Building Connectivity in Africa-efforts of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

1. Building Connectivity in Africa-efforts of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Association for Population/Family Planning Libraries and Information Centers-International (APLIC-I) Conference, Washington D.C.

2. Growth of connectivity in Africa • Period of NGO-led Fidonet connectivity (1987-1993) • CABECA helped set up first nodes in 24 countries • 5 countries connected to Internet (1995) • Bi-lateral and multi-lateral projects (‘95-’00) • USAID Leland Initiative • UNDP African Internet Initiative, Sustainable Development Network Program • UNESCO RINAF • World Bank InfoDev Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context

3. Current connectivity impetus • Private sector led, 1998-presentAfrica Online major international ISP Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context

4. African information and communication needs • One minute calls from African capitals to Europe or the U.S.- $3-$7/minute • Post: letters from Niger to Ethiopia can take 8 years • Libraries: few or no public libraries accessible to students in many African countries; where there are, paucity of books and journals • In sub-Saharan African, one fixed line telephone for every 635 people • One computer for every 500 people Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context

5. What is AISI? • African Information Society Initiative: an action Framework to Build Africa’s Information and Communication Infrastructure • Adopted by ECA Conference of Ministers of Economic Planning and Development in 1996 • Implemented by United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Addis Ababa) Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context

6. Why was AISI needed? • African delay in entering information age • Mbeki (Brussels, 1996)- more telephone lines in Manhattan than all of sub-Saharan Africa • Need for an African direction to AII • Need to wake up African policy makers Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context

7. Working with African countries on . . . • Developing national plans for building information and communication infrastructure • Eliminating legal and regulatory barriers to the use of information and communication technologies • Establishing an enabling environment to foster the free flow and development of information and communication in society • Developing policies and implementing plans for using information and communication technologies in the public sector Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context

8. Identifying information and communication applications in areas of highest impact on socio-economic development • Facilitating the establishment of locally based, low-cost and widely accessible Internet services and information content • Preparing plans to develop human resources in information and communication technologies • Adopting policies and strategies to increase access to information and communication facilities with priorities for rural areas, grassroots society, women and youth • Raising awareness of the potential benefits of information and communication infrastructure. Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context

9. Concentration on • Policy and enabling environment- National Information and Communication Infrastructure plans and policies (NICIs) • Infrastructure (connectivity) • Content development • Democratizing access Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context

10. AISI accomplishments • Sensitization • Development of national strategies www.bellanet.org/partners/aisi/nici/index.htm • Promoting connectivity • Promoting partnership • Stimulating content development: www.bellanet.org/partners/aisi/adf99docs/docs.htm Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context

11. On the ground, 2001 • dramatic infrastructure improvements • 53 countries connected (2001) • 450 ISPs Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context

12. Current situation • Internet local call system in 15 countries • 20,000 hosts connected to Internet • opening of Nigerian and Eritrean markets • content growing, particularly in diaspora niches, francophone areas • www.bellanet.org/partners/aisi/adf99docs/infrastructure.htm • trend to telecommunications liberalization Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context

13. but . . . • most connections in capital cities • long distance calls from secondary cities • 0.06% connected in sub-Saharan Africa • only 11 countries with more than 5000 users • low total bandwidth (55Mbps) • high costs ($50/mo. for 5 hours) Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context

14. Demographics of African Internet usage • Highly educated, predominantly male users in capital city • Communication between Africa and developed world • Great emphasis on public access • Major institutional users: NGOs, private companies, universities, international organizations Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context

15. Conclusion • How to give voices to more? • need for work with African institutions to encourage Web content development through information management and dissemination • Continuing need for push on policy front and creation of enabling environments • To release national and diaspora entrepreneurial energy Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context

16. Contacts for further information • faye@un.orgnhafkin@uneca.orgnhafkin@hotmail.com • http://www.bellanet.org/partners/aisi Not a One-Way Street: Information in a Global Context