Addis Ababa — Chair: Hisham El-Sharif, Chairman, RITSEC, Chairman, IT Investments Holdings, Egypt; Presenters: Bhavya Lal, Senior Policy Analyst, Abt Associates, USA; Salomao Manhica, Office of the Prime Minister, Mozambique
Panel: Pascal Baba Coulobaly, Chief of the Cabinet, Office of the President, Mali; David Pulkol, Deputy Director, UNICEF, Kenya; Najat Rochdi, Advisor to the Minister of Post and Information Technologies, Morocco; Dominique Hounkonnou, Benin;
Objective: This presentation aimed to: - describe experiences of ICTs in governance from a global perspective using African examples; - sketch future visions and scenarios for ICT in governance in Africa; - identify lessons learned and approaches to be explored in Africa; - define the policy and technology requirements.
Summary:
This panel looked at current issues facing African countries in adapting ICTs to enhance governance in poverty reduction, providing basic human needs, improving public administration, and enhancing democratization. In doing this, the successes and failures around the world and Africa were also taken into account and it was further ascertained whether human choices would ultimately decide if ICTs are tool that can effect change within the continent.
Participants asserted the necessity for Africa to successfully overcome the challenge of using ICTs to consolidate and expand on successes and to address failures, after decades of civil war, corruption, endemic diseases and other negative moments in recent history.
ICTs constituted a diverse and powerful set of technological tools and resources used for the communication, creation, dissemination, storage and management of information. They comprised hardware, software, media and delivery systems, as well as training and support, and also encompassed a great range of rapidly evolving technologies, not all of which are sophisticated, cutting edge and expensive.
ICTs could greatly enhance governance. For example, they could help reduce poverty through distance education, which helps in creating a more skilled work force. Through the improvement of the quality of healthcare and educational opportunities, they could provide basic services. In managing the burden of foreign debt ad revitalizing local economies, public administration was improved though ICTs. They could also enhance democratization and accountability through "open", online government.
Some of the challenges to the use of ICTs for governance were identified as: poor electricity infrastructure, telecommunications and local supplies of IT goods; technical issues such as the high costs of financing ICTs; and lack of adequate political support and awareness among senior policy makers. These barriers were even worse in Africa where there was lack of physical access, illiteracy and the persistence of other negative factors.
The session concluded by affirming that Africa had a better chance of benefiting from the integration of ICTs into governance if the "ICT tail" did not wag the "governance dog".
The full text of all speeches, statements, press releases and summaries are available on the ADF Home Page at: http://www.un.org/depts/eca They are supported by video and audio clips of keynote addresses and other major moments. This site also includes the programme, list of participants, theme papers and other relevant background documents.
For more information on the Forum or to interview participants, please contact: Peter da Costa Senior Communication Adviser Economic Commission for Africa P.O. Box 3001 Addis Ababa Ethiopia Tel: +251-1-51 58 26 Fax: +251-1-51 03 65 Cell: +251-9-20 17 94 E-mail: dacosta@un.org or ecainfo@un.org Web: http://www.un.org/depts/eca
