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E-NIGERIA CONFERENCE

E-NIGERIA CONFERENCE. 28-30 June, Abuja, Nigeria. MDGs, ICTs & Rural Development. Aida Opoku-Mensah Officer-In-Charge, DISD/ECA. Presentation outline. Overview Background to ECA’s work - The African Information Society Initiative (AISI) MDGs & AISI Objectives

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E-NIGERIA CONFERENCE

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

  2. Presentation 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

  3. Overview Presentation 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)

  4. Background What 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

  5. MDGs & AISI Objectives

  6. MDGs & AISI Objectives MDG 8: develop global collaboration for development one of AISI recommendations

  7. ICTs + Rural Development = MDGs?

  8. ICTs + Rural Development = MDGs?

  9. NICI 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.

  10. NICI/e-strategies – Links to rural 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

  11. The VICI as an ICT & rural development 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

  12. VICI Results

  13. VICI Results

  14. VICI Results

  15. Promoting Rural Dev. & ICTs – 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

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

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

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

  19. Promoting Rural Dev. & ICTs – The Challenges • E-Literacy in rural areasto 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.

  20. Promoting Rural Dev. & ICTs – The Challenges • Building e-rural entrepreneursto 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

  21. Promoting Rural Dev. & ICTs – The Challenges • Greater involvement of communities in Government decentralisation effortsespecially 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

  22. Thank You ! http://www.uneca.org/aisi/ aisi@uneca.org

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