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African ICT Roadmap to Achieve NEPAD ObjectivesArusha, Tanzania, 1-3 April 2003

Roles of Government and ATU in the Implementation of NEPAD ICT objectives

A Presentation by Mrs. Namahoua Bamba

Development Research and Programme CoordinatorAfrican Telecommunications Union (ATU)

E-mail: n.bamba@atu-uat.orgWebsite: www.atu-uat.org

2nd April 2003

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Purpose

• NEPAD ICT Objectives

• Role of Governments

• Role of ATU

• Challenges facing ATU

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NEPAD ICT Objectives

• Develop ICT infrastructure

• Improve access, affordability and reliability

• Enhance regional cooperation and trade

• Develop local content

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Role of African Governments (1/2)

• Create the enabling economic environment to attract partners, particularly private sector (peace, security, governance, transparency, ...).

• Establish opportunities for and facilitate education and training for creating and using ICT capacities.

• Champion ICT use through promoting e-Government services at the national and local levels.

• Establish appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks that encourage more open competition and universal access for disadvantaged groups and areas.

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Role of African Governments (2/2)

• Facilitate and strengthen mechanisms for interaction between government, consumers and citizens and create opportunities to enhance civil society groups in the development of an information society.

• Encourage domestic investment in the ICT industry and in ICT applications by domestic small businesses through appropriate incentive schemes.

• Provide political commitment to put in place monitoring, peer review mechanisms.

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Role of ATU (1/3)

• ATU was established on 7th December 1999 as a partnership between public and private stakeholders in the ICT sector in addition to its continuing policy and regulatory harmonization role as an intergovernmental organization. Its precursor is PATU, established in 1977 as a specialized agency of OAU.

• Mission: promote the rapid development of ICT in Africa in order to achieve universal access and full inter-country connectivity.

• Vision: an Africa that is empowered as a full and active participant in the Global Information and Knowledge society.

• Structures:– Conference of Plenipotentiaries.

– Ministerial Oversight Committee.

– Technical and Development Conference.

– Administrative Council.

– Le Secretariat General.

– African Connection Centre for Strategic Planning.

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Role of ATU (2/3)

• ATU’s important role recognized in NEPAD as an implementation agency of NEPAD ICT objectives.

• ATU is member of the e-Africa Commission.

– NEPAD ICT Task Team responsible for developing the NEPAD ICT programme and implementing its projects.

– NEPAD’s instrument for collaboration in ICT matters with other bodies in Africa and abroad.

– Serves as the principal advisory body to NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSIC) on ICT matters.

– Responsible to develop NEPAD ICT strategy and action plan.

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Role of ATU (3/3)

• Promote NEPAD ICT strategy.

• Facilitate the efficient participation of Africa in global ICT decision-making.

• Promote regional integration by fostering the harmonization of the regulatory framework and environment across the sub-regions.

• Promote infrastructure investment for increase access to ICT services.

• Undertake capacity building programmes (treaty making, standard setting, policy formulation, regional integration and investment promotion.

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Challenges of ATU

• Strengthen the institutional base: position with regard to the newly create African Union.

• Strengthen the financial base: ability to be a sustainable organization.