Sub-regional Workshop on ICT Indicators Developing Indicators in Africa: The Scan – ICT Project October 2004 Gaborone, Botswana ECA

Topics  Background  Scan-ICT countries  Scan-ICT selection criteria  Scan-ICT Project/objectives  Methodology  Major findings  Recommendations  Lessons learnt  Scan-ICT Phase II

Background  Africa still lags behind in the global transition to an Information Society – e.g. - lowest rate of internet users and fixed lines  Lack of basic information on key ICT & related social indicators, ICT related activities & the impact of ICT policy decisions & plans  To overcome this gap in information & technology (for utilisation in the promotion of social & economic growth), an action framework to build Africa’s Information & communication infrastructure was launched - AISI

 The African Information Society Initiative (AISI) was launched in 1996 by the African Ministers in charge of planning and economic and social development  Adopted by the 1996 OAU Summit  It is a vision for ICT development in Africa  It is a cooperation framework for partners to support ICT development in Africa (PICTA members)  It also focuses on analysing and evaluating ICT’s and content trends in Africa – Scan-ICT What is AISI?

What is Scan-ICT?  Multi-partnership initiative (Nov 2000) for building the capacity to define, collect & manage key information needed to support ICT investment & transition of Africa to an Information society.  It monitors the penetration, impact & effectiveness of ICT applications across Africa.  The goal is to create a pan-Africa ICT network that would collect, analyse and disseminate ICT related knowledge.

Scan-ICT project objectives  Determine ICT status & collect, disseminate ICT-related information in Africa  Develop & continuously monitor ICT activity & progress indicators for investment  Develop a benchmarking strategy to improve ICT performance in Africa  Promote effective use of existing national capacity & promote public awareness on the importance of ICT’s for development

Scan-ICT Countries & Partners  Ethiopia  Ghana  Morocco  Mozambique  Senegal  Uganda   ECA   IDRC   NORAD   EU

Scan-ICT Countries  Selection criteria:  Country request for study  In-country capacity to undertake a Scan-ICT study  Possibility of leading to reform of the ICT sector  Scan-ICT partner preferences  Geographic/linguistic/cultural balance in Africa (English, Arabic, French & Portuguese speaking countries)

Scan-ICT Project activities  Setting up of institutional structures & organisational mechanisms for collection of indicators using a harmonised methodology  Data collection areas: (minimal)  Infrastructure  Sectoral applications (education, health public administration, private sector)  Information economy

Methodology 1/3  Scan-ICT methodology indicators:  Infrastructure  Strategic planning  Capacity development  Sectoral applications  E-governance  Information society  Information economy

Methodology 2/3  Quantitative and qualitative approaches used in generating data from:  Primary sources – data collected by national networks through interviews & questionnaires;  Secondary sources - documents from official, private & international sources  Data collection & analysis through extensive national consultations.

Methodology 3/3  Model of Scan-ICT framework ThemesICT Infrastr. Strategic Planning Capacity Development Sectoral applic. Gov’nance Info. Econ. Section of Inquiry ICT StatusSources of ICT Knowledge ICT Indicators & Benchmarks Case studies & Best Practice ICT Policy research Recom & actions Areas of study Country profiles Regional thematic studies Pan-African thematic studies

Major findings 1/2  ICT penetration greater in educational & public administration facilities than in health institutions  Widely spread individuals using ICT’s due to lack of knowledge  Shortage of qualified staff critical in all sectors – low proportion of ICT experts  Computers widely used as traditional office tools  Low % of institutions with web sites

Major findings 2/2  Although there is a demand for skilled ICT personnel, training institutions are concentrated in the urban areas  Acute shortage of ICT professionals in rural or semi-urban areas  On-the–job training opportunities remain very low across all sectors  Lack of coordination in ICT training

Recommendations 1/4  Recommendations can be divided into 3 categories:  Policy issues  Human resource development  Infrastructure

Recommendations 2/4  Creation of an enabling policy environment for ICT4D by:  Strengthening regulatory frameworks  Instituting policy reforms in the telecommunications sector  Instituting measures not only to reduce tax & duty on computers & accessories, but on Internet connections & access charges

Recommendations 3/4  Encourage enterprise development & private sector investment by increasing credit facility availability & venture capital creation  Implementation of innovative poverty reduction programmes which empower citizens & increase access  Preparation & implementation of ICT4D master plans (NICI) addressing current & future needs  Prioritising small ICT projects with considerable & immediate development impact e.g. telecentres

Recommendations 4/4  Designing & launching ICT training programmes at all levels – awareness creation on ICT issues. Standardisation of training courses  Encouraging & supporting the private sector engaged in R&D/software development  Infrastructure expansion & increase in ICT access points in order to bridge the urban- rural infrastructure gap

Recommendations from the SCAN-ICT Review Workshop (17 – 18 February 2004)  There is need to extend the second phase of the project with inclusion of more countries  National Statistics Offices should be included in the next phase of SCAN ICT practitioners and statisticians reflected on the first phase of the Scan-ICT project as follows:

Lessons Learnt  The methodological framework developed served the intended purpose – research can be rolled out to more countries by linking existing methodology with the MDGs  Linkage with various ICT initiatives is needed to sustain the Scan-ICT process and increase its responsiveness to strategic planning and ICT investments  It is crucial to continuously monitor and capture data to facilitate informed decisions

Launch of SCAN-ICT Phase II

List of potential Countries  Botswana  Gambia  Mauritius  Niger  Nigeria  Rwanda  Sudan  Tanzania  Tunisia The Republic of Finland will be the major Funding Partner. What about ITU?   Ethiopia   Ghana   Morocco   Mozambique   Senegal   Uganda New SCAN countries Continuation from Phase 1

Expected Outcomes  Linkage with various ICT initiatives such as national e-strategies, harnessing ICTs for decentralization of public administration, e- governance projects, etc.  Gender desegregation of indicators and Focus on women & ICTs  Inclusion of studies on sectoral applications in all countries:  Education  Agriculture  Health  Public Administration  e-Commerce

Access to Country Reports  All:  Ethiopia:  Ghana:  Morrocco:http//  Mozambique:  Senegal:  Uganda:

….. Thank You merci