Post on 06-Jan-2016
description
Building Connectivity in Africa-efforts of the
United Nations Economic Commission
for Africa
Association for Population/Family Planning Libraries and Information
Centers-International (APLIC-I) Conference, Washington D.C.
27 March 2001 Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context
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Growth of connectivity in Africa Period of NGO-led Fidonet connectivity
(1987-1993) CABECA helped set up first nodes in 24 countries
5 countries connected to Internet (1995)
Bi-lateral and multi-lateral projects (‘95-’00) USAID Leland Initiative UNDP African Internet Initiative, Sustainable
Development Network Program UNESCO RINAF World Bank InfoDev
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Current connectivity impetus Private sector led, 1998-present
Africa Online major international ISP
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African information and communication needs One minute calls from African capitals to
Europe or the U.S.- $3-$7/minute Post: letters from Niger to Ethiopia can take 8
years Libraries: few or no public libraries accessible
to students in many African countries; where there are, paucity of books and journals
In sub-Saharan African, one fixed line telephone for every 635 people
One computer for every 500 people
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What is AISI? African Information Society Initiative: an
action Framework to Build Africa’s Information and Communication Infrastructure
Adopted by ECA Conference of Ministers of Economic Planning and Development in 1996
Implemented by United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Addis Ababa)
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Why was AISI needed?
African delay in entering information age
Mbeki (Brussels, 1996)- more telephone lines in Manhattan than all of sub-Saharan Africa
Need for an African direction to AII Need to wake up African policy makers
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Working with African countries on . . . Developing national plans for building
information and communication infrastructure
Eliminating legal and regulatory barriers to the use of information and communication technologies
Establishing an enabling environment to foster the free flow and development of information and communication in society
Developing policies and implementing plans for using information and communication technologies in the public sector
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Identifying information and communication applications in areas of highest impact on socio-economic development
Facilitating the establishment of locally based, low-cost and widely accessible Internet services and information content
Preparing plans to develop human resources in information and communication technologies
Adopting policies and strategies to increase access to information and communication facilities with priorities for rural areas, grassroots society, women and youth
Raising awareness of the potential benefits of information and communication infrastructure.
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Concentration on
Policy and enabling environment- National Information and Communication Infrastructure plans and policies (NICIs)
Infrastructure (connectivity) Content development Democratizing access
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AISI accomplishments
Sensitization Development of national strategies www.
bellanet.org/partners/aisi/nici/index.htm Promoting connectivity Promoting partnership Stimulating content development: www.
bellanet.org/partners/aisi/adf99docs/docs.htm
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On the ground, 2001
dramatic infrastructure improvements 53 countries connected (2001)
450 ISPs
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Current situation
Internet local call system in 15 countries 20,000 hosts connected to Internet opening of Nigerian and Eritrean markets content growing, particularly in diaspora
niches, francophone areas www.bellanet.org/partners/aisi
/adf99docs/infrastructure.htm trend to telecommunications
liberalization
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but . . .
most connections in capital cities long distance calls from secondary cities 0.06% connected in sub-Saharan Africa only 11 countries with more than 5000
users low total bandwidth (55Mbps) high costs ($50/mo. for 5 hours)
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Demographics of African Internet usage Highly educated, predominantly male
users in capital city Communication between Africa and
developed world Great emphasis on public access Major institutional users: NGOs, private
companies, universities, international organizations
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Conclusion
How to give voices to more? need for work with African institutions to
encourage Web content development through information management and dissemination
Continuing need for push on policy front and creation of enabling environments To release national and diaspora
entrepreneurial energy
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Contacts for further information
faye@un.orgnhafkin@uneca.orgnhafkin@hotmail.com
http://www.bellanet.org/partners/aisi