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Economic Commission for Africa African Development Forum '99 Discussion List Summary, 28/6-10/7 1999 |
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Economic Commission for Africa African Development Forum '99 Discussion List Summary, 28/6-10/7 1999 |
Last week we initiated debate on what is one of ADF’s most important themes: Africa and the Information Economy. The debate covered the need for a good definition of the Information Economy for Africa, suggested potential niches for Africa’s participation, advocated models for policymaking and warned that these questions will be moot without the combination of strong local vision and vibrant ICT institutions. Additionally it broached potential and existing E-commerce possibilities, many of which were carried through in the discussion this period. Clearly there is still work to be done if the challenging questions we considered are going to be answered. This week’s discussion raised many more new questions which are summarised below. GOOD FOR ONE, GOOD FOR ALL? One of the themes picked up by participants in the most recent discussion was ‘appropriate’ technology for Africa – and if there is such a thing. "I sometimes wonder why we tend to think that what is good for Europe, USA or other industrialised countries can’t be good for Africa," queried a participant. "Technology is an instrument of human liberation," he cited McLuhan. Another contributor added, "If people continue to nurture the belief that what is good for one isn’t necessarily good for the other, they will continue to subscribe to the inferiority complex that has been killing the African continent for many centuries.... The same people maintained that the Internet would not work in Africa. But today, they are all using it to communicate with Africans." Of course, it was underlined, ICT can help Africa speed up its development process if and only if there is co-operation in terms of policy, investment and human capacity-building. AFRICA AS A TESTING GROUND The arguments as to whether Africa should be a testing ground for new technology were bounced back and forth. The first question which needs to be addressed is what is meant by the term ‘testing ground’: is it, on one hand, a scenario of exploitation and imposition or, on the other, "a voyage of discovery – from within"? Arguments on: Although Africa is smart in its urge and demand to catch up, it should not be a testing ground for new technology. "Let there be no computer in Africa until we are able to produce [a] simple floppy drive," asserted one participant. Africa’s own technology must evolve – in tune with the rest of the world – but on its own. One participant in Scandinavia exhorted the Africans of the Diaspora to find out what the African Nations need and want to move from their present position: "If we do not go back to the drawing board to develop and produce our own IC, we will always be dependent on importing them to fuel our own economy." "We can not afford to be the recycling area of technology," one participant warned. Regardless of the arguments for or against, it is also important to recognise that information and communication technologies are not necessarily neutral in their effects. The extension of computer technologies into every aspect of social and economic frameworks reorders the social and economic environments. "This re-ordering is also wrapped up with a whole wave of speculation on, enthusiasm for, and fear of technologised futures," a participant contributed. However, when groups – such as community centres or African transnational enterprises – take various ICTs and master their use to suit their particular needs, this reordering is locally directed. Pro arguments: Why shouldn’t Africa be a testing ground? asked one list participant. After all, with a minimal degree of literacy and access to a machine anyone can download software or order online. Africa should be an environment where ‘cutting edge development’ takes place. This should be one of the "pillars" of the leapfrogging issue. Having Africa as a technology testing ground presents the advantage that the technologies which should be tested and adapted to human purposes and not imposed from without. This is not to say there are real risks regarding the importation of technologies – these risks must be considered and avoided if possible. But Africa would be well advised to take some – even poorly defined – risks to be able to capture potential benefits from ICTs early. "The more we leave out any aspect of what is happening globally in the name of appropriateness ... the more we deny ourselves the paths for trendy development and therefore continue to be ‘damping grounds.’ If not information facilitated by the means to access and share it, what will move us from inability to innovate for our betterment?" asks one discussant. Niche uses for older technology exist as well but the application needs to be well thought through. ACCOUNTABILITY The fundamental truth, it was said in discussion, is that African governments have to be accountable to their people first – while one can talk about governments using ICTs to organise, disseminate and manage information for effective governance, the key question is whether these efforts will make them more accountable to the taxpayer. The point was made that ICTs should be used first and foremost for the political education of the masses: when the population is properly informed about subjects like finance and economics, the level of debate is enhanced and they will demand better services from their governments. "If there is anything special in the so-called information economy, it is that people’s smartness is what makes the difference, not materials and energy." ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS "What do these technologies mean for what we are trying to achieve?" asked a participant. Experience ‘on the ground’ may not have expertise about various given technologies, but – given the chance – there is much expertise and wisdom to be found in asking the right questions. This can’t happen in a ‘top-down’ approach. PRIVATISATION A list suggestion: let African telecomm be privatised through competent companies, which have the expert knowledge, management, experience, organisation abilities and R&D funds to run them. It is generally acknowledged that partnerships must be developed between the public and private sector, but ICT strategies are hindered by the lack of trust between those two groups. Still, noted one participant on companies bringing the Internet to Africa: "They are not doing us any favours because we pay for the services they render." CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE Discussion of the possibility of Chambers of Commerce as telecentre sites raised in the first part of the discussion on the information economy continued in the second part. ICTs to support business and economic development are not realistic unless they are based on a solid understanding of how business is done: Chambers of Commerce have this understanding. Their memberships are demand-driven and so are forced to deliver to the satisfaction of their constituency. Chambers of Commerce are the most likely candidates to apply their business acumen to find ICT-based solutions to support local businesses and economic development – that is, solutions which are both financially self-sustaining and can be operated to performance standards.
Errata re: E-Commerce Last week’s summary misquoted ADF’99 co-ordinator Kate Wild. The quote should have read: "In the African context e-commerce should not be understood in the same strict terms by which it has been defined elsewhere." Elaborating on this idea, Kate explains, "From a development perspective, the benefit of Internet access and ICTs will come through their capacity to generate income and opportunity in poor communities. E-commerce at the micro level is comparatively insignificant in the north."
WEB SITES cited this week Africaservice http://www.ncdnhc.isoc.org/home.html list servs:
This summary was prepared by Dawn Blalock, a graduate student in International Affairs and African Studies at Columbia University in New York and ECA intern this summer. If you have any requests or questions regarding the summaries, please e-mail to deblalock@hotmail.com. Thank you. |
