The Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) Africa Day

October 10th, 2009

During CODI-3, the ECA and the GKP jointly organized the GKP Africa Day that focused, among other things, on ICT and governance experiences from African countries, strategies for promoting e-governance in Africa, progress on ICT policies, and information and knowledge developments. In addition, participants showcased successful best practices, demonstrated project experiences, and conducted multimedia demonstrations and poster sessions during the GKP Marketplace.

Presentation was made on ePol-Net to the CODI plenary and the second GKP Africa Day that focused on concepts, strategic goals, principles & priorities, partnership model, role of ECA, and the way forward. Over 400 people participated in CODI-3 including delegates from 41 African countries and observers from over 80 national, regional and international organisations.

Participants recommended that ECA should assist in publicizing the ePol-Net initiative to all stakeholders in Africa. In addition, it was suggested that the ePol-Net activities be included in and linked to the AISI Outreach programme and other African-based ICT initiatives that can strengthen information and knowledge sharing among member States.

Posted in Events | No Comments »

The African Stakeholders Network (ASN) Steering Committee meeting

August 5th, 2009

The ASN is the Africa regional network of the United Nations ICT Task Force created in January 2002, with its secretariat based in ECA. It aims at ensuring that UN’s efforts to bridge the digital divide in Africa are better coordinated, more inclusive and reflective of the significant efforts already underway to develop an African information society.

During the ASN Steering Committee meeting, a presentation was made by Mr. Richard Bourassa and Mr. Raymond Lepage of Industry Canada that focused on the goals, principles, priorities, and partnership mechanisms for the global ePol-Net and its regional node for Africa.

Participants noted that the initiative is very important in assisting developing countries in formulating ICT strategies, and that ECA has been partnering with Canada as the regional node of the initiative and will serve to channel demand and supply and coordinate with partners. The discussions highlighted the importance of benchmarking, sharing knowledge and experiences with ongoing initiatives, coordination with partners and evaluation with clear performance indicators.

Posted in Events | No Comments »

What is ePol-net?

June 10th, 2009

In the DOT Force Plan of Action endorsed by G8 Leaders at the 2001 Genoa Summit, a commitment was made to establish a Global ePolicy Resource Network (formerly known as the “International eDevelopment Resource Network” – IeDRN), designed to marshal global efforts in support of national e-strategies for development. The Network will establish a focal point for bringing together providers of e-strategy information and expertise for the benefit of individuals, organizations and governments.

The Global ePolicy Resource Network (ePol-NET) will provide policy makers in developing countries with development assistance services and information products and services. Development assistance services will assist individuals and organizations to find, understand and apply the wealth of existing knowledge about ICTs. Information products and services will meet the needs for specialized information and knowledge about e-strategies that are not readily available elsewhere. ePol-NET’s products and services will focus entirely on adding value to what already exists in a manner that is uniquely responsive to specific needs of developing countries for access to world knowledge and experience concerning e-readiness strategies.

Products and services will be offered to any individual or institution requiring:

* access to information about e-strategies;
* support in acquiring knowledge, formulating and implementation e-strategies and policy frameworks.

Posted in ePol-Net Information | No Comments »

Speech by Mr. K.Y. Amoako, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)

April 25th, 2009

Speech by Mr. K.Y. Amoako, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) during a press conference at the launch of the Global ePolicy Resource network (ePol-Net)

Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me first start by saying how happy I am to attend the launch of the Global e-Policy Network (ePol-Net), here in Geneva, after having been part of the launch of the African regional node that is based in ECA.

Canada and ECA have had a long standing partnership in the field of development information as well as in other fields. I am happy to see that 25 years later the two institutions are still working ever closer together in advancing Information Society goals.

For the African continent the advent of ePol-Net is timely. This is because many countries are in the process of formulating, and a few, are finalizing the implementation of their national e-strategies and plans. ECA alone, under the framework of the African Information Society Initiative (AISI) has assisted approximately 36 countries to date. Undoubtedly, these countries will require information on e-strategy expertise, guidance and advice through the services of ePol-Net.

We hope that there will be greater synergies and more partners coming to join the ePol-Net initiative for promoting ICT4 development activities in a more concerted way.

Earlier today I chaired a high level panel on regional strategies for promoting the Information Society with Ministers from Finland, Lebanon, Jamaica and Senegal. The issues raised from various regions of the world suggest that we all have similar challenges. I therefore urge ePol-Net to also think of addressing national e-strategies that support regional approaches to the Information Society. Such steps are becoming necessary as more countries begin to harmonize their policies in the sub-regions of Africa, for instance.

Finally,

ECA congratulates the Government of Canada and its partners:

The Governments of Ireland, Italy, France, Japan and the UK for this exemplary effort.

I thank-you.

Posted in Speech | No Comments »

Needs Assessment for ePol-NET Services – Mali

March 3rd, 2009
NICI plans documents from other countries Rank
Database on ICT Policies success stories or lessons learned 1
Database on ICT strategies success stories or lessons learned 1
E-local administration applications (lessons learned) 1
Alternative Energy and solar Energy (lessons learned) 1
E-strategies from other countries 1
E-learning applications (lessons learned) 2
E-government applications (lessons learned) 2
E-health applications (lessons learned) 2
E-governance applications (lessons learned) 2
Telecommunication Regulation lessons learned 2
Telecommunication privatisation or liberalisation (lessons learned) 2
Gender and ICT (lessons learned) 2
Youth and ICT 2
ICT for Job promotion 2
TOR of various phases from other countries 2
E-vote 3
E-parliament 3
NICI plans documents from other countries 3
Expertise was required in the following areas:

LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

  1. Competition
  2. ICT regulation
  3. Institutional
  4. Investments
  5. Legal
  6. Resources mobilisation
  7. Telecommunication regulation

HUMAN CAPACITY BUILDING

  1. Capacity building for ICT specialists
  2. Capacity building for ICT use

BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE
(technology transfer -investments)

  1. Energy
  2. Fixed telephony strategies
  3. Investment in telecommunication basic infrastructure
  4. Low cost connectivity at remote and rural area
  5. Mobil telephony strategies
  6. Spectrum Management
  7. Telecommunication infrastructure

ICT APPLICATIONS

  1. E-Education
  2. E-Governance
  3. E-Government (facilitating of Government Administration and Services delivery)
  4. E-Health
  5. E-services (call-centers/e-work/etc..)
  6. ICT and Community Radio
  7. ICT for disfranchised
  8. Information security
  9. Local content

Posted in Needs Assessment | No Comments »

Needs Assessment for ePol-NET Services – The Gambia

February 22nd, 2009
Rank
E-government applications (lessons learned) 1
E-governance applications (lessons learned) 1
E-local administration applications (lessons learned) 1
ICT for Job promotion 1
NICI plans documents from other countries 2
E-health applications (lessons learned) 2
E-strategies from other countries 3
Database on ICT Policies success stories or lessons learned 3
E-learning applications (lessons learned) 3
Telecommunication privatisation or liberalisation (lessons learned) 3
Alternative Energy and solar Energy (lessons learned) 3
Gender and ICT (lessons learned) 3
Youth and ICT 3
Database on ICT strategies success stories or lessons learned 4
E-vote 4
Telecommunication Regulation lessons learned 4
TOR of various phases from other countries 5
Expertise was required in the following areas:

LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

  1. Digital signature
  2. ICT regulation
  3. Institutional
  4. Investments
  5. Resources mobilisation
  6. Telecommunication regulation
  7. Universal access

HUMAN CAPACITY BUILDING

  1. Capacity building for ICT specialists
  2. Capacity building for ICT use

BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE
(technology transfer -investments)

  1. Energy
  2. Telecommunication infrastructure
  3. Wireless –VSAT- Electrical network – WIFI

ICT APPLICATIONS

  1. Business and Trade
  2. E-Community
  3. E-Education
  4. E-Governance
  5. E-Government (facilitating of Government Administration and Services delivery)
  6. E-Health
  7. Environment and Agriculture
  8. E-services (call-centers/e-work/etc..)
  9. ICT and Community Radio
  10. ICT and Gender
  11. ICT and Youth
  12. Local content
  13. Open standard and open source strategy

Posted in Needs Assessment | No Comments »

Needs Assessment for ePol-NET Services – Ghana

January 31st, 2009
Rank
NICI plans documents from other countries 1
Database on ICT Policies success stories or lessons learned 1
Database on ICT strategies success stories or lessons learned 1
E-strategies from other countries 2
E-learning applications (lessons learned) 2
E-health applications (lessons learned) 2
E-government applications (lessons learned) 3
E-governance applications (lessons learned) 3
E-local administration applications (lessons learned) 3
E-parliament 3
Telecommunication Regulation lessons learned 3
Telecommunication privatisation or liberalisation (lessons learned) 3
Alternative Energy and solar Energy (lessons learned) 3
Gender and ICT (lessons learned) 3
Youth and ICT 3
TOR of various phases from other countries 4
E-vote 4
ICT for Job promotion 4
Expertise was required in the following areas:

LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

  1. Competition
  2. Digital signature
  3. Foreign direct investment
  4. ICT regulation
  5. Institutional
  6. Intellectual property
  7. Legal
  8. Project document formulation
  9. Regional integration and international cooperation
  10. Resources mobilisation
  11. Telecommunication regulation
  12. Universal access

HUMAN CAPACITY BUILDING

  1. Capacity building for ICT specialists
  2. Capacity building for ICT use

BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE
(technology transfer -investments)

  1. Energy
  2. Fixed telephony strategies
  3. Investment in telecommunication basic infrastructure
  4. Low cost connectivity at remote and rural area
  5. Mobile telephony strategies
  6. Spectrum Management
  7. Telecommunication infrastructure
  8. Wireless –VSAT- Electrical network – WIFI

ICT APPLICATIONS

  1. E-community
  2. E-Education
  3. E-Governance
  4. E-Government (facilitating of Government Administration and Services delivery)
  5. E-Health
  6. Environment and Agriculture
  7. Local content
  8. Open standard and open source strategy
Expertise was required in the following areas:

LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

  1. Telecommunication regulation
  2. ICT regulation
  3. Foreign direct investment
  4. Resources mobilisation
  5. Regional integration and international cooperation

HUMAN CAPACITY BUILDING

  1. Capacity building for ICT specialists
  2. Capacity building for ICT use

BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE
(technology transfer -investments)

  1. Telecommunication infrastructure
  2. Investment in telecommunication basic infrastructure

ICT APPLICATIONS

  1. E-Government (facilitating of Government Administration and Services delivery)
  2. E-services (call-centers/e-work/etc..)

Posted in Needs Assessment | No Comments »

Needs Assessment for ePol-NET Services – Cameroon

December 31st, 2008
Rank
Database on ICT strategies success stories or lessons learned 5
E-strategies from other countries 4
NICI plans documents from other countries 4
E-government applications (lessons learned) 4
Telecommunication privatisation or liberalisation (lessons learned) 4
Database on ICT Policies success stories or lessons learned 3
E-learning applications (lessons learned) 3
E-health applications (lessons learned) 3
E-governance applications (lessons learned) 3
E-local administration applications (lessons learned) 3
E-vote 3
E-parliament 3
Telecommunication Regulation lessons learned 3
Alternative Energy and solar Energy (lessons learned) 3
Gender and ICT (lessons learned) 3
Youth and ICT 3
ICT for Job promotion 3
TOR of various phases from other countries 2

Expertise was required in the following areas:

LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

  1. Telecommunication regulation
  2. ICT regulation
  3. Foreign direct investment
  4. Resources mobilisation
  5. Regional integration and international cooperation

HUMAN CAPACITY BUILDING

  1. Capacity building for ICT specialists
  2. Capacity building for ICT use

BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE
(technology transfer -investments)

  1. Telecommunication infrastructure
  2. Investment in telecommunication basic infrastructure

ICT APPLICATIONS

  1. E-Government (facilitating of Government Administration and Services delivery)
  2. E-services (call-centers/e-work/etc..)

Posted in Needs Assessment | No Comments »