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How ICT is creating Africa’s quantum leap

Leon StrousIFIP

Computer Society of Zimbabwe, Summerschool 2013

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Your speaker

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theInternationalFederation forInformationProcessing

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A federation of IT societies 50+ countries

Incl

800.000+ members in IFIP’s member societies

13 Technical Committees 100+ working groups 3000+ volunteers 80+ events annually 60+ publications annuallyifip

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IFIP provides a global platform to: • Advance information and communication

technologies (ICT) • Advance the responsible application of ICT• Advance the role, position and effectiveness

of professional ICT societies • Advance professionalism in ICT• Advance digital equity

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How ICT is creating

Africa’s quantum leap

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Thank you Google and Wikipedia

Or not?

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• Quantum physics / mechanics• Quantum computing

• Quantum city / town• Quantum energy wellness / biofeedback• etc

• Quantum leap

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quantum leap

• quantum leap: An abrupt change or step, especially in method, information, or knowledge

(The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language)

• quantum leap: A sudden highly significant advance; breakthrough [from its use in physics meaning the sudden jump of an electron, atom, etc. from one energy level to another]

• (Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged)

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Inaugural ICT Indaba, 4-7 June 2012Cape Town, SA

African ICT Ministerial Declaration

In supporting the outcomes of the ICT INDABA 2012, underpinning the 2020 goals we commit to:

2. Set Africa on a quantum leap growth curve by enhancing GDP growth  through lessons learnt and applying innovation within the African context;

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How ICT is creating Africa’s quantum leap

• Reaching out to communities

• Providing economic opportunities

• Eliminating / decreasing social and geographical boundaries

• …..

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Examples from WITFOR 2007

• Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECEX), International Food Policy Research Institute, Ethiopia

• Using ICTs for Managing Genebanks: Experience of SADC Plant Genetic Resources Centre, SADC Plant Genetic Resources Centre, Zambia

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Examples from WITFOR 2007

• The e-Agricultural Initiative: a Community of Expertise for Sharing Innovative Experiences, FAO Regional Office for Africa, Ghana

• The Pan African e-Network project, Ambassador of India in Ethiopia

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Examples from WITFOR 2007

• The BorgouNET Project, BorgouNET NGO, Benin

• The use of ICT for increasing access to and improving quality in higher education in Africa, IAU / UNESCO, Africa Committee of the UNESCO Forum on Higher Education, Research and Knowledge, Mauritius

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Examples from WITFOR 2007

• Village ICT Project at Lugoba in Tanzania, Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), Tanzania

• Opportunities and Challenges of ICT for Youth Development in Ghana for the Ghana ICT4AD Policy, Youth Development Foundation (YDF), Ghana

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Examples from WITFOR 2007

• Knowledge Transfer Beyond Boundaries (NABU) - Cameroon Project: Empowering rural communities to use ICT in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Cameroon

• Best practices in Community Media Centres, Microsoft Public Sector Group, South Africa

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Cooperation

Why the list of examples?

To show it is a multi stakeholder effort

African proverb:

If you want to go fast go alone

If you want to go far go together

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Cooperation

Who (type of organizations)• Government• Industry• Academia• UN – IGO’s – NGO’s • Societies of professionals

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Cooperation

Who (functions / roles)• Politicians• Policy makers• Regulators• Developers of standards• Developers of products and systems• Researchers• Practitioners (professionals and users)

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IFIP WITFOR

Goals: • To share and discuss experiences in

drafting and implementing ICT policies; • To share and discuss experiences in

initiating and implementing ICT projects; • To present and discuss research

concerning the overall goal

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IFIP WITFOR

The concept of WITFOR is to bring together politicians, policymakers, researchers and practitioners from developed, emerging and developing countries with the aim of discussing together ICT policies and practical experiences.

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IFIP WITFOR

Focussed on areas / topics:• Agriculture• Building the infrastructure• Economic opportunity• Education

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IFIP WITFOR

Focussed on areas / topics:• E-government• Environment• Health• Social, ethical and legal aspects

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IFIP WITFOR

Link with Summerschool themes• Education • (Use of) new technology• Professionalism

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IFIP WITFOR

Approach succesful because:• Host country involved on highest

government level• Participation as intended mix of high

level policy makers (up to ministers), researchers and practitioners

• Mix of stakeholders as presented earlier

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IFIP WITFOR

Approach succesful because:• Willingness to not only talk high level

and UN declaration style but to also talk about implementation and practice

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Challenges:• Follow up on policies and projects• Adapt examples for own situation• Finding partners• Lack of policies and / or regulation• Lack of harmonization of policies /

regulation

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But there is hope:• Involvement in UNESCO and ITU

events, incl WSIS follow up shows the same trend / direction as the WITFOR approach

• Increasing willingness to cooperate• Need for public – private partnerships is

clear

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Personal view / appeal

Keep renewing and updating good intentions and commitments in the form of declarations and statements

BUT ALSO MAKE SURE TO

Transform these good intentions and commitments into practical, manageable implementations

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Personal view / appeal

AND

• Keep learning from each other, from successes and from failures

• Don’t re-invent the wheel too often• Don’t let prestige and single-sided

interests prevail above effectiveness and common interests

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Thank you