Www.uneca.org/aisi E-NIGERIA CONFERENCE 28-30 June, Abuja, Nigeria MDGs, ICTs & Rural Development Aida Opoku-Mensah Officer-In-Charge, DISD/ECA

www.uneca.org/aisiwww.uneca.org/aisi

E-NIGERIA CONFERENCEE-NIGERIA CONFERENCE

28-30 June, Abuja, Nigeria

MDGs, ICTs & Rural Development

Aida Opoku-Mensah

Officer-In-Charge, DISD/ECA


Presentation outlinePresentation outline

Overview Background to ECA’s work - The African Information

Society Initiative (AISI) MDGs & AISI Objectives ICT + Rural Development – Impact on MDGs The NICI Policy Process VICI - Ghana Challenges Conclusions


OverviewOverviewPresentation is against backdrop of: MDG Summit, September/NY (ICTs an

important component) WSIS 2, Tunis (African Regional Action Plan) Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRS) in African

countries address MDGs – revision to include ICTs

Integration of MDGs, PRS and AISI objectives (e-policies/integration of PRSs, MDGs)


BackgroundBackgroundWhat is AISI? a vision for ICT development

in Africa an implementation process,

with evaluation of results & impact (Policy)

series of sector applications defined according to Africa’s priorities (Info+Knowledge)

a tool where synergies are created through open partnerships + outreach


MDGs & AISI ObjectivesMDGs & AISI Objectives

MDGs AISI Objectives1. eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

food security related objectives – agriculture, commerce/trade/rural dev.

2. achieve universal primary education education

3. promote gender equality and empower women gender and development

4. reduce child mortality health

5. improve maternal health health

6. combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases health

7. ensure environmental sustainability man-made crises and natural disasters


MDGs & AISI ObjectivesMDGs & AISI Objectives

MDG 8: develop global collaboration for development

one of AISI recommendations


ICTs + Rural Development = ICTs + Rural Development = MDGs?MDGs?

ICTs + Rural Dev. Impact

ICTs in rural economy

Economic empowerment (m-commerce, e-commerce, trade in ICT services, access to markets (agric produce , and handicrafts, increase livelihoods), particularly for women.

Addresses MDG 1

ICTs in rural education

Access to education by rural children through ICTs; knowledge equity on technology (knowledge deficit in rural areas)

Addresses MDG 2

ICT & Rural Women

Rural women have limited access to technology and can benefit from ICTs for economic empowerment and education.

Addresses MDG 3


ICTs + Rural Development = ICTs + Rural Development = MDGs?MDGs?

ICTs + Rural Dev. Impact

ICT in Health

Facilitates access to healthcare, diagnosis, health management, tracking for epidemics and disease control, etc.

Addresses MDG 4, 5,6

ICTs + Natural Resource management

Greater opportunities for better management of community resources also avoid environmental degradation and natural disasters using GIS tools.

Addresses MDG 7


NICI ProcessNICI Process NICI Vision:

To leverage the benefits of ICT for a people-centered, free market based and export-oriented socio-economic development.

NICI Mission:To achieve higher growth rates in all spheres of socio-economic activities using ICT as a platform to implement applications and provide services.


NICI/e-strategies – Links to NICI/e-strategies – Links to rural development and MDGsrural development and MDGs

NICI and Poverty Reduction Strategy- Need for mainstreaming ICT for Development in the

PRSP processes- Need for strengthening pro-poor approach and

linkages with MDGs in the NICI processes New NICI countries established the linkages - Comoros: reflecting PRSP concerns in PRSP- The Gambia: PRSP focus areas integrated- Niger: HIV/AIDS = one of the key areas


The VICI as an ICT The VICI as an ICT && rural rural development tooldevelopment tool

VICI – Pilot in Ghana Undertaken in collaboration with the University of

Ghana in a village in the Eastern region of Ghana It aimed to experiment the translation of Ghana NICI

policy at the village level in support of the country’s decentralization process

E-readiness study undertaken and ICT needs identified Village ICT policy developed to specifically address

rural development issues


VICI ResultsVICI Results

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Communication Means

Chart Showing the Distribution of Respondents' Means of Communicating with People outside their Environs



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Chart Showing Respondents' Accessibility to Communication Gadgets

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10 - 20 21 - 30 31 - 40 41 - 50 51 - 60 61 - 70 71 - 80Age Group

Chart Showing Respondents' Age Group and Whether or Not They Have Heard of ICT

Yes No


Promoting Rural Dev. & ICTs Promoting Rural Dev. & ICTs – The Challenges– The Challenges

Infrastructure – still very limited in many rural areas –addressed through:

- stronger policy enforcements by Govts. (regulation/Universal access obligations)

- Promoting greater connectivity & interoperability – physical infrastructure

- More innovative PPPs for rolling out infrastructure- Strong political will and transformational policies and mindsets



Investments – must be top priority:- Govts. must be willing to investment in rural

development and introduction of ICTs not just lip service- Budget allocations should factor ICT for rural

development- Need for strong ICT and Rural development lobbies.



Policies (e.g NICIs) should focus more on rural development:

- Many of the e-strategies focus on the national level hence the introduction of the VICI

- NICI process should be decentralised within Govt. structures to include and involve local Govts.

- Rural development needs have to be reflected more in policies



Enhancing Govt services (e-Govt) will have to include Local Govt. (services to communities)

- There will be need for local level partners- Capacity-building and awareness programmes must target local –

government needs.- Need to reinforce governance with local government concerns- Finance for e-Local Government efforts



E-Literacy in rural areas to prepare rural communities

Awareness raising efforts on impact of ICTs on rural livelihoods Introduction of technology in education (national curricula and

including rural schools) Skills provides the basis for enterpreneurship in rural areas.



Building e-rural entrepreneurs to sustain the rural e-economy

This should include the creation of business opportunities as the ICT businesses are all urban based

This opens up the rural economy and introduces new wealth creation opportunities especially for women and youth (in e- and m-commerce)

Can halt rural urban migration Bolster informal private sector



Greater involvement of communities in Government decentralisation efforts especially in areas of tourism/culture, government, natural resource management, etc.

An e-literate rural populace can ensure smooth decentralisation programmes

Widen the economic base of rural areas and enable the development of e-enterprises in tourism, culture etc


Thank You !Thank You !

http://www.uneca.org/aisi/http://www.uneca.org/aisi/

[email protected]@uneca.org

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Www.uneca.org/aisi E-NIGERIA CONFERENCE 28-30 June, Abuja, Nigeria MDGs, ICTs & Rural Development Aida Opoku-Mensah Officer-In-Charge, DISD/ECA