Building Connectivity in Africa- efforts of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Association for Population/Family Planning Libraries and Information Centers-International (APLIC-I) Conference, Washington D.C.

27 March 2001 Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context 2 Growth of connectivity in Africa Period of NGO-led Fidonet connectivity ( )  CABECA helped set up first nodes in 24 countries 5 countries connected to Internet (1995) Bi-lateral and multi-lateral projects (‘95-’00)  USAID Leland Initiative  UNDP African Internet Initiative, Sustainable Development Network Program  UNESCO RINAF  World Bank InfoDev

27 March 2001 Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context 3 Current connectivity impetus Private sector led, 1998-present Africa Online major international ISP

27 March 2001 Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context 4 African information and communication needs One minute calls from African capitals to Europe or the U.S.- $3-$7/minute Post: letters from Niger to Ethiopia can take 8 years Libraries: few or no public libraries accessible to students in many African countries; where there are, paucity of books and journals In sub-Saharan African, one fixed line telephone for every 635 people One computer for every 500 people

27 March 2001 Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context 5 What is AISI? African Information Society Initiative: an action Framework to Build Africa’s Information and Communication Infrastructure Adopted by ECA Conference of Ministers of Economic Planning and Development in 1996 Implemented by United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Addis Ababa)

27 March 2001 Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context 6 Why was AISI needed? African delay in entering information age Mbeki (Brussels, 1996)- more telephone lines in Manhattan than all of sub-Saharan Africa Need for an African direction to AII Need to wake up African policy makers

27 March 2001 Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context 7 Working with African countries on... Developing national plans for building information and communication infrastructure Eliminating legal and regulatory barriers to the use of information and communication technologies Establishing an enabling environment to foster the free flow and development of information and communication in society Developing policies and implementing plans for using information and communication technologies in the public sector

27 March 2001 Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context 8 Identifying information and communication applications in areas of highest impact on socio-economic development Facilitating the establishment of locally based, low-cost and widely accessible Internet services and information content Preparing plans to develop human resources in information and communication technologies Adopting policies and strategies to increase access to information and communication facilities with priorities for rural areas, grassroots society, women and youth Raising awareness of the potential benefits of information and communication infrastructure.

27 March 2001 Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context 9 Concentration on Policy and enabling environment- National Information and Communication Infrastructure plans and policies (NICIs) Infrastructure (connectivity) Content development Democratizing access

27 March 2001 Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context 10 AISI accomplishments Sensitization Development of national strategies Promoting connectivity Promoting partnership Stimulating content development:

27 March 2001 Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context 11 On the ground, 2001 dramatic infrastructure improvements  53 countries connected (2001) 450 ISPs

27 March 2001 Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context 12 Current situation Internet local call system in 15 countries 20,000 hosts connected to Internet opening of Nigerian and Eritrean markets content growing, particularly in diaspora niches, francophone areas tructure.htm tructure.htm trend to telecommunications liberalization

27 March 2001 Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context 13 but... most connections in capital cities long distance calls from secondary cities 0.06% connected in sub-Saharan Africa only 11 countries with more than 5000 users low total bandwidth (55Mbps) high costs ($50/mo. for 5 hours)

27 March 2001 Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context 14 Demographics of African Internet usage Highly educated, predominantly male users in capital city Communication between Africa and developed world Great emphasis on public access Major institutional users: NGOs, private companies, universities, international organizations

27 March 2001 Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context 15 Conclusion How to give voices to more?  need for work with African institutions to encourage Web content development through information management and dissemination Continuing need for push on policy front and creation of enabling environments  To release national and diaspora entrepreneurial energy

27 March 2001 Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context 16 Contacts for further information