A desire to promote equal access to information and communication technology (ICT) has led to a variety of projects bringing computers to the disadvantaged in Africa. Many put computer labs in public places like schools and community centres. But these projects face a range of practical realities -- from poor infrastructure to a lack of technical support -- and the choice of appropriate technology can be a make-or-break factor. So it is crucial that decision-makers behind these efforts carefully weigh the pros and cons of different technologies and their suitability for the local context. The choice of software is one of the core issues.

A report on the state of e-readiness in all of Africa's countries is the foundation for a year-long programme of work designed to build ICT policy-making capacity in Africa and develop partnerships between government, civil society and the private sector in support of the New Partnership for African Development's (NEPAD) sectoral objectives.

The Steering Committee on Policies and Strategies for the Global Digital Divide Initiative of the World Economic Forum (WEF) was invited in June 2001 by regulators from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to participate and share perspectives in a consultative e-readiness process. The result of the process was an action framework entitled "Better, Faster, Cheaper: Developing and Leveraging World Class ICT Networks for Social and Economic Advancement" that was presented by the Steering Committee on Policies and Strategies as a deliverable to the Task Force at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting 2002.

Rapport de bridges.org : Un accès "réel" a la technologie est nécessaire pour combler le fossé numérique
(Afrikaanse weergawe) (English Version)

"Werklike Toegang" tot tegnologie nodig om digitale kloof oor te steek, lui verslag
(Edition Francaise) (English version)

There are literally thousands of initiatives aimed at tackling the digital divide, but they are bound to fail as long as they focus on just computers and connections.