In 2002, the World Economic Forum (WEF), the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) and the e-Africa Commission created the e-Readiness Policy Programme to help African countries address policy issues that affect information communications technology (ICT) use in the region. Bridges.org worked on the Programme to assess the current status of technology-related policies in Africa and to drive government, private sector and civil society stakeholders into ICT policy discussions. This report is intended as a first stage in a broader process to advance ICT policy and decision-making across Africa by building partnerships that inform and engage stakeholders in policy processes.

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Table of contents

Executive summary
Acknowledgements
Table of contents
1 Introduction and background

1.1 Overview of NEPAD, e-Africa Commission, and ISPAD
1.2 Overview of the World Economic Forum-NEPAD E-Readiness Policy Programme

2 Establishing collaboration with the e-Africa Commission
3 Identifying key actors and mechanisms to engage them
4 Collecting information on basic e-readiness in African countries

4.1 Overview of basic e -readiness across Africa
4.2 E-readiness assessments conducted in Africa

5 Creating a framework for analysing the issues and proposing country groupings

5.1 Framework for analysing e-readiness policy issues
5.2 Grouping countries according to level of e-readiness
5.3 Applying the framework to an issue within the context of the country groupings
5.4 Looking deeper at ICT-policy issues that apply to particular country groupings

6 Next steps for the E-Readiness Policy Programme
7 Concluding remarks
Annex 1: Non-governmental organizations dealing with ICT policy in African countries
Annex 2: Government institutions responsible for the ICT sector in African countries
Annex 3: Online policy newsletters, discussion lists, and information resources about Africa
Annex 4: Model ICT policy issue paper
Annex 5: Overview of economic situation and cost of telecommunications in African countries
Annex 6: Overview of e-readiness status in African countries

 

Acknowledgements

Bridges.org extends special thanks to Ewan McPhie, Policy Director, at bridges.org for preparing this report. Bridges.org would like to thank Accenture, Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft for making an investment of seed funding to help launch the WEF / NEPAD / e-Africa Commission E-Readiness Policy Programme. Their vision and commitment to facilitating change in Africa sets an example for others who want to help NEPAD achieve its aims. It is hoped that other World Economic Forum members will follow their lead by funding the remainder of this Programme and enabling the long-term objectives to be realized.

We would also like to thank our colleagues at the World Economic Forum for their support in the process so far, and Henry Chasia and Lyndall Shope-Mafole for providing insight into the work of the NEPAD Secretariat and the e-Africa Commission. We look forward to working in partnership with them during the rest of the programme.