(depicted below), caused by a low-level of consumption, content (applications) and infrastructure availability, will need to be broken. Development of e-Government is also constrained by a number of specific challenges, including: 1 Operational challenges with current non-electronic processes; 2 Wide-ranging levels of readiness, including capacity and preparedness, of various Ministries and Government Departments; 3 Financial constraints, in particular in relation to recurrent operational expenditures; 4 Many competing priorities; 5 Difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified ICT staff. Successful development of the ICT sector will have to take into account and, to the extent possible, mitigate the challenges outlined above. However, many of such challenges, constraining ICT development, especially in its early stages, also strengthen a business case for it. Challenges of a similar nature are faced by other solutions for public and private service delivery in Vanuatu (especially when transport, postal or similar services are required). ICTs provide a more effective and cost-efficient way to overcome them, including by enabling: 1 Savings in transport and postal services as information could be transmitted using ICT networks; 2 Much easier distribution and storage of educational material29; 3 Opportunities to strengthen education and make it more engaging30; 4 More effective and cost-efficient public services; 5 Cost-efficient way to distribute content; 6 Better mitigation, preparation for, response to and recovery from disasters and other emergencies31. Therefore the successful development of the ICT sector will offer clear rewards to the Government and the public of Vanuatu. It will enable kick-starting of a self-reinforcing virtuous circle, which will ensure more effective and cost-efficient provision of public and private services by increasing utilisation of ICT services and tools, which will in turn open up further demand and free up funds for even more products and services provided by the sector32. This will not only make the ICT development much easier and more self-supporting, but will also enable the Government to support the general socio-economic development in an increasingly sustainable, effective and cost-efficient manner. 29 As noted in a joint submission to the National ICT Policy from various entities under the Ministry of Education— i.e., the Curriculum Development Unit, Vanuatu Institute of Teacher Education, In-Service Training Unit, Education Assessment Unit, and Joint EPublications and Security Course Committee, 16 May 2013. 30 A joint submission to the National ICT Policy from various entities under the Ministry of Education noted: “Young people all over the world are taking to ICT in a way that has never been seen before inside education. The technology appears to address many different learning styles and has an intrinsic fascination for most people, especially the young.”, ibid. 31 Submission to the National ICT Policy from the National Disaster Management Office and Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department, 15 May 2013. 32 Source for this insight is in this OECD/UNESCO/ISOC Report: http://www.internetsociety.org/news/ clear-correlation-between-local-content-internet-development-and-access-prices 22 National Information and Communication Technology Policy