ICT Policies and Strategies in Rwanda, Namibia & South Africa

1. ICT Policies and Strategies in Rwanda, Namibia & South Africa Jonathan Miller PhD July 2001

2. The View from Africa • Great International Interest in the Digital Divide • UN (UNITeS), HealthInternetwork • G8: Okinawa Charter • DOT Force • Genoa Plan of Action • Commonwealth Secretariat • Multitude of International Donors

3. The Developing World Alleviating Poverty Health Education The Cost of Telephone Calls The Banking System Physical Logistics Contrasting ICT Policy Issues • The developed World • Electronic Commerce • Universal Service • Electronic Gambling • Technology Neutral Taxation • Privacy of the Individual

4. The Starting Point • ICT is good for social/economic development • There is a growing digital divide • There is an untapped ICT market in developing countries

5. Interest within Africa’s 53 Countries • ISAD Conference: 1996 • UNECA: AISI • Spreading the benefits of ICT’s equitably and quickly • The NICI Process: 22 countries • SADC “Policy Guidelines” for Info-based Economy • COMESA: E-Commerce, Trade & Investment

6. Particular Countries • South Africa • Namibia • Rwanda • Tanzania • Mozambique

7. Progress in South Africa • 1994 marked the turning point • The Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) set the vision for the country. • We had an agreed basis to measure many policies, programmes and projects

8. South Africa’s Vision Balance growth with development and place simultaneous emphasis on redressing the present regional, racial, gender and structural imbalances in the economy

9. Major ICT Initiatives:1996-2001 • National Research and Technology Foresight • Information Technology National Qualifications Framework • Electronic Commerce Policy Process • SA Information Technology Industry Strategy

10. SA IT Industry Strategy Project(www.saitis.co.za) • A coordinated ICT industry strategy • ICT‑enabled growth of businesses across the entire economy • A robust ICT industry • A country poised for the Information Age

11. Strategy Development Framework ICT Sector ICT Usage Infrastructure Industry Structure • Sustaining Environment Applications/Content Global Competitiveness Market Employment/Workforce Research & Development Labour Issues Intellectual Property Education/Training Knowledge Transfer ICT Literacy Innovation Human Resources

12. SAITIS Follow-on Projects • Sustainability Structures and Processes • Labour Market Statistics • ICT Portal • ICT Cluster Development • Youth Internship Program • Black ICT SMME Development

13. Namibia “Our vision is that Namibia will be an industrialised state by 2030, with a significant improvement in the essential quality of life of all Namibians.”

14. Namibia's ICT Policy Process: 1998-2001 • NICI Process commenced in 1998 • Telecommunication Framework 1999 • Draft ICT Policy tabled 2001 • Far-sighted Minister of Information

15. Namibian Priorities for Implementation • Enhance rural access to information  • Grow and stabilise the ICT professional community • Facilitate excellent ICT public education, especially in schools • Foster e-commerce, e-business and e-government • Strengthen the existing ICT infrastructure • Create an ICT Cluster

16. Critical Success Factors • A strong national body with committed leadership to guide the implementation of ICT Policy • A detailed implementation plan that • defines indicators against which to measure success • lays out practical growth steps towards achievable targets • names responsible parties • and sets realistic timelines

17. Rwanda

18. Rwanda

19. Rwanda: Vision 2020 • To develop Rwanda into a middle income country by Year 2020 (current GDP per capita is $200) • To modernize the Rwandan economy and society using ICTs as an engine for: • accelerated development and economic growth • national prosperity • global competitiveness

20. Rwanda • 1998: ICT Policy process commenced • 2000: ICT Policy tabled and endorsed by President Kagame • 2001: First 5-year $500 million Plan tabled (400 pages) • Presidential Drive for Rwanda to become a Regional Services Centre

21. Other Countries • Mozambique • National ICT Commission in place • 2000: ICT Policy accepted by government • 2001: Implementation Process in the making • Driven by Prime Minister • Tanzania • 1997: Started an ICT policy process • 1997: Published a telecommunications policy • 2000: eThinkTank launched • 2001: First attempts to initiate ICT Policy process

22. Tanzanian Internet Cafes

23. All believe in the potential of ICT All emphasize human resource development All espouse high level collaboration All struggle to marry public and private role-players All are small enough to contemplate national initiatives Some set seriously unrealistic goals Some use ICT as a political lever Policy process The grand plan Multiple plans Targeted interventions “critical success factors” Similarities and Differences

24. The Emperor’s New Clothes? • Expensive • Take a long time • No follow through to implementation • Long on assessments but very short on visible results • The process is getting bogged down

25. Other Concerns • Lack of insight into dynamics of ICT usage • No cumulative tradition of research • No coordination of initiatives • Donor-Driven Agenda

26. jonmil@icon.co.za