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Information Through ICTs For Development in Africa

Information Through ICTs For Development in Africa. Comparative analysis of rwanda & tanzania. By Eng. George Mulamula UNESCO IFAP Special Event, Paris, 27 th February 2013. PRESENTATION. INTRODUCTION ICT POLICY IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK (Rwanda & Tanzania)

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Information Through ICTs For Development in Africa

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  1. Information Through ICTs For Development in Africa Comparative analysis of rwanda & tanzania By Eng. George Mulamula UNESCO IFAP Special Event, Paris, 27th February 2013

  2. PRESENTATION • INTRODUCTION • ICT POLICY IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK (Rwanda & Tanzania) • INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK TO SUSTAIN ICT POLICY ROLL-OUT (Rwanda & Tanzania) • CHALLENGES (Rwanda & Tanzania) • CONCLUSION

  3. INTRODUCTION Policy makers beginning to understand: • ICT is a tool and an enabler • This presentation - comparative ICT policy formulation analysis of experiences in both Rwanda and Tanzania

  4. INTRODUCTION… • Rwanda located a few degrees south of the Equator bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, densely populated • 1994 civil war and genocide decimated the country • Biggest challenge - reconcile the people of Rwanda, build unity and grow the economy • Developed Vision 2020

  5. INTRODUCTION • Tanzania is bordered by Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and the Indian Ocean along the eastern coast, twice the size of Rwanda • Biggest challenge - reducing poverty & grow the econmoy • Developed Vision 2025

  6. RWANDA’S ICT POLICY IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK • Team of experts in project planning, software and hardware, telecommunications, and economist. • Involved all stakeholders, had strategic implementation plans, and associated costs • NICI 1st Phase: (2001 – 2005) - period for advocacy on computer usage and benefits. • Top down approach (e.g. computer literacy, laptop dissemination, cabinet usage) • Result - greater efficiency, catalyst for better governance

  7. RWANDA’S ICT POLICY IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK… • NICI 2nd Phase (2006-2010) - centered on strengthening this new economic base • Emphasis - development of key ICT infrastructure and provision of certain services (e.g. backbone, wibro, e-soko, eGov, video-conferencing, ICDL) • Result - faster exchange of information, savings on time, money and resource wastage reduction

  8. RWANDA’S ICT POLICY IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK… • NICI 3rd Phase (2011-2015) - seeks to sustain the development and compete in the global market for information-based services and products • Emphasis - ICT skills development, private sector development, ICT for community development, e-Government and cyber security • NICI 4th Phase (2016-2020) - will build on previous phases to implement new processes that can bring Rwanda to be a knowledgeable society and have a middle-income status & achieve Vision 2020

  9. TANZANIA’S ICT POLICY IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK • Used ICT experts only in eThink-Tank and a ICT local Consultant. • Created a National ICT Organisation (“NICTO”) as a Forum and focal point, on a public – private partnership. • Objective – improve efficiency and productivity, contribute to the reduction of poverty, improve the quality of life of Tanzanians • Result - National Information Communication Technology Policy (NICTP) playing a facilitative role within the production sector

  10. TANZANIA’S ICT POLICY IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK… • 2003 - Ministry of Communication & Transport got the NICTP approved by cabinet and parliament • Next phase - sector by sector development of an integrated implementation strategy • This phase never materialized mainly due to lack of strategic implementation plans and no coordinated activities and ownership for M&E • Result - ICT activities done in a “silo” manner by NGOs, public and private sector (e.g., mHealth, eAgriculture)

  11. TANZANIA’S ICT POLICY IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK… Way forward: • Review of ICT Policy with technical assistance of UN ECA and support from the Government of Finland • Learning from best practices, the MCST will have a team of ICT experts & sector experts to write up the policy and implementation plan • Stakeholder involvement - their plans incorporated in the strategic implementation plan

  12. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK TO SUSTAIN ICT POLICY ROLL-OUT • GoR set up the National Information Technology Commission (NITC) and the Rwanda Information Technology Authority (RITA), now part of RDB • NITC membership – key Cabinet Ministers, private & public sector, led by the President • Responsibilities of NITC: • coordinating the development of Rwanda's ICT Policy, Strategies and Plans & supervise RITA • RITA Agency to do M&E with milestones & KPIs .

  13. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK TO SUSTAIN ICT POLICY ROLL-OUT… • In 2003, GoT established the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) as the statutory regulatory body responsible for regulating the communications and broadcasting sectors in Tanzania • TCRA developed the Telecommunications Bill, touches on ICT, but vacuum in the ICT policy implementation sector

  14. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK TO SUSTAIN ICT POLICY ROLL-OUT… • In 2011, the GoT through the Commission for Science & Technology (COSTECH) created an ICT Incubation Centre called Dar Teknohama Business Incubator (DTBi) on a PPP basis that supports ICT Start-ups & SMEs. Objective – with ICT information to: • develop open data portal of information and through ICT to improve G2C, G2B and B2C services by creating citizen-centric applications (mobile & web) with feedback • assist entrepreneurs & innovators develop bankable ideas and enterprises to be job creators • assist in skills development and capacity building • overcome the “valley of death” syndrome

  15. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK TO SUSTAIN ICT POLICY ROLL-OUT… • In 2012, MCST got Parliament approval to set up a National ICT Board (NICTB) that will: • coordinate all ICT activities in the country • monitor and evaluate ICT initiatives • provide strategic guidance for effective ICT

  16. RWANDA CHALLENGES • Capacity and skills gaps -private sector and Government • The mountainous terrain makes ICT infrastructure roll out difficult • Funding • Stimulating private sector entrepreneurship

  17. TANZANIA CHALLENGES… • “Will” to change and implement (system & national good) • Spurring innovation & commercializing R&D results • Funding • Competition for resources among ministries, departments and agencies

  18. CONCLUSION • Rwanda - implementing programmes in a smaller country makes it easier, but “weighed” down by the high population density and mountainous terrain. • Tanzania – with “silo” mentality, to have complementary synergy will require perseverance to stay the course

  19. CONCLUSION… • Correct ICT policies and strategies that are citizen-centric with feedback mechanisms • Leadership and vision – crucial in attaining the socio-economic goals of developing our countries • Commend UNESCO for its role in Harnessing Information Technology for Development in Africa

  20. Thank you! Eng. George Mulamula - COSTECH/DTBi

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