ITU/ECA ICT Indicators Workshop, Gaborone, October 2004Ntombi Masakazi, CIPESA ITU/ECA ICT indicators Workshop E-Ready for What? Linking ICT indicators, MDGs and Real Access Ntombi Masakazi, Policy Associate Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) A programme of bridges.org and CATIA ITU/ECA ICT Indicators Workshop Gaborone, October 2004

ITU/ECA ICT Indicators Workshop, Gaborone, October 2004Ntombi Masakazi, CIPESA Collaboration on International ICT Policy in Eastern and Southern Africa (CIPESA) A programme of bridges.org and DFID’s Catalysing Access to ICT in Africa (CATIA) project Build capacity of East and Southern African stakeholders to participate in international ICT policy-making processes: Support governments, civil society organisations, and other actors; Help frame representative input; Build capacity among all stakeholders; Facilitate a dialogue and debate, and raise awareness; Connect diverse initiatives and bolster momentum; Provide input and support to pan-African initiatives; and Provide objective information. CIPACO: sister organisation focusing on West and Central Africa

ITU/ECA ICT Indicators Workshop, Gaborone, October 2004Ntombi Masakazi, CIPESA E-readiness and ICT indicators Bridges.org has compared e-readiness assessments, and considered their usefulness in developing countries: Comparison e-Readiness Assessment Tools Who is Doing What and Where: E-Readiness Assessments Relationship between “e-readiness” and “ICT indicators” Making e-readiness approaches more relevant by setting them in a context of socio-economic development E-readiness assessments can help countries measure and improve their ICT capabilities: benchmarking, setting goals Different assessment tools measure different things (different ICT indicators)

ITU/ECA ICT Indicators Workshop, Gaborone, October 2004Ntombi Masakazi, CIPESA E-readiness – current status (1) Assessments provide a useful starting point – high level overview but lack granularity Increasing trend towards international benchmarking – Global IT Reports – a useful comparative tool, but focus is on developed countries and competitiveness Recognition of the need to move beyond assessment to planning and implementation infoDev toolkit provides framework for moving ahead

ITU/ECA ICT Indicators Workshop, Gaborone, October 2004Ntombi Masakazi, CIPESA E-readiness – current status (2) Focus on e-commerce and competitiveness disregards internal divides and other social factors like literacy and poverty – even in developed countries Many (22+) assessment tools available, but few look at ICT and its impact – real or potential – on societal issues Still some duplication – 4 years after our report Many of the countries that need the most help have still not been assessed

ITU/ECA ICT Indicators Workshop, Gaborone, October 2004Ntombi Masakazi, CIPESA Inclusion and exclusion Egypt, China, Philippines, Indonesia, and India now assessed 10 times or more 42 countries assessed 5 times or more Africa countries are the least assessed 7 countries in Asia and the Pacific never assessed All countries in Central and Eastern Europe have been assessed 3 countries in Latin and South America and the Caribbean never assessed

ITU/ECA ICT Indicators Workshop, Gaborone, October 2004Ntombi Masakazi, CIPESA “Digital divide” reports Looks at problem from ground level as well as top down Engages society in the process Engagement = public support Recommendations from all levels Encourage small achievable steps, rather than unrealistic national goals Cities or provinces as a manageable vehicle for change Cape Town example

ITU/ECA ICT Indicators Workshop, Gaborone, October 2004Ntombi Masakazi, CIPESA ICT indicators: developing country issues... Juggling pressing priorities and ICT There is a lot at stake: health, education, SMMEs Why the need to be e-anything? ICT indicators need to be integrated into broader strategies to ensure they are solving the problems at hand within the developing countries E.g. poverty reduction strategies Defining ICT indicators Are they valid for developing countries? Factors to make them more appropriate to developing countries, e.g. universal access = head count or shared access

ITU/ECA ICT Indicators Workshop, Gaborone, October 2004Ntombi Masakazi, CIPESA ICT indicators: more developing country issues… Are international ICT benchmarks/rankings appropriate to developing countries? No clear answer, but provokes thought, e.g.: Economist Economic Intelligence Unit Progressive Governance Conference More international organisations where ICT policy-making happens (e.g. ICANN, WIPO, WTO) should engage on ICT measurement Efforts being made to engage developing country stakeholders on ICT measurements: UN Conference of Trade and Development, Brazil

ITU/ECA ICT Indicators Workshop, Gaborone, October 2004Ntombi Masakazi, CIPESA But… e-ready for what? E-Ready for What? Bridges.org evaluating InfoDev’s e- readiness assessment programme, linking with concrete goals: the MDGs One option -- focus on the Millennium Development Goals Eradicate poverty and extreme hunger Achieve universal primary education Promote gender equality and empower women Reduce child mortality Improve maternal health Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases Ensure environmental sustainability Develop a global partnership for development

ITU/ECA ICT Indicators Workshop, Gaborone, October 2004Ntombi Masakazi, CIPESA MDGs and ICT indicators The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) International commitments World Economic Forum’s Global Governance Initiative Implications for developing countries Putting ICT indicators in the context of MDGs Gauging ICT diffusion with focus on MDGs makes ICT goals more concrete Helps policy-makers understand links between ICT and other pressing priorities Capacity-building on ICT indicators (like this meeting) should also focus toward MDGs

ITU/ECA ICT Indicators Workshop, Gaborone, October 2004Ntombi Masakazi, CIPESA The role of ICT in reaching the MDGs Help measure and track progress Provide solutions Increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness Access to information Help to build capacity Dissemination of information Promote inclusion and increase transparency Many specific examples – eg use of sms technology to improve TB treatment regimes

ITU/ECA ICT Indicators Workshop, Gaborone, October 2004Ntombi Masakazi, CIPESA E-readiness/ICT indicators and the MDGs MDGs provide focus for planning process Poverty is the greatest problem that needs to be addressed Helps ensure that social agenda is addressed, as well as political and technological Internet access doesn’t feed or house people; smart use of technology could MDGs and digital divide reports are more closely aligned with people’s needs ICT use should be included in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, and not be an agenda on its own

ITU/ECA ICT Indicators Workshop, Gaborone, October 2004Ntombi Masakazi, CIPESA Can ICT really help? Digital divide is only a new manifestation of an old problem ICT in itself will not help – it is only a tool Access to ICT does not guarantee success – eg failed telecentres Literacy, content and language issues Depends how it is used Benefits not always tangible Policy and infrastructure challenges Need to think holistically about the problem and the solution

ITU/ECA ICT Indicators Workshop, Gaborone, October 2004Ntombi Masakazi, CIPESA For ICT to make a Real Impact on societies/ economies, people need Real Access to it ICT appropriate to local needs and conditions ICT is affordable to own and use Locally relevant content and services are available for use, especially in terms of language ICT use is integrated into people’s daily lives People have the capacity and training to use ICT effectively The local economic environment supports ongoing ICT use The macro economic environment is favourable to ICT use The legal and regulatory environment supports ICT use People trust ICT use and understand its implications, especially in terms of privacy, cybercrime, etc. There are no socio-cultural factors that inhibit ICT use, e.g. in terms of gender, race, age, or religion Public support for ICT use Government has the political will to drive needed change

ITU/ECA ICT Indicators Workshop, Gaborone, October 2004Ntombi Masakazi, CIPESA Real Access and the MDGs Powerful combination – give specific targets and steps to take Public awareness and support for initiatives Real Access criteria have proven efficacy Based on human needs, not technology driven Greater chance of success

ITU/ECA ICT Indicators Workshop, Gaborone, October 2004Ntombi Masakazi, CIPESA What is needed to link ICT indicators/e-readiness with MDGs? More use of “digital divide” style assessments Using the Real Access criteria to ensure that what is delivered is what people really need Linking work to the MDGs via Real Access No more un-coordinated assessment work Build capacity to solve the problem in the developing world

ITU/ECA ICT Indicators Workshop, Gaborone, October 2004Ntombi Masakazi, CIPESA Conclusion – points for discussion Are ICT indictor definitions valid for developing countries? How useful are international rankings, models and comparisons? What models are there for developing countries? What is the role of international organisations? Do we need more indicators for developing countries? Can ICT indicators/e-readiness assessments be linked effectively with the MDGs and a Real Access approach?