Working Group Five Demand and Use of New Technology: engaging citizens and increasing awareness Group five explored issues of demand and the use of new technologies to stimulate citizen engagement. This group focused on the importance and means of increasing awareness, sustaining advocacy efforts, and the responsibility of holders of information to disclose. Finally the group examined how increasingly advanced and available technology can be effectively utilized to release information affordably and accessibly.

Issue Statement  The rapid proliferation of new media communication technologies and the broad spread of conventional technology already demonstrates: Citizens’ demand for communication and information and; Provides a powerful opportunity to realize the right to information across Africa.  The commitment of the 14th African Union leaders summit in 2010 to promote ICT for all partners reinforces the idea of communication as a public good.  Government and other actors who seek to promote broad access to information are encouraged to use new technology to enhance access to for millions of ordinary citizens in ways that are affordable, reliable and secure.

Main Discussion & Considerations  ICT provides an opportunity to access information  There is a low level of information provisions in existing laws and policies  Regulatory and enabling environment is poor  ICT reach and penetration exists but there is a need to reach more people in the continent  There is an issue around the capture and supply of data  Demand is a two way street  Tools/platforms/formats: how are the new technologies useful? How to harness the potential of the old technologies such as radio to provide access to information  How useable is the format in which the information is provided ?

Main Discussion & Considerations  There should be proactive disclosure of information in an accessible and usable format, regardless of demand.  One could view information as a commodity. In that formulation government would be a wholesaler and non-state actors could be viewed as retailers packaging information in accessible ways.  Culture may seriously affect demand for information.  Need to further explore how to use technology for the dissemination and gathering of information, proactively and reactively.  Government and other stakeholders have a responsibility to actively engage in providing, disseminating and promoting information.

Regional Findings  Lack of policy framework, effective regulations, enabling environment, infrastructure, competition, and liberalization policy diminish affordable opportunities for access to information for citizens.  Public servants and the population have a lack of understanding about the right to information and this affects people’s ability to effectively demand and enjoy the right.  While civil society has been raising awareness on ATI and the use of ICT, their efforts have not been sufficiently far reaching.  Opportunities and obstacles for the enjoyment of access to information, including tax and regulatory framework, vary across the continent and civil society has a role to play in analyzing and disseminating information on these issues and the effect they have on information demand and access.  Information on the working of government, elected representatives, and organizations that use public funds should be, but is not now, easily accessible and understood by the general public and this affects demand.

Recommendations & Action Points REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:  Prioritize funding support for the provision of universal access and other activities by actors which promote demand for, and use of, the right to access to information. STATES:  Demonstrate political will by providing the policy framework and enabling regulatory mechanisms, including opportunities for competition and liberalization, for citizens to easily access accurate, reliable and affordable information.  Promote multi-stakeholder partnerships to ensure that the necessary enabling environment for the citizen’s access to information is guaranteed.  Provide capacity building by ensuring public servants and the general population understand and effectively enjoy their rights to information.  Ensure sufficient funding efforts to the provisions of relevant technology.

Recommendations & Action Points NON-STATE ACTORS:  Increase effort to raise awareness on the use of ICT to access information  Identify, analyze, simplify and disseminate existing laws and opportunities on information access (including tax policy and regulatory frameworks)  Identify, analyze, simplify, make more user-friendly, and provide to the public information on the workings of government, elected representatives and other organizations that use public funds