Presented For:IG Forum
Connect Africa Summit Kigali, Rwanda
10/27/2007by:
Sophia Bekele CBS International, Inc
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GAID
Africa
Connect AfricaThrough
An integrated continental Information Network
A Common VisionVision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.
Japanese Proverb
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AISI
WSIS
GAID
NEPAD
Abuja Treaty
.AfricaCBS International
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Complementary Initiatives
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- Connectivity Infrastructure as a ‘must have’
- Widening gap of the digital divide for Africa
A Personal Experience
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The Black Swan
The Platonic fold - the explosive boundary where the Platonic mindset enters in contact with messy reality, where the gap between what you know and what you think you know becomes dangerously wide.
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Entrepreneurship=
Opportunity=
Accelerated Development
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Key to Accelerated Development
- Common Vision- Breeding of Black Swans- Entrepreneurship- Continental Integration of our economies - RECs
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Broadband Access is key to a shared vision,
having basic water and power is a basic human dignity and Internet access should be one.
According to recent World Bank report, over 90% of the population of Sub-Saharan Africa either have no access to backbone networks or are dependent on
low-capacity satellite or microwave networks.
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Broadband connectivity
Broadband connectivity As a key enabler of the four priority areas of the Global
Alliance, will support African efforts to accelerate the roll-out of communication infrastructure and increase broadband access across Africa.
ICT infrastructure is essential for African countries to achieve regional integration and to enable poor people to participate in markets and help reduce poverty.
Economic growth in Africa will depend upon widespread access to ICT services which in turn provide access to local, national, regional and global markets.
Therefore, national and regional backbones, cross-border links, and rural connectivity need to be vastly expanded, in parallel with the deployment of applications to take advantage of connectivity for productive use.
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Initiative A new strategic networking initiative that is central to
the achievement of an African Information Society on the basis of Regional Cooperation and Integration.
Will contribute to transforming the spirit and vision of WSIS into action and promoting the use of ICT for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.
Provides an inclusive, multi-stakeholder global forum and platform for cross-sectoral policy dialogue and advocacy and by catalyzing multi-stakeholder action oriented partnerships encouraged under the GAID umbrella.
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Initiative
Focuses on the development of Information and Knowledge Networks and Resources for critical sectors I.e. agriculture /natural resources transport & communication, Public health, education, business & commerce
Requires large scale deployment /implementation of ICT infrastructures
Needs governmental policy & Strategy formulation, regulatory frameworks
Requires significant financial Investment, economic de-regulation & open competitive business environments to ensure full Private Sector participation
In line with the NEPAD, and could serve a basis for African Integration and Objectives of the African Economic Community /African Union
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Common Vision
To establish a knowledge network to enhance regional knowledge &
expertise of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs)
to achieve economies of scale via socio- economic investment
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Common Objective
To strengthen the knowledge sharing of the Regional Economic Communities via increased indigenous:
knowledge networking Content development
Capacity building Connectivity to the Internet
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Strategic Use of the Knowledge Network
Connectivity of all the RECs to promote networking activities via Internet / Intranet /Extranet
Facilitate cross-border knowledge sharing and research partnerships with key knowledge end-users.
Development of integrated databases and local content to support decision making and to link the public, private sector, and civic society to the RECs
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Reduce cost of communication and increase personal communication
Enhance regional identity and global presence
Link and participate with other existing professional knowledge networks and the regular programs of the UNECA
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Strategic Use of the Knowledge Network
Strategic Use of the Knowledge Network
Generate demand-driven research relevant to practical policy issues
Increase competitiveness and productivity
Upgrade of equipment and training in the use of new information and communication technologies
Development of an effective communication strategy to make known the work of RECs
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Specific Project Experience
The Requirement:
Possibility of scaling the project by linking to Regional offices of AU, sub-regional organizations and other international organizations.
Can be regarded as pilot scale project for a continent-wide network
UNDP/UNOPS Sponsored Capacity Building Project
Local Company to provide the required technology supply, systems integration services, project implementation and overall delivery.
The Solution:
African Union General Secretariat (AU) - Strategic Info System Network Integrated Infrastructure
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Support Early Warning System for conflict management in Africa
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Data/Information Flow for the RECs
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Technologies/ApplicationsInternet /Intranet/Extranet
Web Portals
Multimedia CapabilitiesIntegrated Databases
Broadband, VOIP, WI-FI, Mesh Network, IP Phone
Knowledge Search Engines (OLAP cubes)
Sectoral Applications:
• E-government• Micro Finance• E- Education• E-Health/Telemedicine• E-Commerce• Academic Research (S&T)
Web Content DevelopmentWeb casting
Data/Video Streaming/Data Casting via Satellite
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PROJECT STAKEHOLDERSRegional Economic Communities (RECs)
Policy Makers
Institutes of Higher learning
Civil Society
Global Private Sector
AU, ECA, ADB, World Bank, GKP, GAID, ITU
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Critical Success Factor
Selection of Tested Technologies/Applications
Participation of leading Content Dev Group
Strong Local Presence/Expertise
Training (Capacity Building)
Support - Post Implementation
Early Commitment of Stakeholders
Team Work among stakeholders
Assessment of Indigenous Knowledge
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FundingCBS International
Ladies & Gentlemen
Our Policy Makers
Our Ambassadors
Our Development Partners
The African Civil Society
Private Sector
Let us all call for a
‘ICT Marshall Plan’ For Socio–Economic Transformation of Africa and its digital inclusion
in the global knowledge society
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A Wired Africa
I Thank you for listening!
