Abebe ChekolICT for Development Expert
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
2013 ICT Observatory : Strengthening e-agriculture strategies in ACP countries
Hotel Hof Wageningen, 24 - 25 April
CTA headquarters, Wageningen, 26 April
State of ICT policy development and linkages with
Agriculture in African countriesUNECA
ECA
Contents
BackgroundDrivers – Regional and International levelsThe NICI frameworkState of ICT policy developmentSectoral e-strategiesLinkages to AgricultureE-agriculture strategies – country casesOpportunities for e-agriculture Conclusion
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Background: - Status ICT policy, access and usage in Africa
ICT – became a national
priority in many
African countries
ICT – became a national
priority in many
African countriesBy 2012, 45 adopted ICT policy
2 in the dev’t process
By 2012, 45 adopted ICT policy2 in the dev’t process
As of Sep 2011, with 620 million subscribers, Africa has overtaken Latin America, making it the 2nd largest mobile market in the World after Asia Pacific
(GSMA and ATKearney 2011))
As of Sep 2011, with 620 million subscribers, Africa has overtaken Latin America, making it the 2nd largest mobile market in the World after Asia Pacific
(GSMA and ATKearney 2011))
# of Internet subscribers grew by > 150 % in 2007 in several sub-Saharan African countries although the continent remains to be one of those with the lowest penetration rate
(9.6 % in 2010)
# of Internet subscribers grew by > 150 % in 2007 in several sub-Saharan African countries although the continent remains to be one of those with the lowest penetration rate
(9.6 % in 2010)
Wireless broadband Internet access is growing faster than the fixed Broadband (in which penetration remains less than 1%) mainly driven by the
growth in mobile phone technologies
Wireless broadband Internet access is growing faster than the fixed Broadband (in which penetration remains less than 1%) mainly driven by the
growth in mobile phone technologies
Between 2009 & 2011, 9 under sea cables landed in the African coasts with a cumulative capacity of 21.36 terabits
Between 2009 & 2011, 9 under sea cables landed in the African coasts with a cumulative capacity of 21.36 terabits
Additional 19.2 terabits expected in 2012-2013
(African Under Sea Cables (2013) http://manypossibilities.net)
Additional 19.2 terabits expected in 2012-2013
(African Under Sea Cables (2013) http://manypossibilities.net)
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Background: - The African ICT landscape as percentage of world total
ICT in Africa - as a percentage of world total, 2010 (unless indicated)
1.2
1.2
0.2
1.5
0.6
1.2
10
4.1
14.8
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
ICT Imports - goods
ICT Imports - services
ICT Exports - goods
ICT Exports - services
International bandwidth, aggregate Mbit/s
Internet subscriptions, fixed (2009)
Mobile subscription
GDP, PPP
Population
Source: ITU, WTO and IMF databanks
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Drivers at regional and international levels
AISI – African Information Society InitiativeAISI – African Information Society InitiativeGuided by the African Information Society Initiative launched in 1996 as Africa’s digital agenda to build inclusive information society in the continent, ECA and
partners supported countries in Africa with the formulation of national ICT policies, commonly known as, NICIs which resulted in over 45 countries adopting their NICIs
by end of 2012 and a further 2 in the process of developing one;
AISI – African Information Society InitiativeAISI – African Information Society InitiativeGuided by the African Information Society Initiative launched in 1996 as Africa’s digital agenda to build inclusive information society in the continent, ECA and
partners supported countries in Africa with the formulation of national ICT policies, commonly known as, NICIs which resulted in over 45 countries adopting their NICIs
by end of 2012 and a further 2 in the process of developing one;
WSIS – World Summit on the Information SocietyWSIS – World Summit on the Information Society
According to the WSIS Plan of Action, “Specific targets for the information society will be established as appropriate, at the national level in the framework of national e-
strategies and in accordance with national development policies, taking into account the different national circumstances. Such targets can serve as useful benchmarks
for action and for the evaluation of the progress made towards the attainment of the overall objectives of the information society”.
Furthermore, the document stresses that national e-strategies should be encouraged by all countries by 2005, based on national priorities.
WSIS – World Summit on the Information SocietyWSIS – World Summit on the Information Society
According to the WSIS Plan of Action, “Specific targets for the information society will be established as appropriate, at the national level in the framework of national e-
strategies and in accordance with national development policies, taking into account the different national circumstances. Such targets can serve as useful benchmarks
for action and for the evaluation of the progress made towards the attainment of the overall objectives of the information society”.
Furthermore, the document stresses that national e-strategies should be encouraged by all countries by 2005, based on national priorities.
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Approaches to ICT policy making in Africa
Countries that followed the AISI, NICI model – the involved development of elaborate policy framework and implementation plan through a consultative process – majority of the countries
(over 30 countries)
Countries that followed the AISI, NICI model – the involved development of elaborate policy framework and implementation plan through a consultative process – majority of the countries
(over 30 countries)
Incremental models yet organic approach with a focus on building blocks such as national delivery through educational capacity, infrastructure, content and public service delivery through ICT (e.g. Botswana, Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia)
Incremental models yet organic approach with a focus on building blocks such as national delivery through educational capacity, infrastructure, content and public service delivery through ICT (e.g. Botswana, Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia)
Countries that didn’t develop theirpolicy due to historical and poliical challenges (e.g. Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Somalia and
Sao Tome & Pricincipe)
Countries that didn’t develop theirpolicy due to historical and poliical challenges (e.g. Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Somalia and
Sao Tome & Pricincipe)
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NICI Development process
Phase 1 – Framework document – thru baseline study which establish benchmarksPhase 2 – Policy document Phase 3 – Plan – an integrated ICT and socio-economic devt planPhase 4 – Implementation of specific programs in the plan
NICI cycleThe NICI development process cycle
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ICT Policy Focus Areas in Africa
As gathered from ICT policies and plans of 33 African countries
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Moving from policy formulation to implementation
Many countries moving towards translating NICI visions and objectives into sectoral strategies;Sectoral strategies are tailor-made for the specific needs of each sector and accord each sector the opportunity to build on its strengths and adapt to its needs;To implement the Ghana ICT for Accelerated Development Policy, for examples, sector strategies developed:
e-Commerce and Trade Development Strategy;e-Government and Governance Strategy;Telecommunication and Communications Sector Policy Statement;National ICTs in Education Strategy;National ICTs in Agriculture Strategy;National ICTs in Health Strategy;National Strategy on ICTs and Gender; andNational e-Security Strategy.
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Sectoral e-strategies & e-legislations
√ Adopted » In progress Source: ECA WSIS questionnaire – 2009 and 2011√ Adopted » In progress Source: ECA WSIS questionnaire – 2009 and 2011
Rwanda‘s e-agriculture strategy development is also in progress** Cameroon and Malawi have also agriculture as a pillar in their national policy
Rwanda‘s e-agriculture strategy development is also in progress** Cameroon and Malawi have also agriculture as a pillar in their national policy
Country Sector specific policies and strategies Legislations enacted Agriculture
As one of the key pillars (priorities) in National ICT Policy
e-government ICT for education policies
e-agriculture
e-commerce
e-currency
e-transaction, e-payment, e-contract
Consumer protection and arbitration
Digital signature
Cyber-security laws
Benin √ √ √ Burkina Faso √ √ √ √ √ Burundi √ Congo » Cote d’Ivoire √ » √ √ √ DRC √ √ √ Egypt √ √ √ √ Ethiopia √ » √ Gambia √ √ √ √ Ghana √ √ √ √ √ √ Guinea-Bissau √ √ √ Kenya √ √ Madagascar √ √ √ Mali √ √ √ √ √ Mozambique √ √ √ √ Niger √ √ √ √ √ √ Nigeria √ √ √ √ √ √ Senegal √ √ √ √ √ Sudan √ √ √ √ Togo √ √ √ Uganda √ √ Zambia √
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ICT policy priorities or strategies that support the agriculture / rural development sector
ICT for community development strategies(e.g. Chad, Ghana, Malawi and Rwanda have this as one of
their priority area of focus)
ICT for community development strategies(e.g. Chad, Ghana, Malawi and Rwanda have this as one of
their priority area of focus)
Universal access service strategies(many countries have this strategy to promote
Access to ICTs in rural areas)
Universal access service strategies(many countries have this strategy to promote
Access to ICTs in rural areas)
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Country cases – Burkina Faso
Projects to implement strategy
•Web portal for rural community and the promotion of multimedia products• Information centre and training on ICT solutions adapted to rural areas• E-services platform for rural areas• Fund for centres for community electronic resources for rural areas
Goal
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Country case - MaliGlobal Objective
Strategic pillars
Programmes to implement e-agri strategy
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Rwanda ICT policy evolutionsOut of 16 key country sectors, five identified as priority sectors in the implementation of the NICI-2015
Governance sectorHealth sectorEducation sectorAgriculture sectorFinance sector (also to a large extent include tax, business, trade and tourism)
OpportunitiesOpportunities
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ICT infrastructure - almost all countries are now connected to submarine fibre optic cables
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Only 0.5Tbps of the 18Tbps of the submarine capacity available is currently in use on the continent – more potential for ICT services expansion
Africa
Morocco
WesternSahara
Algeria
Angola
Benin
Botswana
BurkinaFaso
Burundi
Cameroon
CapeVerde
Central AfricanRepublic
ChadDjibouti
Egypt
EquatorialGuinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon
The Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
MaliMauritania
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Reunion (France)
Rwanda
São Toméand Príncipe
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
SouthAfrica
Sudan
Swaziland
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
DR Congo
Congo
Côted'Ivoire
Digital Divide North-South (End 2010)
312 Gbits87 000 000 inhabitants
208 Gbits> 900 000 000 inhabitants
population International bandwidth
9% 60,00%
populationInternational bandwidth
89% 40,00%
Pida Study ICT Sector juin 2011
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The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa program envisages development of the ICT infrastructure as shown in the map to ensure access to all stakeholders with quality, security and high-level of availability by 2020
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ConclusionOpening of ICT market since 1990s thru – liberalisation – separation of posts from telecom – independent regulatory authorities – countries re-aligning their ICT plans with overall national dev’t planLegal and regulatory frameworks being in placeCoordination (institutional framework) – roles, conflicting objectives, domestic resource mobilisation and lessening donor dependence, ownership, etc.HR capacity development still remain a challenge including in specific areas (e.g. e-agri). Three key considerations for success:
Quality of the policy in understanding the context and setting the obj and priorities right;Managing how to mobilise and commit all relevant stakeholders throughout the process; andGathering data to continuously evaluate, monitor to re-align/adjusting policy priorities
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Thank you!
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