors

Award Organization: [http://park.org/Pavilions/Medal/Golden/more_02.html Internet 1996 World Exposition] Computer World Award 1994 (19/09/1994) IDSC was selected in 1994 Computerworld magazine poll as one of the best 100 worldwide organizations in the utilization of information systems in development.

Award Organization: [http://www.computerworld.com/ Computer World Magazine] Franz Edelman Award 1989 (19/03/1989) This prize was awarded for achievements in operations research and management sciences.

Award Organization: [http://www.informs.org/Prizes The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)] Triennial Conference Third World Prize 1987 (19/08/1987) IFORS is an International Organization for societies whose primary objective is the advancement of operational research. It aims at developing Operational Research as a unified science and encourage its spread worldwide.

Award Organization: [http://www.ifors.org/ The International Federation of Operation Research Societies (IFORS)]

IDSC Web Sites

* [http://www.idsc.gov.eg IDSC Web Site]

* [http://www.eip.gov.eg Egyptian Information Portal]

* [http://future.gov.eg Egyptian Future Studies Center]

* [http://www.crisismanagement.idsc.gov.eg Egyptian Crisis Management]

* [http://www.egyptianheritage.gov.eg Egyptian Heritage Portal]

* [http://www.pollcenter.gov.eg/ Egyptian Public Opinion Poll Center]