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Big World > Links > ICT Sources by Country
Africa
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An annotated list of key on-line sources which focus on how ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) are being used in Africa.
Access to ICTs in Rural Areas - The African Telecentre Experiencehttp://www.agricta.org/afagrict-l/telecentres.htm Author(s): Mike Jensen Date of publication: January 2000 Summary: Links to African Telecentres
Afagrict-1http://www.agricta.org/afagrict-l/resource.htm Summary: Links and resources in ICTs in Africa, under the headings of: ICT Support Projects and Agencies Connectivity and ICT Activity Status Information for Africa Books, CD's Reports and other Publications
Africa and the Digital Inclusion: Personal Reflectionshttp://www.dse.de/ef/digital/solta2-d.htm Author(s): Karima Bounemra Ben Soltane, Chief, Development Information Services Division, UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Addis Ababa Summary: This contribution intends to share some views related to the major issues addressed during the two days Dialogue, with a special focus on Africa.
African Internet Statushttp://www3.sn.apc.org/africa/afstat.htm Author(s): Mike Jensen Date of publication: May 2001 Summary: The Internet has grown rapidly on the continent over the last few years. At the end of 1996 only 11 countries had Internet access, but by November 2000 all 54 countries and territories had achieved permanent connectivity and the presence of local full service dialup ISPs.
African Youth and the Information Highway Participation and Leadership in Community Developmenthttp://www.idrc.ca/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=6&Product_ID=411&CATID=15#toc Author(s): Edited by Osita Ogbu and Paschal Mihyo Date of publication:July 2000 Summary: This book describes a new initiative to promote the involvement of youth in Africa's new information economy. It reviews existing infrastructure, the policy environment and its impact, and the feasibility of increased ICT applications in rural communities. It will appeal to decision-makers and ICT producers and users, as well as to development professionals, academics, students, policymakers, and practitioners in international development and information technology.
Africa on the Internet: Starting Points for Policy Informationhttp://www.africapolicy.org/bp/inet.html Author(s): Africa Policy Information Centre Date of publication: July 1996 Summary: Electronic networks--and particularly the new tools of e-mail and the World Wide Web (see below for an overview of basic concepts and a glossary with short definitions)--have great potential for enhancing global democratic access to policy- making processes. But de facto access to effective use of these technologies is biased in all the predictable directions: by race, gender, economic status, and location. Africa, to date the least connected continent, is particularly disadvantaged. By cutting the costs of long-distance communication, however, the information revolution is also opening up new possibilities. How well Africa and Africa's friends take advantage of these opportunities will depend at least as much on our collective capacity to learn as on the material resources available to us.
Africa: South of the Saharahttp://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/elecnet.html Summary: Links on the subject of the internet and computing
AISI Connect Online Databasehttp://paradigm.wn.apc.org/africa/ Summary: Organisations and individuals working to support the use of ICTs in Africa need to have access to up-to-date information on the status of the existing information and communications infrastructure in the continent. With the rapid changes taking place, keeping this information current has made this task impossible for one organisation or individual. To address this situation the people working in this area have been discussing the development of a database accessible via the web which can be updated by the 'owners' of the records themselves. This web site is the result of these discussions to date.
A Participatory Approach to Produce Web Contenthttp://www.soi.city.ac.uk/research/isrg/papreport.htm Author(s): Department of Information Science, City University Date of publication: April 25 2001 Summary: The broad aim of the six months project - from May to October 2000, is to demonstrate how to realise the full benefits of Internet technologies towards sustainable development in Africa and identify some of the barriers that might constrain such a realisation. The project also sought to develop a methodology that can be used to produce web content that can impact on development in an African setting
Bridging the Gaps in Internet Development in Africahttp://www.idrc.ca/acacia/studies/ir-gaps.htm Author(s): Mike Jensen Date of publication: August 31 1996 Summary: This study seeks to build on the activities of those who have helped chart the events in Africa toward universal access to low cost electronic communications and the associated activities that need to take place to build Africa's Information Society. It aims to identify the most important gaps in this development process, focusing on the countries, regions and sectors in African society that could benefit most from the increased involvement of IDRC.
Developing National Information and Communications Infrastructure (NICI) Policies, Plans and Strategies: the 'why' and 'how'http://www.un.org/Depts/eca/adf/codipap2.htm Date of publication: June 28 1999 Summary: Attempts are made in this paper to assess the ICT situation in African countries, to outline the pressing need to build-up NICI plans and strategies and the various steps to be taken to enable countries to be part of the information society.
Egypt expands digital access for remote communitieshttp://www.undp.org/dpa/frontpagearchive/2001/july/03july01/index.html Date of publication: July 3 2001 Summary: To capitalize on the enormous benefits that can be reaped through the use of information technology, Egypt has decided to expand a pilot digital access project in a governorate north of Cairo to all the country's 26 governorates.
Employment and income generating activities derived from Internet Accesshttp://www.idrc.ca/acacia/studies/ir-henlt.htm Author(s): Georges Hénault Date of publication: September 1996 Summary: The Internet offers a huge range of employment opportunities. New forms of information intensive enterprises are being created, such as data entry and processing companies, as well as software development and online selling ones. Such businesses could potentially be established in small and remote communities since the new information technologies can be used on a decentralized basis.
Examples of Applications: ICTs in developing countrieshttp://www.iicd.org/base/show_article?cat=1&article_id=13&subcat=7 Author(s): Andreas Crede; Robin Mansell (eds.) Date of publication: August 13 1998 Summary: This fourth booklet contains a series of case studies illustrating the potential role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in development. The cases that are described highlight possible ICT applications in a selected number of sectors. The first booklet discussed on the nature of ICTs and their importance for sustainable development. The second booklet focused on the gaps in the provision of ICTs in developing countries and the opportunities for bridging this gap. A third booklet examined the need to develop a national ICT policy framework.
From ISAD to the African Development Forum: the expansion of interest in ICTs in Africa from 1996 to 1999http://www.un.org/Depts/eca/adf/kate.htm Author(s): Kate Wild, Claire Sibthorpe, IDRC, Johannesburg Date of publication: August 25 1999 Summary: A paper fromAfrican Computing & Telecommunications Summit, Cambridge: This presentation will review the experience of the last three years from three points of view: The new institutional mechanisms and partnerships intended to improve the effectiveness of donor programmes in the ICT arena. The (mainly donor-sponsored) events that have followed ISAD with the intention of focussing political attention on the ICT and development connection. The types of ICT projects that are emerging as priorities for support.
Gender analysis of telecentre evaluation methodologyhttp://www.idrc.ca/telecentre/evaluation/nn/19_Gen.html Author(s):Rebecca Holmes for an international working meeting on telecentre evaluation, held at Far Hills, Quebec Date of publication: September 1999 Summary: This document sets out to explore the issue of how gender can be meaningfully integrated into telecentre evaluation methodologies. It is animated by African experience and specifically by South African experience. A lack of time and resources has limited the scope of this document and it is recommended that more of both are put into further investigations of these issues. Specifically in terms of primary research with women and men working as telecentre operators and managers, with women and men in communities serviced by telecentres and an investigation of similarities of these experiences across countries and continents in the developing world.
Gender and the Information Revolution in Africahttp://www.idrc.ca/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=6&Product_ID=471&CATID=15 Author(s): Eva M. Rathgeber and Edith Ofwona Adera (IDRC- http://www.idrc.ca/) Date of publication: May 2000 Summary: The essays in this book examine the current and potential impact of the ICT explosion in Africa. They focus specifically on gender issues and analyze the extent to which women's needs and preferences are being served. The authors underscore the need for information to be made directly relevant to the needs of rural women, whether in the areas of agriculture, health, microenterprise, or education. They argue that it is not enough for women simply to be passive participants in the development of ICTs in Africa. Women must also be decision-makers and actors in the process of using the new ICTs to accelerate African economic, social, and political development.
ICT - Case Studies/ Knowledge Productshttp://members.tripod.com/knownetwork/internetinfo-cases.html Author(s): Part of the KnowNet initiative Summary: The section is a repository of case studies and knowledge products relating to the use of ICT models in various facets of human development.
ICT-Enabled Development Collaboration at the National Level: The Bellanet PerspectiveAuthor(s): Riff Fullan, Program Officer, Bellanet International Secretariat (http://www.bellanet.org/) Date of publication: Feb 2000 Summary: Perhaps the single most significant constraint limiting the effectiveness of current development-oriented programming is a lack of inter-agency collaboration. Such realities as duplication of effort, rising demand for limited expertise, inadequate budgets, etc., could all be ameliorated by greater collaboration and coordination among development agencies.
Improving Access to Telecommunications in South Africahttp://www.idrc.ca/reports/read_article_english.cfm?article_num=267 Author(s): Alan Martin Date of publication:August 21 1998 Summary: Yilani's village of Ndevana in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa had no public telephone. To call someone, Yilani would take a 20 minute taxi ride to King William's Town. There, he could use a payphone - and hope the person he wished to reach was available. For Yilani, a student taking correspondence courses at a technical college in Johannesburg, contacting his lecturer to discuss difficulties with an assignment could turn into a day-long outing.
Information and communication infrastructure development in Africahttp://www.itu.int/ITU-D-UniversalAccess/johan/papers/ccdc.htm Author(s): Johan Ernberg, ITU (http://www.itu.int/ITU-D-UniversalAccess) Date of publication: October 1996 Summary: The information revolution affects every aspect of society; social, economic and cultural and is changing the way people live and work. The opportunities and challenges, as well as obstacles facing the developing countries, who wish to become part of the Global Information Infrastructure (GII) have been discussed in many recent international and regional fora and are summarized in "Africa's Information Society Initiative" (AISI- see below).
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for Sustainable Livelihoods:http://www.rdg.ac.uk/AcaDepts/ea/AERDD/ICTs.home.htm Author(s): Clare O'Farrell & Dr Patricia Norrish (AERDD) and Andrew Scott (ITDG) Date of publication: November 1999 Summary: The follow material relates to a desk based study on new communication technologies and existing information systems of small-scale farmers and entrepreneurs in rural communities. The purpose of the study was to enquire and to illustrate using case study examples: Whether and how ICTs might further marginalise disadvantaged communities, to determine what could be done to mitigate those adverse effects. Whether and how modern ICTs can be used to strengthen and develop the information systems of small-scale farmers and small-scale enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries and contribute to poverty reduction.
Information communication technologies, poverty and empowermenthttp://www.imfundo.org/knowledge/skuse.htm Author(s): Andrew Skuse, Development Communications, Social Development Department, DFID Date of publication: June 2000 Summary: Some commentators have suggested that the social and geographic distance between certain sections of the world's population is being rendered meaningless by new information communication technologies (ICTs), though is simultaneously creating an 'information excluded' underclass comprised of the world's poor. Arguments that centre on the dissolution of old development dichotomies such and North and South in favour of the 'fast' and 'slow' resound to the language of empowerment and disempowerment. Increasingly, the 'wired' world is being brought together as the global network economy emerges, though it is at a clear cost to the unconnected.
Information, ICTs and Small Enterprise: Findings from Botswanahttp://idpm.man.ac.uk/idpm/diwpf7.htm Author(s): Richard Duncombe & Richard Heeks As part of the Development Informatics Working Paper Series Date of publication:1999 Summary: The potential contribution of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to small enterprise development can only be assessed by first understanding current information practices and needs in such enterprises. This paper reports findings from a questionnaire and interview survey of formal sector enterprises in Botswana based on this approach.
News Clippings on ICT and Knowledge Managementhttp://www.cddc.vt.edu/knownet/internetinfo-news.html Summary: Part of the KnowNet initiative
Opportunities for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship in Africahttp://www.dse.de/ef/digital/solta1-e.htm Author(s): Karima Bounemra Ben Soltane, Chief, Development Information Services Division, UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Addis Ababa Date of publication:January 2001 Summary: The digital revolution, a reality in the developed world, is also affecting the developing countries. No one can ignore any longer its actual and potential impact on the economic and social development, either positive or negative.
"Partnerships and participation in telecommunications for rural development: exploring what works and why"http://www.itu.int/ITU-D-UniversalAccess/johan/papers/guelph.doc Author(s): Johan Ernberg, ITU (http://www.itu.int/ITU-D-UniversalAccess) Date of publication: October 26 1998 Summary: From a Conference at the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada: The overall objective of the Programme is to develop best-practice, sustainable and replicable models of ways to provide access to modern telecommunication facilities and information services, particularly to people in rural and remote areas. To this end pilot projects are implemented in a number of countries in different regions, at different stages of development and with different geographical, social, economic and cultural conditions.
Rural South African women join information age through telecentreshttp://www.lolapress.org/elec1/artenglish/step_e.htm Author(s): Kgatliso Pleasant Masethlha,Assistant Project Co-ordinator at Vodacom Centre (Wits University, Johannesburg) and Stephanie Gingras, member of NGO ALTERNATIVES, based in Montreal (http://www.alternatives.ca) Summary: South African women are slowly playing a leading role in the evolution and sharing of new communication technologies. Their involvement has become more apparent in the establishment and running of community based "telecentres".
Socialise the modem of production - The role of telecentres in developmenthttp://www.idrc.ca/telecentre/evaluation/nn/10_Soc.html Author(s): Peter Benjamin & Mona Dahms for an international working meeting on telecentre evaluation, held at Far Hills, Quebec Date of publication: September 28, 1999. Summary: This article questions the role of telecentres as a vehicle for development in countries of the South with particular reference to South Africa. The organisation of the emerging Information Age is, in the words of Manuel Castells, 'Global Informational Capitalism'. There are forces that increase the power of a global elite while large numbers of people are excluded. This 'digital divide' puts at further disadvantage many people in poor areas in rich Northern countries and a majority of people living in African countries.
Strategies for including a Gender Perspective in African Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) Policyhttp://www.devmedia.org/documents/Marcelle%2Ehtm Author(s): Gillian M. Marcelle (United Nations University Institute of New Technologies, Maastricht) for the International Development Research Centre as part of its contribution to the ECA International Conference on African Women and Economic Development. Date of publication: March 1998 Summary: This paper is concerned with strategies to secure the potential economic benefits of ICTs for all groups in society for as we will show, without a gender perspective, there is no guarantee that potential benefits bypass girls and women. The economic benefits for girls and women in terms of enhanced income generation opportunities, employment and improved quality of life are tremendous, but since technologies are not neutral, we will also be concerned with advocating ICT strategies which reduce and manage the potential for ICTs to lead to economic and social exclusion and to reinforce existing social disparities.
Supporting Women's Use of Information Technologies for Sustainable Developmenthttp://www.wigsat.org/it/womenicts.html Author(s): Sophia Huyer (Women in Global Science and Technology - http://www.wigsat.org/index.html) Date of publication: February 18 1997 Summary: The central question of this study concerns African women's use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). This includes issues of access, the benefits African women experience and can expect to experience from ICTs, and the role they can and do play in the production and dissemination of information.
Telecentre Evaluation Methods and Instruments: What works and why?http://www.idrc.ca/telecentre/evaluation/nn/28_Tel.html Author(s): George Scharffenberger for an international working meeting on telecentre evaluation, held at Far Hills, Quebec from September 28-30, 1999. Summary: This paper summarizes the principal elements of that methodology and the lessons learned during the process of baseline data collection in Mali and Uganda. It incorporates lessons learned by Pact in similar information needs assessments/communications mapping exercises over the past year in Indonesia, Bangladesh and Mongolia.
Telecentres Excite Ugandans - But What About The Poor?http://www.panos.org/news/3aug98.htm Author(s): Aida Opoku-Mensah Date of publication: Aug. 4, 1998 Summary: The Acacia Initiative is aimed at widening access to information and communications technologies in Africa, in the form 'telecentres' that provide public access to telephone, fax, electronic mail and - most tantalisingly - the Internet. But enticing as the project is, it raises questions as to whether poor people in developing countries, particularly those living outside city centres, ought to be charged for using information and communications services that are being increasingly viewed as a key strategy in combating poverty.
Telecentre Research Framework for Acaciahttp://www.idrc.ca/acacia/04066/index.html Author(s): Anne Whyte, Mestor Associates, Canada Date of publication: June 1998 Summary: The Acacia Initiative seeks to empower communities in sub-Saharan Africa to improve their own social and economic development, through the particular entry point of improved access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Acacia is designed as an integrated program of demonstration projects and research to address the four linked areas of national policy, telecommunications infrastructure, modern ICT technology, and access to information for different applications such as education and health.
The Internet and Poverty: Real Help or Real Hype?http://www.panos.org/briefing/interpov.htm Author(s): Duncan Pruett with James Deane Date of publication: April 1998 Summary: Governments, donors and development organisations are rushing to realise the benefits that Internet access promises in the fight against poverty. But are the benefits it has brought so far merely isolated examples or are they signs that a revolution is underway?
The Internet in Africahttp://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/africa/cuvl/Internet.html Summary: Links on the subject of the internet in Africa
The Status of African Information Infrastructurehttp://www.un.org/Depts/eca/adf/codipap1.htm Author(s): Mike Jensen Date of publication: June 28 1999 Summary: Paper from First Meeting of the Committee on Development Information (CODI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Communications and information infrastructure has improved dramatically in Africa over the past 5 years. The Internet, satellite television, cellular phones and itemised billing are now widespread on the continent. But what might have been unthinkable a decade ago is still a dream for the majority of Africans those who do not live in the capital cities and are not part of the elite.
The Wireless Toolbox: A Guide To Using Low-Cost Radio Communication Systems for Telecommunication in Developing Countries - An African Perspectivehttp://www.idrc.ca/acacia/03866/wireless/ Author(s): Mike Jensen Date of publication: January 1999 Summary: With 6 billion people on the planet and only about 800 million telephone lines, access to modern communications services is still a dream for most people. It is now an accepted fact that the telecom infrastructure is one of the key factors that affect economic, social and cultural development in both developing and industrialised countries but as we move into the next millennium, over half the world has yet to make a phone call, let alone surf the web. The growth of the Internet, as well as widespread moves to increased use of electronic information in society, has put even more pressure on the existing telecommunications infrastructure. Even the advanced networks in developed countries are straining to cope with the growth in data communications, which now exceeds voice traffic.
Woyaahttp://www.woyaa.com/index.html Summary: An African Web Portal.
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