Addis Tribune (Addis Ababa)
9 May 2003
Study papers presented at a two-day consultative workshop organized by the World Bank (WB) and the Ministry of Capacity Building (MoCB) this week at the Ghion Hotel revealed that Ethiopia stood lowest among developing countries in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Currently the WB and MoCB are discussing the preparation of ICT Assisted Development Project (ICTAD) aimed at helping rural and urban communities to have an increased access to ICT assisted public and private services among others, according to the MoCB
A paper presented at the workshop, however, stated that there were a number of things to be considered before the desired goal was met.
Quoting a study conducted by the National Information and Communication Infrastructure Framework (NICIF), the paper stated that there exists a wide gap between the demand and supply of relevant and up-to-date information, that national information systems are not systematically organized and that information infrastructure targeted towards supporting development activities is very weak.
Defining potential causes for the poor status of the use of ICT in Ethiopia, the paper stated that the extremely low penetration level of the national telecommunication network, lack of standards in collection, processing and dissemination of information and a serious shortage of human resources both inequality and quantity were among a few reasons.
It suggest that as a means to cope with the problem, the country had to conduct a national capacity building program in the area of ICT and there had to be adequate national ICT rules and regulations.
Participants of the workshop discussed sector development, human resource assessment and development strategy and government administration and service delivery, among other issues.
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