NESAP-ICT ACTION PLAN FOR RWANDA Bangalore, 20 th February 2009

Strategic Agenda To create an enabling environment in which the IT/ITES industry flourishes to create jobs for Rwandans and to create a critical mass of skilled and employable persons for this emerging ICT market Focus in the internal market (existing projects and Private sector in Rwanda). Once experience is gained in the domestic market and there is a pool of qualified and employable citizens, Rwanda can use the IT/ITES association to facilitate external clients. Value Proposition A strong commitment at the highest level of government – personal endorsement of the President of Rwanda supported by good governance Relatively advantageous ‘Doing Business’ ranking. Bilingual French-English language skills Existing projects to construct a national broadband network and last mile connectivity to all parts of the country; 30 district offices connected by 2010

Focus Areas 1. Policy/Legal/Regulatory Framework – Have Vision 2020 and the NICI Plans; Ensure business legal and regulatory framework for the IT/ITES industry is the most advantageous in East Africa (SEZ, laws, tax holidays, etc.). 2. Infrastructure (telecommunications and energy) 3. Capacity Building and Skills development  Tier 1 – Trainings to bridge the gap btn the schools and universities and the emerging IT/ITES industry needs  Tier 2 – Strengthen the ICT and entrepreneurship components of the TVET to create a cadre of technicians from pool of High School graduates, and training modules for those not in TVET  Tier 3 – General computer literacy for citizens and communities 4. Business/PPP/BPO opportunities – encourage business development by creating an IT/ITES association, creating PPP arrangements, establishing small capital funds for IT entrepreneurs; offering competitions and contests for business startups

Possible funding sources a)internal government resources increase government spending on IT by 3% every year for the next five years b) private industry increase Foreign Direct Investment by 5% every year c) external (including donors) SIDA - scale up and provided increased support to the National Data Center and other IT activities USAID – increase the specific project Rwanda Education Commons UNDP – increased support to telecenters and training WB – fund an new project to focus on IT/ITES industry.

Way forward Immediate actions –Internal workshop with Ministers –Refine the action plan –Get the proposed project into the County Assistance Strategy (CAS) Medium term plan –Request WB to fund the project and prepare the initial consultancies –Request the PPA ( Project Preparation Advance) Long Term plans –Prepare the project to go to Board for July 2010 or earlier if either funding available –Project implementation