session ii: ict strategies for development: key elements cécile barayre marta pérez cusó ict and...
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Session II: Session II: ICT Strategies for Development: ICT Strategies for Development:
Key elementsKey elements
Cécile Barayre
Marta Pérez Cusó
ICT and E-Business Branch, SITE
UNCTAD Short Courses on Key Issues on the International Economic Agenda for Permanent Missions in Geneva, Monday 23 April 2007
Promoting growth and development through ICTs
Presentation outline
A. Design of national ICT strategy
B. Implementation and institutional framework
C. Review and evaluation
A. Design of national ICT strategy
National ICT Strategies: main objectives
• Raise awareness about the role of ICT for development, its benefits and requirements
• Create an enabling environment for the adoption of ICT: access, regulations, incentives, payments…
• Build capacity & skills for the information economy
National ICT policy framework
Source: UNCTAD (2003) E-Commerce and Development Report
Basic elements of an ICT policy framework
1. ICT infrastructure, connectivity and access
2. Legal and regulatory framework
3. ICT human resources and skills
4. Business development
5. ICT-related trade and investment policies
6. E-government
7. Technological innovation (R&D)
• ICT infrastructure: –Accessible, affordable, good quality–Costly: promote appropriate investment climate –Deployment of broadband
• Create universal access to minimize digital exclusion–Shared access models–Universal service obligations–Public-private partnerships
• Appropriate technologies (Hardware & Software)
1. ICT infrastructure, connectivity & access
What is FOSS?
Free and Open-Source Software: a software which has its source code open
• Free as in freedomSocial movement. Four freedoms:
0.- Freedom to run it
1.- Freedom to study & modify it
2.- Freedom to redistribute copies
3.- Freedom to publish a modified version
• Open-Source Software
Practical solution, development methodology
Free and Open Source software
• Consider adopting FOSS to contribute to the narrowing of the digital divide
• Governments important role as designers of policies on technologies and as a de-facto market
• Human resources development & training on FOSS
2. Legal and regulatory framework
• Telecom regulation• Investment regulation• E-commerce laws• E-payment• Taxation• Trade policies(see session 3)
3. Human resources and skills
• ICT skills in primary and secondary education
• IT graduates and programs (Universities)
• Training projects (public and private sectors)
IT education in Chile
Red Enlaces (‘Network links’)• Launch 1992: 12 schools• By 2005: +9400 schools in rural and urban areas• Continuous effort: introducing broadband
Source: Red enlaces www.enlaces.cl, UNCTAD (2003)
4. Business development
• Promote the use of ICTs by enterprises• SME capacity building and finance (venture
capital)• Create local content• Public procurement• Online tools (e-marketplaces)
Example: Grameen phone
• 10 million mobile phone subscribers
• Village Phone Program
Source: grameenphone.com, tudakozo.vodafone.hu, UNCTAD (2006)
5. ICT-related trade and investment policies
• Increase trade in ICT goods and services
• Attract FDI
• Promote ICT-related activities (e.g. outsourcing/offshoring)
Smart village: an Egyptian initiative• State-of-the-art infrastructure:
– High-speed connectivity for integrated services (data, audio and video)
• Customers:– Multinationals (Microsoft, Alcatel, Vodafone, HP and Ericsson)– Technology incubators & SMEs– MCIT and NTRA moved in Dec. 2004 as Phase II.– A financial district in Phase III (2006-2007) for the Egyptian and
Arab Stock Exchanges and other financial institutions• A high-tech business park:
– Over 300 Acres of land (90% are green areas)– Hosting 54 buildings (336 000 sq.m. of office space)– Hosting 25,000 – 30,000 jobs
6. E-government
Three main roles for Governments:
• Users of ICT
• Facilitators
• Leaders
Steps to e-government
Source: Finland Government (2003) as cited by UNCTAD (2004) E-Commerce & Development Report 2004
Some figures on e-government in 2005
Source: UNDESA, 2005
• 179 of 191 member states had a website • 88 % of all countries provided info online• Only 1/3 of all countries provided public services online
Serious access-divide
7. Technological innovation
• Develop capacities through research and development programmes
• Provide incentives to private sector investment in R&D
Designing and implementing ICT policies
Key questions
• How will the implementation of the strategy be organized and coordinated?
• Who are the main partners and stakeholders involved in the implementation process?
• Which policy areas should be given priority over others re: resources?
• What institutional aspects need to be taken into consideration?
Designing and implementing ICT policies
Lessons learned - successful ICT policies need:
• Leadership from the top (head of state)• Involve all stakeholders in implementation• A holistic approach covering all sectors• A liberalized economic environment• Monitoring of ICT developments• Tailoring towards countries’ requirements• Mainstreaming ICTs into national economic and
social development plan
B. Implementation and institutional framework
• Promoting pro-poor policies
• Measuring and monitoring: ICT indicators and ICT policy review
Pro-poor ICT Strategies
ICTs for Development vs.
Pro-poor ICTs
Poverty = multiple deprivation
Pro-poor ICTs: Current thinking
• ICTs a tool for poverty, necessary but insufficient
• Different technologies contribute differently • Embed pro-poor ICT efforts in poverty
reduction initiatives• Ensure impact by scaling-up projects• Support needed at all levels • Promote research focused on pro-poor ICTs
Pro-poor ICTs: Institutional barriers
• Cross-cutting nature of ICTs for poverty reduction
• Working with others is not easy• Limited quantitative & qualitative assessments • Scaling-up: + than replicating good projects• Limited incentives to coordinate strategies• Power imbalances
UNCTAD’s Pro-poor ICT framework
12 Cs Connectivity
Content
Community
Commerce
Capacity
Culture Cooperation
Capital Context
Conti
nuity
Control
Coherence
Macro
Meso
Micro
Vision
Assumptions
Conflicts
The 12 C’s
Connectivity •Accessible & affordable Infrastructure & technology
Cooperation •All stakeholders support the initiative
Content •Relevant & accessible•Users participate in its development
Capital •Financial sustainability
Community •Provile & level of participation of users
Context •Adapted to context•Influences context
Commerce •Supports economic activities & livelihoods
Continuity •Monitoring & evaluation•Flexible promotes learning
Capacity •User’s capacity•Organisation’s capacity
Control •Beneficiaries’ ownership•Stakeholders accountable
Culture •Supportive culture•Learning culture
Coherence •Coherent with other initiatives to reduce poverty
Measuring and monitoring
• Statistical data critical for policy makers• What to measure? Access, use & impact• Data available: statistics & estimates/surveys
for OECD countries - limited for developing countries
• Global initiative: Partnership on measuring ICT4D. Members: ITU,OECD, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Institute for Statistics (UN ICT Task Force - GAID),World Bank, ECA, ECLAC, ESCAP, ESCWA, Eurostat
ICT growth in Egypt
• Investment of ICT Companies in Egypt exceeded USD 6 billion over past 8 years
• Increase in number of ICT companies to 1920
• Current Number of Employees of private ICT companies exceeds 45,000
Closing the data gap in developing countries
Source: UNCTAD (2006)
C. Review and evaluation
No information availableCountry in the process of developing a national ICT StrategyCountry with a national ICT Strategy
Source: UNCTAD (2006)
National ICT plans in developing and transition countries and territories (2006)
How many developing countries have adopted an ICT strategy or master plan?
UNCTAD survey on ICT master plans
• 181 developing and transition countries and territories surveyed (UNCTAD 2006)
• 80 (44%) have adopted an ICT plan• 36 (20%) are designing an ICT plan• ICTs: part of many developing countries'
development plans and poverty reduction strategies
Example: Rwanda
National ICT plan
NICI‘01-’05
Human Resource Development AgencyTraining of civil servants ICT in higher learningPromotion of women in ICT PCs in schools & train IT teachers
RITA – Rwanda Information Technology Authority
StrategyStrategy ImplementationImplementation EvaluationEvaluation
included
Human resources development
Some progress:
PCs now in 1138 schools
Still challenges:
Only 26% of the plan achieved
Major cause
Lack of qualified human resources
The way ahead: ICT policy reviews
• National ICT plans exist in many developing countries
• Need to assess and evaluate policies
• ICT monitoring and measurement
• UNCTAD: ICT policy review framework for the information economy
ICT infrastructure & access Access to & use of ICTs by households and individuals Use of ICTs by businesses ICT sector and trade in ICT goods Other ICT indicators
ICT environment ICT policy framework
Objectives and priority areas & strategic approach ICT infrastructure development Legal and regulatory framework ICT human resources/skills Business development ICT-related trade & investment policies E-government Technological innovation (R&D)
Implementation &Institutional framework
Integration of ICT policies in national development plans /PRSP Institutional setup for implementation of ICT plan Policy coordination Financial resources Monitoring and evaluation
Policy recommendations Tra
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Revised ICT master plan/policies
Assessment of existing ICT master plan
Indicators of achievement – identification of success factors, best practices, lessons learnt and challenges ahead
ICT uptake and use indicators
Source: UNCTAD (2006)
UNCTAD ICT policy review model framework
• Generic model > could be used as a basis by developing countries
• Adapted to the needs of each country
• Could include additional elements to reflect specific national aspects not covered by the model
UNCTAD ICT policy review model framework
Conclusion
National ICT Strategies:
• Promote infrastructure, connectivity and access• Build human competence• Adequate legal and regulatory framework• Business sector policies• E-government• Technology and innovation• Carry out periodic ICT policy reviews – role of ICT
indicators
Thank you for your attentionAny questions or comments?
www.unctad.org/ecommercemeasuring-ict.unctad.org