1. The first meeting of the African Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) was held in the United Nations Conference Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 20 to
21 October 1997. The meeting was opened by Ms. Karima Bounemra Ben Soltane, Chief of ECA's Development of Information System Division (DISD). She welcomed
all members present: Dr. Raymond Akwule, Ms. Anriette Esterhuyzen, Ms Christine Kisiedu, Mr. Mahiddine Ouhadj and Dr. Venancio Massingue (Mr. Souleymane Sall
was unable to attend). She emphasized that all ATAC members were appointed in their personal capacities.
Agenda item 2 - Election of officers
2. The committee elected Dr. Venancio Massingue as Chairperson, Ms. Christine Kisiedu as Vice-Chairperson and Dr. Raymond Akwule and Mr. Mahiddine
Ouhadj as Rapporteurs. It was decided that these nominations would be effective till the next meeting of ATAC.
Agenda item 3 - Adoption of agenda
3. The agenda was adopted without revisions.
Agenda item 4 - ATAC terms of reference
4. The terms of reference reflected in document DISD/ATAC/I/2 were adopted by the meeting without revisions. The committee felt that additional
clarification as to the role of ATAC was needed. It was agreed that according to the agenda, the substance would be dealt with first after which the
modalities of operation of the ATAC would be discussed.
Agenda item 5 - AISI implementation to date
5. The secretariat introduced the report on the AISI implementation to date (document DISD/ATAC/I/3) which noted that ECA is mandated with the co-
ordination of the implementation of the AISI and organized (or was involved in the organization of) several meetings of partners. Co-ordination is also
facilitated through electronic means such as a Website and several listservs.
6. The AISI partners have organized their substantial work around 7 themes: policy awareness; national information and communication infrastructure (NICI)
planning; Internet connectivity; training and capacity building; democratizing access to the information society; sector applications; and development
information. Until now ECA had been particularly active in AISI co-ordination, conducting national policy and awareness workshops, in the NICI planning
process in several countries, providing advisory services to member States on AISI theme areas, training and capacity building, and finally, Internet
connectivity.
7. Participants noted that the AISI has been presented during many occasions by many organizations and persons involved in the AISI.
8. During the subsequent discussions the following issues were raised: outreach to groups other than policy makers, country involvement in project
implementation and reporting on the implementation of AISI.
Outreach to other groups than policy makers
9. ATAC noted that until now awareness activities were mainly focused on informing policy makers. It was recommended that attention should also be paid
to other groups, including information and communication technology (ICT) project implementors, the media and end-users without an ICT background.
10. The secretariat stated that ECA had already initiated this process by presenting the AISI to potential end-users such as African statistical
institutions and organizations involved in GIS activities in Africa. It also started an internal dialogue within its own organization and would address the
needs of its own users. Furthermore, ECA was planning to turn the UN Conference Centre into a multi-media center which would serve as a permanent exhibition
and training facility where the many different visitors could use and master information technologies.
Country involvement in project implementation
11. ATAC stressed that the involvement of countries in the implementation of projects was crucial. ECA's direct relationships with countries, through the
regional advisors as well as its Subregional Development Centres (SRDCs, the former MULPOCs), facilitates AISI implementation at the national level. Also
other projects are undertaken at the national level, such as IDRC's Acacia programme in which 5 countries are being assisted with the formulation of
national plans and UNDP's Internet related activities in the member States.
Agenda item 6 - ECA framework for implementation of AISI
12. The Chief of DISD introduced ECA's framework for implementation of AISI, working document DISD/ATAC/I/4. She requested ATAC's advice on the proposal, in
particular on the proposed activities which are listed in column "project targets 1998-1999" of the matrix attached to the implementation plan.
13. The subsequent discussions focused around the following issues: clarification on and revision of the ECA framework for implementation of AISI;
ICT and development; partnership; and specific AISI themes.
Clarification on and revision of the ECA framework for implementation of AISI
14. The document proposes ECA's priorities and activities for 1998 and 1999 in implementing the AISI. It does not list all potential activities of other
partners. ECA requested the views of the ATAC members on the relevance of the proposed activities (especially the column "project targets 1998-1999" of
matrix in implementation plan)?
15. The column "proposed implementation partners" of the same matrix lists organizations which either showed strong interest in the specific activity or
which ECA was proposing to work with. ECA would like to work with other organizations and is open to suggestions and commitments. After this
clarification, the ATAC proposed to change the column's heading into "potential implementation partners".
16. On the theme "training and capacity building" in the matrix's column "AISI objectives", it was noted that "special training for information systems
specialists, information service providers, telecommunication and networking specialists" was not an objective and should be footnoted.
17. In addition, a matrix on the World Bank's activities within the AISI framework was attached to the implementation plan. It is a pro-active
contribution of the World Bank's task force on AISI. Other organizations as well as countries were invited to formulate a similar contribution.
ICT and development
18. Regarding ICT and development, ATAC was concerned with the following: many ICT people working in the development area simply assume that ICT is a
means to accelerate development. However, in many countries government, NGO and university levels are not convinced of the value of ICT for Africa. There is
resistance to ICT, and other development priorities are seen as more important. Therefore, the AISI partners and ATAC should think about how to present their
work.
Partnership
19. The PICTA partnership was formed spontaneously by actors in the ICT field in Africa. There is no leadership nor ownership and membership is part of the
discussions of the coming regional co-ordination meeting of partners in information and communication technology for development in Africa (22-24
October).
20. Since PICTA is made up of donor and executing agencies with their head offices largely outside Africa, the committee underlined that networking with
African regional organizations is also necessary. ATAC members mentioned, among others, OAU, ECOWAS, SADC, PATU, RASCOM and PANOS. ECA had invited most of
those organizations to the AISI meetings, but they did not attend. It was decided that ECA would send them reports of the ATAC and partners meeting and
would continue sending invitations. ATAC members will try to advocate and get the organizations involved in the AISI process.
21. The question was raised whether further structures and mechanisms for enlarging the partnership network were needed. ECA's SRDCs could serve as
gateways to the regional organizations. At the same time, many regional organizations now have the infrastructure such as email facilities which could
be used to extend partnership.
22. ATAC also recommended the involvement of information providers such as the InterPress Service in the implementation of AISI.
Theme "Policy and awareness"
23. One of the activities ECA is proposing to undertake under this theme is the organization of study tours for key officials of several African countries.
ATAC agreed with the practical value of these and recommended that officials should come from different groups at different levels within countries. This
would facilitate the formation of national partnerships within the countries.
24. On the proposed policy workshops, ATAC suggested using local capacities in order to reduce costs.
Theme "National information and communication infrastructure plans"
25. ATAC proposed to add in the matrix's column "major ongoing projects in this area" the specific countries where the World Bank is providing technical
assistance in privatization of PTT's and regulatory reform.
26. ECA is proposing to organize national seminars on deregulation of telecommunications. The idea is to present different scenarios of deregulation,
short and long term impacts of telecommunications strategies and to discuss specific country situations.
27. ATAC members raised questions on the term "privatization". Proposals were made to use the following wordings: liberalization, national seminars on
telecommunications and environment, or national seminars on deregulatory environment in telecommunications.
Theme "Training and capacity building"
28. ATAC members advised ECA to consider internships in support of AISI. ECA already has some experience with interns, and a task force is working on it. It
was suggested that ECA would contact the TCDC section of UNDP in the development of an internship program.
29. It was noted that donors seem to focus on training and project implementation, while strengthening existing institutions should be a priority
too. ATAC also underlined the importance of strengthening South-South cooperation: organizations in the South which are being supported by donors
should have the responsibility to help other organizations in the South.
Theme "Sector applications"
30. Although ATAC underlined the importance of focus, it suggested that ECA also pay attention to other critical areas, such as NGO networking.
31. ECA proposes to develop a network of African research libraries. The committee noted that there are already several research libraries which have
developed capacities and facilities and could better fulfil the coordination role. ECA requested further information on these libraries.
Theme "Development information"
32. In the workshops on content creation, ECA should link training and information provision. ECA could use Sangonet's methodology to "build a web
site while learning how to build it".
Agenda item 7 - Role of ATAC in identifying best practices in ICT dissemination and utilization in Africa and constraints to
AISI implementation
33. The committee pointed out that a "best practice" needs to be defined. According to ATAC it is useful to show to countries successful examples as well
as lessons learned. The examples and lessons could be grouped around the AISI themes, although a methodology to handle integrated projects should be
clarified. The members warned that the identification of a best practice should not be driven by fashion, e.g. the explosion of interest around telecentres.
34. Members felt that ATAC should work on a strategic and conceptual level. It could extract generic approaches and ways of working which might work. The
concern was raised that it might be difficult for ATAC to play an advocacy role as well as an evaluating role.
Agenda item 8 - Methodology for AISI project support and approval
35. The Chief of DISD introduced this subject by saying that there was a need for a methodology to encourage initiatives from member States as well as one to
select project proposals. Some AISI partners had expressed their interest in some kind of AISI label for projects, with procedures as light as possible.
36. ATAC pointed out that too much centralization would be counter- productive. Its members felt that more important than instituting a process of
project approval, ECA should find a way to respond rapidly to project proposals coming from member States and referring them to potential donors. It was agreed
that ECA will draft a proposal on this issue and that ATAC members will comment on it via the listserv.
37. It was pointed out that AISI partners and ATAC have the responsibility to teach organizations and countries what a good project proposal should look
like. It would be a useful exercise to prepare guidelines for this purpose.
38. ATAC recommended that a communication mechanism for partners, facilitating to know what countries want, should be created. Information
management on projects and ideas of donor and executing agencies is being undertaken. An example is the AI-AIMS database. An entry for projects and ideas
from member States should also be created. Different categories of projects and partnerships should be identified.
Agenda item 9 - Role of ATAC in resource mobilization
39. ECA requested ATAC's advice on ways to mobilize resources for deserving projects and for the AISI overall, as well as their views on innovative means
of resource mobilization.
40. ATAC members commented on the following issues: enlarging the pool of potential funding partners, the involvement of the private sector, the
implementation of projects on a cost-sharing basis and the "start small, show results" approach to project implementation.
Enlarging the pool of potential funding partners
41. The committee advised enlarging the pool of potential funding partners. It stressed that the relationships with current donors, including ITU, UNDP and
World Bank, are very important and should be strengthened. In addition, new partnerships could be formed with other groups, such as local corporate
foundations in Africa and other US foundations (including Ford, Kellogg, Rockefeller and Charles Stewart Mott foundations). ATAC members will provide
ECA with a listing of potential new donor partners.
The involvement of the private sector
42. The involvement of the private sector is seen as an important prerequisite for a successful implementation of the AISI. According to ATAC,
AISI will not take place if the private sector is not involved. It is important to know how to stimulate the involvement of this sector. To do so it was
recommended to organize a round table meeting with private sector representatives.
43. ECA has already started this process through collaboration with the Global Information Infrastructure Commission (GIIC). During next week's board
meeting of the GIIC, ECA's Executive Secretary will present a statement and will try to get firm commitments for AISI's implementation.
44. In addition, it was mentioned that businesses at the international level (i.e. Microsoft) might be interested in financing specific projects such as
setting up telecentres or donating computers to schools and libraries.
45. ATAC felt that the private sector would also be interested in ECA's proposal to develop a showcase of information and communication technology use
by establishing a multi-media centre as a permanent exhibition and training centre. This could serve as an example of good collaboration between private
sector and multi-lateral organizations.
The implementation of projects on a cost-sharing basis
46. ATAC felt that ECA should try like to implement projects from countries on a cost-sharing basis. Every year the project is being executed, the funds
contributed by the country itself should increase. This would ensure the sustainability of the project, mainly in terms of human resources, once
external funds are no longer provided.
47. The ATAC strongly supported the idea of cost-sharing. In general, countries would be more committed to the project when they also contribute. If
countries can not fund a reasonable part of the project, the project should be scaled down to a more manageable one.
48. To raise funds within the country, the possibility of creating national funds for the implementation of ICT projects was raised. ECA and ATAC should
promote this idea to governments. ATAC also identified the need to demonstrate to governments that ICT can be a profit making business.
The "start small, show results" approach to project implementation
49. The ATAC recommended an approach by which projects are started on a small scale to produce some results quickly. This would improve the possibility of
attracting additional funds.
Agenda item 10 - Methodology in evaluating AISI
50. An evaluation methodology should be based on the AISI action framework. ECA is especially interested in evaluating at theme level, while quantity as
well as quality indicators should be used. It was noted that several organizations are currently working on evaluation frameworks, and it proved
difficult to bring the two types of indicators together in one framework. ATAC advised ECA to use a general method and avoid becoming too pedantic.
51. It was noted that evaluation is not simply the production of a statistical report. Attention should be paid to what has been achieved, as well
as to how, what not and why not. Possible indicators for the success of AISI implementation could be the electronic publication of government information,
the number of remote places being connected to the Internet and the number of countries that have developed national information and communication
infrastructure plans after the adoption of the AISI action framework.
52. It was suggested to make an inventory of what information on AISI and its implementation is available on, for example, various web sites. This
information should be made widely available to countries. The next step would be to assess which countries actually have access to the information. If this
is done once a year, progress in dissemination of information can be measured.
53. Besides setting up a mechanism to distribute valuable information, more information should be made accessible. ECA is planning to develop country
profiles with a focus on AISI activities and will include this activity in its framework for implementation of AISI. ATAC recommended to develop a web site
which captures policy documents.
54. ATAC raised the question of how to ensure that decisions made at supra national level are being translated into national actions and secondly, how to
evaluate this process. It was suggested that independent reporting on the progress of the implementation of resolutions could be a way.
Agenda item 11 - Role of ATAC as AISI advocates in the region
55. ECA made an appeal to ATAC members to act as spokespersons of AISI in the region and in the different domains of society which the members were
representing. In order to fulfil this role, ECA will provide ATAC with tools, such as a listserv, databases and Power Point presentations.
56. The contacts between ECA and ATAC should be a two way process. ECA should know which networks ATAC members are part of and to which meetings they are
traveling. At the other hand, ECA should request ATAC members to represent AISI at specific meetings. As focal points for the communication between ECA and
ATAC, respectively, Ms. Nancy Hafkin and Mr. Venancio Massingue were appointed.
57. It was decided that in order to introduce ATAC to the countries, ECA will write an official letter to the member States. In addition, a simple brochure
introducing ATAC and explaining its role will be produced.
58. To start the advocacy, the report of this meeting should be widely distributed throughout the region. It was agreed that ECA will contact ATAC
members for suggestions on to whom the report should be sent.
59. A request was made to change the name of ATAC into the African Information Society Advisory Committee. ECA expressed its reservations since
resolution 812 requested ECA's Executive Secretary to establish a technical committee, and the name ATAC had been approved by the last ECA conference of
ministers. ECA will discuss this issue with the Executive Secretary.
60. ATAC raised its concern about the coming World Radio Communications Conference during which frequencies will be allocated to the different
countries. According to ATAC, Africa is not well prepared for this conference, while the timing is too short to take immediate action on it. It was
recommended that African organizations such as PATU should be strengthened to help in such contexts. ATAC considered the proposed June 1998 conference on
Africa and global connectivity to be organized jointly by ECA, the World Bank, ITU and ADB as important. The objective of this meeting will be to strengthen
African capacities on telecommunications issues, provide technical information and enhance country level negotiation skills.
Agenda item 12 - Recommendations
61. ATAC adopted the following recommendations:
I. Implementation Framework
1. ATAC endorsed the ECA framework for the implementation of AISI (Document DISD/ATAC/I/4 as revised) and recommends that the framework
be enriched with further submissions from member States and partners.
2. ATAC recommends that the theme area of Training and Capacity Building consider the inclusion of internship programs.
3. ECA should endeavor to disseminate AISI principles and objectives to non-ICT specialists by using, for example, the mass media, and
partnering with media organizations such as PANA and IPS.
4. ATAC recommends that in their efforts to liberalize the telecommunications sector, member States should safeguard the
national interest and aim to ensure the creation of an enabling environment for the achievement of universal service.
5. ATAC recommends the establishment of national AISI committees that are provided with the necessary support from their respective
governments to implement AISI principles. These national AISI committees should take into account the concerns of all sectors, at
the national level, including public and private sector, NGOs and academia, etc.
6. While ATAC should promote AISI, ECA should take the lead on AISI promotion as well as its implementation.
7. ECA should intensify its efforts to involve pan-African and regional organizations such as the OAU, PATU, RASCOM, and regional economic
communities in AISI activities.
8. ECA and the network of partners should assist African countries through various means to prepare for major meetings that focus on
specific policy issues such as the following:
GMPCS (Leos, Meos)
World radiocommunication conferences, mainly for radio-frequency spectrum and orbital position allocations fiber optics implementation models
Internet
International accounting rate and call back
VSAT, etcetera.
The countries should be assisted to understand and formulate appropriate policies about the various ICTS.
II. Resource Mobilization
9. ATAC recognizes with appreciation the existing efforts towards resource mobilization by PICTA members and recommends that ECA
convenes a meeting with private sector institutions to engage their active participation in the implementation of AISI.
10. ATAC encourages member States to establish national funds for ICT development.
11. ECA/ATAC should aim to demonstrate to member States the economic potential of ICT development.
12. ECA should explore the potential value of alternative sources of funding.
13. In the implementation of ICT projects, use should be made of effective mechanisms for cost sharing between implementing agencies
and partners.
14. ECA should explore possibilities of collaborating with other institutions in the monitoring of progress towards implementation of
Resolution 812.
III. The Role of ATAC
15. ATAC members are mandated to disseminate AISI principles and objectives in their respective countries, sub-regions and sectors.
16. ECA will develop a brochure on the terms of reference, mandate and composition of ATAC to be disseminated to member states and partner
organizations.
17. ECA should provide ATAC members with the necessary material and information to fulfil their responsibilities.
18. ATAC should work at the conceptual level incorporating lessons learned from previous experiences and disseminate them as widely as
possible.
19. ECA can replace ATAC members should they be unable to fulfil their responsibilities.
20. ATAC requested ECA's Executive Secretary to remove the word "technical" out of the committee's name.
IV. Evaluation Methodology
21. ECA will prepare periodic inventories (country profiles) of progress toward the implementation of Resolution 812 in each member country.
These inventories should also reflect the constraints to such achievement. This information should form the basis for analysis of
successes and failures in AISI implementation. This analysis should also inform future strategy development.
V. Project Support and Approval
21. ECA/ATAC should facilitate effective communication between partners and countries or institutions requesting support or assistance by
creating conditions on necessary know how on project proposal development.
22. Development of a methodology for project support and approval should be further discussed by ATAC and ECA using the electronic medium.
Agenda item 13 - Any other business
23. ECA and ATAC agreed to communicate via the listserv. ECA will facilitate the discussions by sending regular reminders to the list and expressed the hope
that the Chairperson and the Vice-chairperson will help facilitating.
24. ECA will report to ATAC regularly on the progress made in the implementation of the AISI and requested ATAC to also produce working documents
for the next ATAC meeting.
Agenda item 14 - Closing
25. The Chairperson thanked all participants for their interest and contributions. He paid tribute to ECA's Executive Secretary for his commitment to
promoting ICT in Africa, for the establishment of ATAC and for his personal participation in the closing session.
