ICT for Development

Where information and communication technologies are central to social and economic development


Average Rating: no ratings submitted

African Information Society Initiative (AISI) - Africa

Region

Africa

Programme Summary

The African Information Society Initiative (AISI): Africa's Vision to Digital Opportunities is the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa's (ECA) work programme to use information and communication technology to accelerate economic and social development in ECA's 53 member states in Africa. In the last five years, the initiative has been targeted at decision-makers and leaders in all sectors, including, in particular those responsible for planning, information, telecommunications, economic development, laws and regulations, health, education, trade, tourism, environment and transport.

Communication Strategies

Activities include the development of national ICT policy plans and strategies (i.e. national information and communication infrastructure - NICI Plans: click here for NICI web page.) in African countries. As part of this process ECA has held and plans future sub-regional and national convenings, studies and projects on themes that include: democratising access to the information society, connectivity, content development, and sector applications. In addition, there have been capacity building workshops and seminars for various African stakeholders including diplomats, media practitioners, and women entrepreneurs.

Development Issues

Technology, Economic Development.

Key Points

By the year 2010, the AISI is intended to realise a sustainable information society in Africa where:

Information and decision support systems are used to support decision making in all the major sectors of the economy in line with each country's national development priorities. Every man and woman, school child, village, government office and business can access information and knowledge resources through computers and telecommunications; Access is available to international, regional and national "information highways", providing "off-ramps" in the villages and in the information area catering specifically to grass-roots society; A vibrant business sector that can forge the build up of the information society; African information resources are available which reflect the needs of stakeholders; Information and knowledge are disseminated and used by business, the public at large and disenfranchised groups such as women and the poor, in particular, to make rational choices in the economy (free markets) and for all groups to exercise democratic and humanrights (freedom of speech and freedom of cultural and religious expression).

Partners

Current partners include Bellanet, the International Development Research Council (IDRC)/Acacia, CISCO Networking Academy, European Union (EU), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), infoDev, World Bank, UNDP, USAID, La Franchophonie, Governments of India, Korea and Japan. Other former supporters of the AISI include the Carnegie Foundation, Ford Foundation, WTO, FAO, British Council, Harvard Institute for International Development, SIDA, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) to name a few.

Contact

Aida Opoku-Mensah
ICTs, Science and Technology Division (ISTD)
Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)

P.O. Box 3001

Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 5443562
Fax: +251 11 5510512

Source

Letter for Aida Opoku-Mensah to The Communication Initiative, February 19, 2002.


Placed on the Communication Initiative site July 06 2004
Last Updated March 30 2009



How useful did you find the knowledge and contacts on this page to your work?


0
No votes yet
Your rating: None

Help Seed The CI Network

Jobs and more...

Young Children and ICTs

Should ICT be used to enhance the development of empathy in young children? If yes, how? If no, why not?