Information and communications technology (ICT) is a key weapon in the war against world poverty. Properly used it offers huge potential to empower people in developing countries to overcome development obstacles and achieve economic viability and dependence. World leaders in government, business and civil society are considering how best to harness the power of ICT for development. Current thinking on the topic often frames the discussion in terms of "e-readiness", or how ready a country is to gain the benefits offered by ICT generally in terms of policy, infrastructure and ground-level initiatives. But measuring e-readiness is only the first step. Too often developing country governments tackle e-readiness by focusing on either the need to improve the e-commerce capacity of the business sector or the need to improve access to ICT in disadvantaged communities. Economic and social goals are interdependent and the relationship between them is complex. However it is measured or approached, the broad range of factors that influence e-readiness are interconnected and the relationships between policy, infrastructure and ground-level initiatives are inextricable.

SADC leaders are convinced that ICT use can be an engine for growth and are ready to drive the necessary changes to make that happen. But translating a grand vision into practical steps that fit their local context is not a simple matter. They need to have a realistic and sincere appreciation for what ICT can – and cannot – do for their countries, and they must lead effectively and bolster public confidence in the path they take. There is no uniform level of e-readiness or economic and social development within the SADC. Each SADC member state, and the region as a whole, must take its own path towards e-readiness, and any attempts to impose a single model would prove ineffective. Laws need to be tailor-made to address the unique policy, infrastructure and ground-level realities reflected within each state and the broader regional goals.

E-Readiness Assessments Conducted in the SADC
While most developed countries are regularly assessed, many developing countries, including some SADC countries, have had minimal or no assessment. Only eight of the SADC member states have been assessed. Most of these assessments are limited in content as they have been conducted through a short summary questionnaire or are merely comprised of non-explanatory statistical data. South Africa has had six assessments, while Mauritius, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe have each been assessed twice. Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Namibia have had only one assessment each, while Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, the Seychelles, Swaziland and Zambia have yet to be assessed.

Policy Environment
There seems to be unanimous understanding among SADC governments about the benefits that telecommunications deregulation and liberalization can bring to the ICT industry, and the need for policy and market reforms. ICT policy reform processes have begun in almost all SADC member countries, but have not yet reached the implementation stage in all. Policy reforms to end monopolies in telecommunications are advanced in Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius, South Africa and Zambia. Although an independent national regulator for telecommunications is still needed in the Seychelles, the telecoms network is fully privatized. For example, the second national operator is 51% foreign owned and has recently been licensed to provide fixed and mobile services (see Annex 2). The finance and banking sectors in most SADC countries are underdeveloped. Botswana, Mauritius, the Seychelles and South Africa, however, have advanced financial sectors, though these are also biased towards urban areas. Civil strife in Angola and the DRC continues to inhibit development in policy, infrastructure and ground-level projects.

Infrastructure Development
SADC countries have unequal levels of infrastructure development. Overall, the existing ICT infrastructure is more developed in urban areas. Some countries, such as the DRC, have outdated and costly telecommunications infrastructure inherited from colonial times. Aggressive infrastructure development is unfolding in Mauritius1, while Lesotho remains largely dependent on South Africa for electricity supply and transportation infrastructure. Transport infrastructure (roads, railways, harbours) development is uneven and the majority of rural highways are unpaved in most of the region. Large parts of the Angolan railway network are unusable due to landmines.

Ground-level Projects
There are a number of initiatives under way at the ground level throughout the SADC region. World Links is working to train teachers and students in the use of technology to improve teaching and learning in South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana and Zimbabwe, with expansion to Swaziland and Tanzania anticipated in 2002. A number of ICT access projects are run throughout the region by external development agencies such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the World Bank and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), as well as the public sector, such as the Microsoft Digital Villages initiative. Projects to establish telecentres and other ICT access points are in place in most SADC countries. The Southern Africa Regional Telecommunications Restructuring (SARTR) Project to help member states draft ICT policy reforms is in progress and significant advances have been made in Mauritius, South Africa and Swaziland.

Regional Initiatives
Although each country has a unique development path to follow, broader initiatives have also been initiated at the regional level within the SADC. Organizations leading regional efforts in the SADC include African Connection, the coalition of Ministers of Communications in Africa, various NGOs and international bodies such as USAID and the International Development Research Center (IDRC). In particular, a number of regional policy-making efforts are being launched, are under way, and have been completed with the aim to create a harmonized and coordinated approach to ICT policy reform. However, there are low levels of implementation at the national level to put regional agreements into effect. Moreover, some efforts are duplicative. Regional agreements should be coordinated to ensure they do not duplicate efforts, and they should be implemented at the national level, their effect evaluated, and the best practice lessons recorded for application in other developing countries.

Recommendations for the SADC
SADC countries have three powerful means of directly improving e-readiness and harnessing ICT for social and economic advancement within the SADC region: (1) establishing the policy framework for action, (2) building the necessary infrastructure, and (3) undertaking ground-level projects. Beyond direct interventions itself, the government can also act indirectly by creating a favourable environment for the private sector and NGOs to engage. SADC governments are urged to promote ICT through dialogue with all stakeholders, and by setting a leadership example through e-government initiatives.

A sound ICT policy framework creates a reliable environment within which business and social programmes can thrive. Key issues include: trade agreements and tariff standardization, enterprise and entrepreneurship development, e-commerce promotion and telecommunication liberalization.

ICT infrastructure is the broad foundation upon which business and social programmes are built. It includes basic infrastructure like electricity and transportation, and technical infrastructure like network connections and hardware. Key issues include: physical access to ICT, standards setting and interoperability, and country code top-level domains.

Ground level initiatives spread the benefits of technology throughout society and provide a critical connection between policy considerations and the grassroots community. Ground-level initiatives are often driven by national policies, such as in the fields of education, entrepreneurship and healthcare. Key issues include: public access to ICT in disadvantaged and/or rural communities, e-government services, and local economic and enterprise development.

1 See the National Computer Board, in: http://ncb.intnet.mu.

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