ICT for development: government and industry: experience from Uganda

Transcription

1 ICT for development: government and industry: experience from Uganda By Johnson Nkuuhe or & World Summit on Information System, Geneva, 9 Dec

2 Uganda a country in a tough neighbourhood Rwanda, DRC (Congo), Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania as neighbours 2

3 Focus areas of Uganda s ICT policy Information as a resource for development ICT as tool in health, agriculture, education, business, science and technology etc Mechanisms for accessing information Mostly infrastructure ICT as an industry (UNIDO can help here) E-business, e-commerce, software development, hardware manufacturing and sale The 3 areas not mutually exclusive, but recognise the differences and formulate policy accordingly. 3

4 Uganda s ICT policy vision, goals and objectives 1. Awareness raising 2. ICT functional literacy 3. Infrastructure to promote universal access 4. Promote competition an private sector investment 5. Identify financing for ICT 6. Content production 7. Access to public information 8. Promote multilingualism and national cultural identity 9. Mainstream gender in ICT programs and development 10. Encourage and promote R & D 11. Intellectual property rights protection 12. Enhance collaboration local, regional, international Plans to introduce e-government. 4

5 E-governance in context: Citizen, Government, Society G2G Central Government Citizen G2C G2G Local Government G2B Business NGOs Civil Society G2G 5

6 ereadiness conduct one always A well researched/documented instrument for national development Connectivity (30%). Business environment (20%). E-commerce consumer and business adoption (20%). Legal and regulatory environment (15%). Supporting e-services (10%). Social and cultural infrastructure (5%). 6

7 Govts in South: When starting e-anything: Think big, start small, scale fast e-governance Deployment 1 Think Big Vision 3 Scale Fast Strategy Resources Organisation 2 Start Small Time SMART Projects 7

8 For Government: policy reform with clear vision, objectives and strategies Develop vision Shared, realistic Advocacy market it Set up institution(s) Fund the institution Respect partnership Avoid conflict of interest Implement Constantly review Expect change as normal! 8

9 Good policies yield good results: Uganda Service Before After % change Liberalisation Fixed lines 46,000 61, Mobiles 3, ,000 > 99 ISPs Internet users , FM stations TV stations

10 Avoid on your marks, get set, stop! False starts do occur Usually result of bad policy analysis or design In Uganda death of one minister delayed a law he had initiated for 10 years. Policies and projects that emphasize technology and neglect sociology fail. Unfortunately, donors sometimes make this mistake. 10

11 Financing, monitoring and evaluation often neglected with many ICT projects Policy reforms have financial implications beware Develop smart monitorable indicators Constantly monitor and review regularly Involve stakeholders in these processes 11

12 IICD, I-Network and Uganda s Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry (MTTI) IICD = Dutch agency International Institute for Communication and Development. Roundtable for MTTI, 9 project ideas Project ideas now funded pilot projects Range laws, policy, ecotourism, commodity exchange, software development etc Lessons learnt will be scaled up The speed and scale are manageable Projects are sustainable, and cost-effective 12

13 The Seven Digital Subdivides - A Framework The Digital Digital IP Connectivity Digital Content Infrastructure Digital Education Industry Capacity Digital Investment 13

14 Digital /Opportunity related to the other divides in society Digital Economic Democracy Social Gender Health Economic Reduced imports Export opportunities Business productivity Social Education and teacher training Improved pedagogical tools Employment in IT-sector Gender Women communities Health Access and efficiency Democracy Transparency Reducing corruption 14

15 Interrelationships between the divides: cause and effect (Courtesy David Madie) Digital IP Digital Investment Industry Capacity Infrastructure Connectivity Digital Content Digital Education Conclusion: The Digital Industry can catalyze the bridging of the digital divides 15

16 Beneficial effects of a fast growing ICT-industry Entrepreneurial culture Reduced brain drain ICTinfrastructure Increased employment Government support Fast growing ICT-industry Lower prices on ICT services Market demand Export opportunities and IP creation Venture Capital Other effects Self-sustaining with ICTcommodities Increased penetration in society Increased demand for infrastructure 16

17 The 7 habits of highly effective ICTenabled development initiatives 1. Implement and disseminate best practice 2. Ensure ownership, get local buy-in, find a champion 3. Do a needs assessment 4. Set concrete goals and take small achievable steps 5. Critically evaluate efforts, report back to clients and supporters, and adapt as needed 6. Address key external challenges 7. Make it sustainable according to Lessons for all including UNIDO 17

18 Recommendations the South 1. Pursue good governance & good ICT policies 2. Promote visionary leadership, identify and promote champions 3. Think big, start small, scale up fast 4. Invest in ICT especially rural access 5. Identify and reduce barriers to access 6. Build partnerships, attract investment 7. Civil society, private sector, play your role 8. Training is key (capacity building) 9. Content is king local, relevant, multilingual. Invest in its development, respect intellectual property rights of those who develop it. 18

19 Recommendations the North 1. Follow the example of Denmark 0.7% of GDP in development cooperation (DC): UN can lobby countries. :Use some to catalyze ICT industry dvpmnt 2. Open markets, promote trade, not aid only 3. Establish and promote mutual beneficial networks 1. Politicians, academics, ordinary people, business, civil society 4. Partnerships should not reduce funding 5. Listen to voices from the South 6. UNIDO should help Uganda develop an ICT industtry (software, hardware, accessories etc), and personnel 7. UNIDO could follow the IICD model participatory development, stakeholder driving the agenda, etc 19

20 If we do not start now, our wishes and dreams will remain out of reach 20