E-Strategies in Africa Makane Faye mfaye@uneca.org United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
Contents National E-strategies Lessons learned The WayForward
from Global Vision to National Implementation NII 92 Japan 93 EU 94 CANADA 95... A I S I 96
AISI Launched in May 1996 at the 22 nd meeting of Conference of African Ministers of Finance and Economic Development Adopted by the OAU Heads of State summit in July 1996 in Yaounde, Cameroon
AISI An action framework developed as Africa s common vision to bridge the digital divide More importantly to create digital opportunities by Africans and their partners Speed the continent s entry into the information and knowledge global economy
AISI Calls for: sustainable build up of an information society preparation of national information and communication infrastructure (NICI)
Genesis... NICI = e-strategy = a mechanism to implement the global vision at national level Each member State to formulate its national information and communication infrastructure plans, policies and strategies based on the national development goals and priorities defined in national economic and social plans/strategies/papers.
NICI Plan: a guiding framework throughout the process of programme planning and project development and implementation enable coordination between various stakeholders and funding agencies an evaluation tool for decision makers
NICI development process: an on-going process more than a physical infrastructure enabling environment procedures regulations NICI human resources integral parts developers users administrators population at large
The state of e-strategiese Increase in the number of NICI countries Countries already implementing NICI plans Countries in process of policy formulation Development of National ICT Policy 16 30 2000 21 1316 10 2002
Detailed Steps in the development e-strategiese Secure funding & Leadership Commitment Establish a National Committee Define vision, mission, strategic objectives, scope Define the institutional framework Define the regulatory framework Define the technology infrastructure Define the information technology business sector
Detailed Steps in the development of e-strategies e (cont d) Define the technology infrastructure Define the education and science and technology sector Define needs and priorities for information, decision support, networking, information services, etc. Define the data/information and decision support agencies, actors, etc., at the different levels: national, local
Detailed Steps in the development of e-strategies e (cont d) Define the development priorities (five-year plan) Identify, formulate and develop programmes and projects Develop a detailed action plan, time schedule, priorities and budget Determine the implementation and coordination agencies
Detailed Steps in the development of e-strategies e (cont d) Solicit the commitment of policy makers, industry leaders, etc. Formulate an agressive public awareness campaign Develop an implementation strategy Develop evaluation procedures
NICI Cycle
Components of a NICI strategy A distinctive methodology developed: formulation of the Framework, Policy and Plan; nationwide consultations Key components: infrastructure development creating legal and regulatory framework capacity building content creation sectoral applications
Components of a NICI strategy Country Algeria Angola Benin Burkina Faso Burundi Existence of a national strategy Has a National Policy and a National strategy A plan known as "Strategy for The Development of Information technology 2000-2010" has been elaborated. The Communication and Information Infrastructure Development Plan of Benin: 2000-2004 was approved in 2000, is being implemented An Information and Communication Infrastructure Development Plan of Burkina Faso: 2000-2004 was approved in October 2000, is being implemented The Cabinet adopted the National strategy for the development of information and communication technologies in Burundi in 2002.
Components of a NICI strategy Country Cape Verde Existence of a national strategy The NICI plan development process was finalized in October 2000. A National Information and Communication Technologies Infrastructure Development Plan was the product of the process. Cameroon The draft NICI plan was finalized in October 2001 Central African Republic The process of the elaboration of the National Strategy has started in January 2002. A baseline study was undertaken in June/July 2002. Stalled because of external issues. Cote d Ivoire The NICI Plan was approved by the Council of Ministers in July 2000. Stalled because of external issues. Djibouti A strategy was approved in March 2003
Components of a NICI strategy Country Egypt Ethiopia Gabon Gambia Ghana Existence of a national strategy Egypt launched its National Information Highway programme to support and energize its socioeconomic development as early as 1994. The Draft National ICT Policy document initially drafted in July 2001 was adopted by the Council of Ministers in 2003. A Development Plan based on the network for sustainable development was finalized in 2000. A draft National Policy on information and communication issued in 1999, being finalized The NICI development process was revived in 2002 and is still underway Guinea The NICI plan was completed in February 2002
Components of a NICI strategy Country Kenya Lesotho Malawi Mali Mauritania Existence of a national strategy The process of an comprehensive national strategy based on a broad national consultation has started in 2001. A National Information and Communication Policy was prepared in 2002. Strategy will start soon The process of developing a national strategy has started in 2002, being finalized The process of developing a national strategy has started in 2002, stalled because Gov changes National Information and Communication Infrastructure Development Plan: 1999 2002 Mauritius The National IT strategic plan of 1998. Morocco A national IT policy 1999-2003 was elaborated and approved in 1999 by the government for implementation.
Components of a NICI strategy Country Mozambique Namibia Existence of a national strategy A national strategy was developed and adopted in July 2002. A revised draft policy proposal and action plan was submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Information and Broadcasting in March 2002. Niger Nigeria The official launching of the NICI policy development process in Niger took place in August 2002. The Nigerian Information and Communication Technology Agency (NICTA) formulated a Nigerian National Policy for Information Technology (IT). The process of developing the NICI plan will start in August 2003
Components of a NICI strategy Country Rwanda Existence of a national strategy The NICI plan was adopted in 2002 by the Cabinet and Parliament, being implemented, a model plan Senegal The National ICT Plan was adopted in 2000. Seychelles A National Strategy on ICT has been put in place South Africa The South Africa IT Strategy Project (SAITIS) was developed by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Communication, in consultation with the private sector and other stakeholders. Sudan Preparations were underway in 1999 to elaborate the national information and communication plans for Sudan. Since then a national ICT strategy has been formulated.
Components of a NICI strategy Country Swaziland Existence of a national strategy A national workshop on ICT policy was organized by UNDP, UNESCO, ECA was organized in November 2000. Consultations are going on for policy formulation Tanzania The National ICT Policy of Tanzania was approved in June 2003 Tunisia Uganda There is a National Policy and a strategy of implementation as of 1997. A draft national policy Strategy for Developing a National Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy for Uganda - was completed in September 2002. Zambia A draft national policy was completed in 2002
Lessons learned Awareness raising at various levels More participatory approach (Ghana video) Sharing experiences and expertise Moving from ideas to concrete actions Attention to sectoral applications Enhanced cooperation and partnership Support from high-level leadership (Rwanda, Senegal, etc.)
Regional strategies Towards the harmonization of national policies and strategies in telecommunications WATRA (ECOWAS) a charter endorsed (November 2002), now operational SATRA (SADC) is operational ARAC (CEMAC): ICT for regional integration discussed in a workshop(september 2002) ARICEA (COMESA):established (January 2003) NEPAD ICT Component
Lessons learned Potential impact of ICTs on regional cooperation and integration Intra-institutional communications among regional institutions to be improved by ICTs Regional cooperation to foster economies of scale in ICTs Need for the Regional Information and Communication Infrastructure (RICI) plans
Global Level DOT Force follow-up: epol-net UN ICT Task Force/ African Stakeholders Network (ASN) World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)/ Bamako 2002 Global Knowledge Partnership/ Africa Day
Lessons learned Several initiatives trying to use dialogue more systematically Need for improving the complementarity of programmes and initiatives to avoid redundant action plans, thus maximizing the available financial and human resources The UN ICT TF as the platform to ensure commitment from all partners to work together in a concrete way
The Way Forward Assisting countries in implementing national, regional and sectoral strategies Support to NEPAD ICT component Consolidate efforts and partnerships towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) within the framework of AISI
merci! Fore more information http://.org/aisi aisi mfaye@uneca.org