International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (May 2015-April 2016) ITU s support to the New Partnership for Africa s Development (NEPAD)

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1 International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (May 2015-April 2016) Overview ITU s support to the New Partnership for Africa s Development (NEPAD) The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) continues to provide assistance to the NEPAD in its various activities, programmes and projects to meet the NEPAD objectives in the ICT sector as part of the global World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) objectives and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). ITU support to NEPAD is being mainstreamed through Resolution 35 (Istanbul, 2002) from the WTDC-02 and Resolution 124 (Marrakech, 2002) from the PP-02 adopted by its governing body and in its Strategic Development Plan to achieve the goals of the NEPAD. Moreover, the Declaration of Principles and the Action Plan from the World Summit on the Information Society Geneva 2003 emphasized the need for regional dialogue, cooperation and partnership among national, regional and international stakeholders in order to realize the objectives, goals and targets for building an all-inclusive Information Society. Public-private partnership is one of the core elements of ITU since its inception; along this line the organization collaborates closely with various UN agencies to support the NEPAD. ITU participates in the Regional Consultation Mechanism (RCM) aiming at coordinating all UN agencies actions in each global region for a better delivery. The RCM in Ethiopia is working closely with the Africa Union to support the NEPAD; and ITU plays a key role in its ICT cluster. Through HIPSSA Project, ITU has led the harmonization of Regional and sub-regional ICT Policies and Regulatory framework, by creating in the continent the necessary environment for the Public and Private investment in the ICT infrastructure. In West Africa with the ITU Support countries continued to transpose the ECOWAS model laws that were developed with the ITU Support in their national legal instruments. In other sub-regions model laws and policies are being updated to the current technology converged environment. These activities were accompanied by the capacity building and training of stakeholders. This had direct impact in NEPAD Public Private Partnership promotion and advocacy. ITU is supporting the NEPAD in the NEPAD e-schools initiative: the NEPAD e-schools project aims to connect all African high schools to the internet and all African primary schools by the end the year The objective of the NEPAD- e-school initiative is to provide ICT skills and knowledge to African primary and secondary school students that will enable them to function in the emerging information society and knowledge economy. In addition, teachers with ICT skills will enable them to use ICT to enhance teaching and learning in Africa; and African school managers with ICT skills so as to facilitate the efficient management and administration of the schools. Under the Connect School Connect Community initiative of the ITU, projects were implemented at selected sites in Niger, Gambia and Tanzania, Lesotho and Sierra Leon Governments that 1

2 allowed connectivity in schools in remote, rural and underserved area in these countries to broadband internet services and to be also used as community ICT centers (CICs). The projects improved ICT access and can be used by school children and members of the local community, including disadvantaged and vulnerable groups such as women and girls, indigenous and rural people, older persons and persons with disabilities. The projects provide individual or shared computing devices to school children, and establish in the connected schools community ICT centers that can be used both for the socio-economic development of community members and to provide fee-paying services to foster sustainability for the community ICT centers. The projects also provided relevant training for teachers, managers of the ICT centers and the trainers who provided socio-economic relevant training for community members to enable use of ICTs in their day-to- day social and economic activities. These projects are in concordance with ITU and NEPAD objectives. In total 71 sites are equipped in ICT material and implemented to deliver ICT courses for children at least 213 teachers are trained, training curriculums are available or in preparation for some centers. The projects are sponsored by French and Swiss Governments. ITU also implemented a network of Centers of Excellence (CoE) in Africa each with its specialties as follows: Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) in Nigeria: for Policy and Regulation Ecole Supérieure Multinationale des Télécommunications (E.S.M.T) in Senegal : for Broadband Access and Digital Broad casting ; Ecole Supérieure Africaine des Technologies de l Information et de la Communication (ESATIC) in Côte d Ivoire : for Cyber Security ; University of Rwanda, College of Science and Technology (URCST) in Rwanda: for Cybersecurity; Centre for Learning, Telkom SA in South Africa : for ICT Applications and Services; And African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute (AFRALTI) in Kenya: for Spectrum Management and Broadband Access. These CoEs deliver workshops in high quality of training delivered in face to face and distance training by Management Learning System (LMS). Tens of workshops are delivered yearly by the network of CoEs for the benefit of the populations in each sub region; which contributes to the NEPAD goals achievement through combatting digital illiteracy. In 2010, ITU and UNESCO established the Broadband Commission in response to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon s call to step up UN efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with five targets. 1.Making broadband policy universal: By 2015, all countries should have a national broadband plan or strategy or include broadband in their Universal Access / Service Definitions; 2.Making broadband affordable: By 2015, entry-level broadband services should be made affordable in developing countries through adequate regulation and market forces (for example, amounting to less than 5% of average monthly income); 3.Connecting homes to broadband: By 2015, 40% of households in developing countries should have Internet access 4.Bringing more people online: By 2015, Internet user penetration should reach 60% worldwide, 50% in developing countries and 15% in Least Developed Countries (LDCs); and 5. Gender equality in broadband access by the year 2020 to spur female access to the power of information and communication technologies (ICTs). The Broadband commissioners and interested representatives of governments, private sector and civil society met in 2011 (Rwanda) to discuss challenges, priorities and strategies that can help wire 2

3 the African continent to high-speed networks in September Broadband prices are falling, but much of Africa remains unconnected, figures released by ITU earlier in 2011 show that despite encouraging trends, Africa continues to stand out for its relatively high prices. Fixed broadband Internet access, in particular, remains prohibitively expensive. During the World Telecommunication Development Conferences of 2010 and 2014 Member States have requested ITU to work with Regional Initiatives directed at Strengthening Institution and Human Capacity Building, Strengthening and harmonizing Policy and regulatory Framework for Sub-Saharan ICT Markets, Development of Broadband access and adoption of Broadband, Spectrum Management and transition to Digital Broadcasting and building confidence and security in the use of telecommunication/icts whose implementation contribute to NEPAD. Following the demand from Member States, ITU developed C&I (Conformity and Interoperability) Programme based on ITU s highest decision making bodies; ITU World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-08) Resolution 76 ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-10) Resolution 47 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-10) Resolution 177 ITU Council Decisions 2009, 2010 and 2011 Resolution 177 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-14, rev. PP-10) Resolution 47 ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-10, rev. WTDC-14) Resolution 76 ITU World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-08, rev. WTSA-12) Resolution 62-1 Radiocommunication Assembly (RA-2012, rev. RA-2015) ITU Council Decisions (2009, 2010, 2011,2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) PP-10 Res. 177 on C&me - Resolution 177 (Guadalajara, 2010) recommended that this programme of work be implemented in parallel without any delay considering the following; Endorsement of the objectives of Resolution 76, Resolution 47 and the recommendations of the Director of TSB endorsed by the Council-09 C&I programme to be implemented without any delay, including the development of a fully functioning conformity database; Parallel development of a long-term business plan in consultation with each region, taking into consideration effects of the conformity database, its impact on bridging the standardization gap and the potential liability issues for ITU and for Member States, Sector Members and stakeholders taking into account the results of the regional ITU conformity and interoperability consultations; to assist developing countries in establishing regional or sub regional conformity and interoperability centres suitable to perform interoperability testing as appropriate to continue to carry out the necessary studies with a view to introducing the use of ITU Mark for a possible future ITU Mark programme 3

4 Noting that Interoperability was key to participation in the 21 st century global digital economy the following was observed; Developing countries experience huge interoperability problems and rising frustration and therefore demand action from the ITU to address the interoperability dilemma As a result this delays full participation in the global digital economy and impact negatively on social development Delivery of e-services requires global standards and secure interoperable transport platforms Conformity Assessment benefits Conformity assessment builds consumers trust and confidence in tested products and consequently strengthens business environment and, thanks to interoperability, the economy benefits from business stability, scalability and cost reduction of systems, equipment and tariffs. While economically Conformance and Interoperability (C&I) increase market opportunities encourage trade and technology transfer and contribute to the removal of technical barriers, they socially help spreading ICT services availability and affordability to all people at a good level of quality. The ITU Task Force for Conformance and Interoperability Program developed the 4 Pillars and content of the Program to be undertaken by the ITU Sectors as the following; Four actions: - The ITU 4 Pillars The Standardization Sector Side - Conformity Assessment - Interoperability Events The Development Sector Side - Capacity building - Establishing C&I programmes such as test centres/labs in developing countries ITU Forums with in-deep consideration for test centres and Capacity Building in the Regions were held between Africa (Kenya 2010, Ghana Arab States (Tunis 2012) Forum and Training, 11 countries in Africa and covered by NEPAD ITU has since embarked on the sectors functions and has carried out capacity building every year for Member States. In Africa, the Seminar held in Accra in July 2011 brought together leading specialists in the field, from top policy-makers to engineers, designers, planners, government 4

5 officials, regulators, standards experts, testing lab operators, funding agencies, service providers, regional associations and others. A lot experiences were shared and concluded with recommendations on possible approaches and scenarios for establishing Conformance and Interoperability scheme in the region. Building labs in each country vs. use of MRAs to share regional and sub regional labs. Capacity building and test centres ITU is implementing proposals on human capacity building ITU will assist developing countries in the establishment of test facilities and in cooperation with international institutions: UNIDO International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) International Accreditation Forum (IAF), Labs and R&D institutions Needs assessment in Developing Countries for Test Labs and/or MRAs Conformity Assessment Bodies to contribute to create an orderly telecom apparatus market place Once reference standards and procedures are in place, test labs and/or MRAs can approve equipment for compliance Sharing test labs resources and using same procedures amongst countries and regions may lowering overall costs while continuing addressing regional priorities A robust framework (following international procedures ISO/CASCO) needed for trust and confidence in test results and among test labs (MRAs) Partnership and Collaboration The ITU Secretariat signed MoUs with Testing centers in the Regions for promoting activities of the C&I Programme such as capacity building events and direct assistance: AFR and ARB: CERT (Research and Studies Telecommunication Center, Tunisia) AMS: CPqD (Brazil) Europe: Sintesio (Slovenia) and Tilab (Italy) CIS: ZNIIS (Russia) ASP: Project proposal for collaboration under consideration by MIIT (China) International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and 5

6 International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) International Standardization Organization (ISO) UNIDO ITU Training activities on C&me for Africa covered by NEPAD Africa and Arab Regions, Tunis 5-7 Nov 2012 ARB Region, Tunis 2-6 April 2013 (EMC Compatibility) Africa Region, Tunis 28 October-1 st November 2013 (EMC Compatibility) Training Goals ARB Region, Tunis March 2014 (Mobile terminals) Training Course on Conformance and Interoperability Testing for the Africa Region, June 2014, Tunis (Tunisia) Workshop for SADC Countries to promote the development and implementation of Conformity Assessment Programmes, Livingstone (Zambia), October 2014 Training Course for the Arab Region on Type Approval Testing for Mobile Terminals, Homologation Procedures and Market Surveillance, April 2015, Tunis (Tunisia) Assessment Study on C&I for EAC Countries for 2015: Final Workshop, Nairobi, Kenya, October Training Course on Conformity and Interoperability on Type Approval testing for Mobile Terminals, Homologation Procedures and Market Surveillance for AFR countries, Tunis December 2015 The ITU Training on C&I is a capacity event in the framework of the Conformity and Interoperability Programme that has as objective: Improve knowledge of participants through the presentation of up-to-date information/technologies Contribute to increase awareness on the relevance of C&I testing Provide the necessary tools for participants to replicate knowledge in their country, taking into consideration national specificities Promote experience-sharing on Certification/Homologation process, Lab. Accreditation and testing among the participants from different countries in Conformance and Interoperability field 6

7 Present a practical learning on standards, regulations, and real Lab experience and accreditation procedures. ITU C&I Guidelines Countries on Establishing Conformity assessment Test Labs in Different Regions (2012) This set of guidelines is the first publication on C&I, its valuable content includes information concerning: The process required for building testing labs; A site analysis (e.g. existing testing labs, know-how);collaboration mechanisms; Best practices; Reference standards and ITU Recommendations Feasibility Study for the establishment of a Conformance Testing Centre (2013) This feasibility study describes environments, procedures and methodologies to be adopted to establish, manage and maintain a testing center covering different kinds of conformance and interoperability testing areas Guidelines for the Development, Implementation and Management of Mutual Recognition Arrangements/Agreements on Conformity Assessment (2013) These guidelines promote the understanding and establishment of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) on conformity assessment that are intended to promote efficiency and resource sharing as well as to streamline the flow of products among participating Parties such as ITU Member States and private sector organizations, such as testing laboratories Interoperability Regimes Basic Guidelines (2014) These Guidelines address challenges faced by developing countries as they plan and review their own C&I regimes. Aspects covered by this publication include, inter alia, conformity assessment procedures; legislation to promote an orderly equipment marketplace; surveillance; coordination across regulatory agencies; and relevant international standards. New ITU C&I Guidelines Establishing Conformity and Interoperability Regimes Complete Guidelines (2015) These Guidelines compiled from a careful collection of international best practices, address challenges faced by developing countries as they plan and review their own C&I regimes. Aspects covered by this publication include, inter alia, conformity assessment procedures; the right type of approval system, the legislation required to promote an orderly telecommunication service and marketplace; the calculation of fees, and the ideal enforcement and Surveillance; coordination across regulatory agencies; relevant international standards. 7

8 Direct Assistance on C&I A number of countries have expressed strong interest and requested direct assistance (e.g. Sri-Lanka, Kiribati, Mongolia, Zambia, Cameroon, Cote d Ivoire) in establishing C&I infrastructure and procedures The Direct Assistance provided through the Regional Offices will provide support taken into consideration all C&I aspects, as: Regulatory framework Institutions roles and typical procedures Mutual Recognition Agreements Funding National and Regional test centres and harmonized C&I programmes: Roadmap and Feasibility Study C&I Regional Assessment Studies The C&I Assessment Studies looks for promoting the establishment of Harmonized C&I Programmes, when possible. It will collaborate to improve regional integration and foster the availability of highly qualified institutions (as Laboratories, Certification and Accreditation Bodies) In an overall analysis, the Assessment Studies contributes to: - Bridging the Standardization Gap, - reducing the Digital Divide, and - As is inherent to ICT technologies development, strengthens business environment for global players. - C&I infrastructure in regions/sub-regions/countries are being assessed - Analysis of the status in the regions are being conducted - Looking for promoting regional agreements about possible locations for resources (Labs), agreements and testing capabilities - Close collaboration with regional experts in addressing capacity building activities, accreditation and type approval testing. - Moving forward to establishing regional test centers and/or MRAs as appropriate Assessment Study for SADC Region completed 2014) 8

9 Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe The results of the Assessment Study have been presented during the Sub regional Workshop for SADC (Southern African Development Community), October 2014, Livingstone (Zambia) Media statement on the meeting of SADC Ministers Responsible for HYPERLINK " Malawi, 21 November 2014 Assessment Study for Maghreb countries Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya (completed 2014) The results of the assessment study have been presented during the Sub regional Workshop for Maghreb Countries, Tunis 9-11 December 2014 Joint declaration signed between ITU Regional Office of Cairo and UMA the Secretariat General of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) for collaboration and support to Maghreb countries for establishing a common MRA First meeting of C&I Expert Committee for Maghreb, Rabat (Morocco), November 2015 Assessment Studies for EAC countries: The East African Community (EAC) is the regional intergovernmental organization of the Republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, the United Republic of Tanzania, and the Republic of Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. (Ongoing 2015) The results of the assessment study has been presented during the Sub regional Workshop for EAC countries, Nairobi October 2015 The 5 th Meeting of Committee of Heads of Communications Regulatory Authorities of EAC, held in Arusha from 2 nd to th November, 2015, discussed the Outcomes and Recommendations from Nairobi s workshop as one of the items in the agenda the issue and issuing the following Recommendation: November, 2015, discussed the Outcomes and Recommendations from a) took note of the foregoing brief on C&I framework; b) requested the Secretariat to: (i) develop the Concept note and ToRs for the Task Force on C&I framework; and (ii) write to the ITU to thank them and express the region's framework; and a workshop as one of the items in the agenda. EAC Secretariat will call for a coordination meeting for EAC countries for follow up and endorsing the ITU recommendations and way forward agreed during the Workshop and the ones listed above. 9

10 1- ITU and WHO jointly launched the Be Healthy, Be Mobile initiative in Q4/2013 during the World Diabetes Day in Senegal. The project is meant to last 4 years from 2014 to 2017 and will be taking stock of the large mobile phones penetration rates all over the world to deliver health services to populations. Indeed, it is recognized that mobile phones have unique advantages in the health sector, in being available, accessible, affordable and portable as well as being both innovative and empowering. They provide access to services for those who are not easily able to engage with the formal health system including women as well as marginalized, illiterate, poor and disabled populations and they provide a platform which is available 24/7. Be Healthy, Be Mobile focuses on the use of mobile technology to respond to non-communicable diseases which remain the biggest killer of our time, causing 63% of all deaths annually in the areas of prevention, treatment and policy enforcement and targeting specific disease risk factors. All key stakeholders in Senegal dealing with this important issue from Ministry of Health, Ministry of Communication, Diabetic Patients Association, key Diabetes experts in Senegal are involved in that program for the benefits of ALL diabetic patients in the country regardless of where they are and who they are. The project has an initial budget of USD 200,000 and contributes to the NEPAD goals achievement. Once completed in Senegal, assessed and lessons learnt from its implementation, it could be replicated in other African countries. (i) Financial Support for NEPAD Programmes and Projects from Year Total Projects signed 769,217 3, 424,974 2, 275, , ,400 1,895,568 10,099,581 Action Plan 1, 027, ,155 1, 048,166 1, 026, , ,000 5,557,994 Total 1, 796,890 4, 239,129 3, 323,215 1, 960,373 1,662,400 2,675,568 15,657,575 (ii) Institutional support to the NEPAD ITU, the PIDA and the NEPAD: The PIDA (Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa) is dealing with four pillars: Transport, Energy, and ICT and Water resources. ITU is a key partner for the PIDA in its ICT component and has participated in most of its meetings. In addition, the Connect Africa Summit held in Kigali, Rwanda in October 2007 has driven the development of broad infrastructure (land optical fiber, submarine cables) and ICT applications in Africa; which is benefiting the other initiatives on the continent, such as the PIDA for its ICT component and the NEPAD for its thematic areas. ITU and the NEPAD other collaboration areas cover the followings: 10

11 The NEPAD was represented during Connect Africa with two initiatives regarding broadband development: UHURUNET Submarine Cable and UMOJANET Terrestrial Network, which are two planned segments of the NEPAD ICT Broadband Infrastructure Network; Enabling environment and regulatory framework: Africa Union is a partner of ITU s HIPSSA (Harmonization of ICT Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa). The HIPSSA project is covering four sub regions in Africa (West, East, Central and South); which benefits to the NEPAD and Africa Union since they have similar programmes (cf. AU and NEPAD s enabling policy and regulatory framework). By working together with the ITU on the HIPSSA, the NEPAD and Africa Union avoid efforts duplication on the ground, as the beneficiary countries are the same. Six years after the Connect Africa Summit, in October 2013 in Kigali, Rwanda, the Transform Africa Summit was convened to deliberate on ways to transform businesses, jobs, lifestyles, education, healthcare, government, and cities in Africa. The aim is to create an ICTdriven Africa that will help citizens prosper, communities enjoy strong bonds, businesses thrive, and governments enable strong and sustainable development as well as efficiently and effectively serve their people. One of the outcomes of the Transform Africa Summit in Kigali was the Smart Africa manifesto drafted after an assessment report of the Connect Africa released by ITU in partnership with the African Development Bank. Adopted by the Summit, the manifesto aims at creating innovative ICT solutions for African countries in such a way that the proposed solutions are viable and remains up to date even after decades. The Manifesto which was endorsed by the African Union Assembly of Heads of State in January 2014 helps harmonize the vision and goals and focuses of NEPAD on how to develop viable ICT solutions. The five principles of SMART Africa Manifesto are: Putting ICT at the centre of national socio-economic development agenda Improving access to ICT, especially broadband access Improving accountability, efficiency and openness through ICT Putting the private sector first Leveraging ICT to promote sustainable development To implement these principles and set the agenda for a SMART Africa, leapfrogging development challenges though the application and implementation of through Broadband and related services, recognizing the need for the development of highly skilled workforce of technology leaders and innovators that will carry into a knowledge based economy and information society, the African the Heads of States has decided among other things to establish the SMART AFRICA SCHOLARSHIP FUND. ITU has contributed financially to the fund is participating in its management. The ITU is also Co-Chairing the Steering Committee responsible to implement the decision of the SMART AFRICA Board. The findings and recommendations of the assessment study on the Connect Africa Summit Goals commissioned by ITU in partnership with African Development Bank have direct relationship 11

12 with NEPAD objectives on ICT infrastructure. Similarly, the goals and objectives of SMART Africa further those of NEPAD. ITU-ATU collaboration in Migration from Analogue to Digital Broadcasting ITU has been supporting and continues to support ATU, an AU Agency, in the delivery and dissemination of required information for the countries to migrate from Analogue to Digital Broadcasting through organized Regional workshops and Frequency management training. The support was aimed at countries acquiring knowledge to implement migration before the switch over convened by RRC-06 in June 2015.Most of African countries did not achieve the migration at this date. Efforts to assist in approving roadmaps and building national strategies whereas planning respectively some new dates with the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau by countries are still under process. New deadlines fixed on a voluntary individual basis may match end 2020 to have completely migrated. NEPAD approach and tools for mobilization resources with respective CER have been used with a good collaboration of ATU, African Broadcasters entities and AFRALTI. (iii) Advocacy Work in Support of Africa s Development The International Telecommunication Union has been very active in advocacy works through developing human resources skills, providing training, organizing seminars, workshop, symposia and conferences; assisting its network of Centres of Excellence (DBI, ESMT, ESATIC, URCST, Centre for Learning Telkom SA, and AFRALTI) ; and supporting many capacity building projects directly at both national and regional levels. The ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) of ITU plays a crucial role in advocacy work for Africa s development by leveraging ICTs access and facilitating the mobilization of technical, human and financial resources needed for their implementation and work towards narrowing the digital divide between the information haves and haves not. One of the goals of ITU s development Bureau is promoting the right of everyone to communicate through cost effective access to infrastructure and information and communication services. The Broadband Commission also plays a unique role for high-level advocacy, as a bridge between public and private forums for thought leadership in the latest thinking on how best to deploy broadband to meet the specific needs of developing countries. ITU strongly believes that ICTs is a catalyst for all three pillars of sustainable development, social, economic and environmental sustainability. The organization is committed to its mission of connecting the world of harnessing the unique potential of ICTs for the growth and sustained development of telecommunications and information networks facilitate universal access to benefit all mankind in the world from the emerging information society and global economy using ICTs as a means for development in Africa and elsewhere. 12

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