Www.uneca.org/aisi/nici Sub-regional Workshop on ICT Indicators Developing Indicators in Africa: The Scan – ICT Project 26-29 October 2004 Gaborone, Botswana

www.uneca.org/aisi/niciwww.uneca.org/aisi/nici

Sub-regional Workshop on ICT Indicators

Developing Indicators in Africa: The Scan – ICT Project

26-29 October 2004Gaborone, Botswana

ECA


TopicsTopics Background Scan-ICT countries Scan-ICT selection criteria Scan-ICT Project/objectives Methodology Major findings Recommendations Lessons learnt Scan-ICT Phase II


BackgroundBackground Africa still lags behind in the global transition to

an Information Society – e.g. - lowest rate of internet users and fixed lines

Lack of basic information on key ICT & related social indicators, ICT related activities & the impact of ICT policy decisions & plans

To overcome this gap in information & technology (for utilisation in the promotion of social & economic growth), an action framework to build Africa’s Information & communication infrastructure was launched - AISI


The African Information Society Initiative (AISI) was launched in 1996 by the African Ministers in charge of planning and economic and social development

Adopted by the 1996 OAU Summit It is a vision for ICT development in Africa It is a cooperation framework for partners to

support ICT development in Africa (PICTA members)

It also focuses on analysing and evaluating ICT’s and content trends in Africa – Scan-ICT

What is AISI?


What is Scan-ICT?What is Scan-ICT?

Multi-partnership initiative (Nov 2000) for building the capacity to define, collect & manage key information needed to support ICT investment & transition of Africa to an Information society.

It monitors the penetration, impact & effectiveness of ICT applications across Africa.

The goal is to create a pan-Africa ICT network that would collect, analyse and disseminate ICT related knowledge.


Scan-ICT project objectivesScan-ICT project objectives Determine ICT status & collect, disseminate

ICT-related information in Africa Develop & continuously monitor ICT activity &

progress indicators for investment Develop a benchmarking strategy to improve

ICT performance in Africa Promote effective use of existing national

capacity & promote public awareness on the importance of ICT’s for development


Scan-ICT Countries & PartnersScan-ICT Countries & Partners

Ethiopia Ghana Morocco Mozambique Senegal Uganda

ECA IDRC NORAD EU


Scan-ICT CountriesScan-ICT Countries Selection criteria:

Country request for study In-country capacity to undertake a Scan-

ICT study Possibility of leading to reform of the ICT

sector Scan-ICT partner preferences Geographic/linguistic/cultural balance in

Africa (English, Arabic, French & Portuguese speaking countries)


Scan-ICT Project activitiesScan-ICT Project activities Setting up of institutional structures &

organisational mechanisms for collection of indicators using a harmonised methodology

Data collection areas: (minimal) Infrastructure Sectoral applications (education,

health public administration, private sector)

Information economy


Methodology 1/3Methodology 1/3 Scan-ICT methodology indicators:

Infrastructure Strategic planning Capacity development Sectoral applications E-governance Information society Information economy


Methodology 2/3Methodology 2/3 Quantitative and qualitative approaches

used in generating data from: Primary sources – data collected by

national networks through interviews & questionnaires;

Secondary sources - documents from official, private & international sources

Data collection & analysis through extensive national consultations.


Methodology 3/3Methodology 3/3 Model of Scan-ICT framework

Themes ICT Infrastr.

Strategic Planning

Capacity Development

Sectoral applic.

Gov’nance Info.

Econ.

Section of Inquiry

ICT Status Sources of ICT Knowledge

ICT Indicators & Benchmarks

Case studies & Best Practice

ICT Policy research

Recom

& actions

Areas of study

Country profiles

Regional thematic studies

Pan-African thematic studies


Major findings 1/2Major findings 1/2 ICT penetration greater in educational &

public administration facilities than in health institutions

Widely spread individuals using ICT’s due to lack of knowledge

Shortage of qualified staff critical in all sectors – low proportion of ICT experts

Computers widely used as traditional office tools

Low % of institutions with web sites


Major findings 2/2Major findings 2/2

Although there is a demand for skilled ICT personnel, training institutions are concentrated in the urban areas

Acute shortage of ICT professionals in rural or semi-urban areas

On-the–job training opportunities remain very low across all sectors

Lack of coordination in ICT training


Recommendations 1/4Recommendations 1/4

Recommendations can be divided into 3 categories: Policy issues Human resource development Infrastructure


Recommendations 2/4Recommendations 2/4

Creation of an enabling policy environment for ICT4D by: Strengthening regulatory frameworks Instituting policy reforms in the

telecommunications sector Instituting measures not only to reduce tax

& duty on computers & accessories, but on Internet connections & access charges


Recommendations 3/4Recommendations 3/4 Encourage enterprise development & private

sector investment by increasing credit facility availability & venture capital creation

Implementation of innovative poverty reduction programmes which empower citizens & increase access

Preparation & implementation of ICT4D master plans (NICI) addressing current & future needs

Prioritising small ICT projects with considerable & immediate development impact e.g. telecentres


Recommendations 4/4Recommendations 4/4 Designing & launching ICT training

programmes at all levels – awareness creation on ICT issues. Standardisation of training courses

Encouraging & supporting the private sector engaged in R&D/software development

Infrastructure expansion & increase in ICT access points in order to bridge the urban-rural infrastructure gap


Recommendations from the Recommendations from the SCAN-ICT Review WorkshopSCAN-ICT Review Workshop

(17–18 February 2004) (17–18 February 2004)

There is need to extend the second phase of the project with inclusion of more countries

National Statistics Offices should be included in the next phase of SCAN

ICT practitioners and statisticians reflected on the first phase of the Scan-ICT project as follows:


Lessons LearntLessons Learnt The methodological framework developed

served the intended purpose – research can be rolled out to more countries by linking existing methodology with the MDGs

Linkage with various ICT initiatives is needed to sustain the Scan-ICT process and increase its responsiveness to strategic planning and ICT investments

It is crucial to continuously monitor and capture data to facilitate informed decisions


Launch of SCAN-ICT Phase IILaunch of SCAN-ICT Phase II


List of potential CountriesList of potential Countries

Botswana Gambia Mauritius Niger Nigeria Rwanda Sudan Tanzania Tunisia

The Republic of Finland will be the major Funding Partner. What about ITU?

Ethiopia Ghana Morocco Mozambique Senegal Uganda

New SCAN New SCAN countriescountries

Continuation from Phase Continuation from Phase 11


Expected OutcomesExpected Outcomes Linkage with various ICT initiatives such as

national e-strategies, harnessing ICTs for decentralization of public administration, e-governance projects, etc.

Gender desegregation of indicators and Focus on women & ICTs

Inclusion of studies on sectoral applications in all countries: Education Agriculture Health Public Administration e-Commerce


Access to Country ReportsAccess to Country Reports

All: http://www.uneca.org/aisi/scanict Ethiopia: http://network.idrc.ca/ev.php Ghana:http://network.idrc.ca/ev.php Morrocco:http//www.scanict.org Mozambique:http://www.scanict.uem.mz Senegal:http://www.osiris.sn Uganda:http://network.idrc.ca/ev.php


……....

Thank YouThank You

mercimerci

Documents

Www.uneca.org/aisi/nici Sub-regional Workshop on ICT Indicators Developing Indicators in Africa: The Scan – ICT Project 26-29 October 2004 Gaborone, Botswana