What is AISI?

The African Information Society Initiative (AISI) is an action framework that has been the basis for information and communication activities in Africa since 1996. AISI is not about technology. It is about giving Africans the means to improve the quality of their lives and fight against poverty. 

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• AISI Brochure [English] [French]

• Frequently Asked Questions About AISI

Why AISI?

AISI was launched in 1996 as Africa needed a common vision for its quest not only to bridge the digital divide between Africa and the rest of the world but more importantly to create effective digital opportunities to be developed by Africans and their partners, and to speed the continent's entry into the information and knowledge global economy.

AISI was:

• launched at the 22nd meeting of ECA’s Conference of Ministers in charge of social and economic development and planning in May 1996
• adopted by the OAU Heads of State summit at the 64th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers meeting held in Yaounde, Cameroon, from 1 to 5 July 1996
• endorsed by all the African telecom ministers during the African Regional Telecommunication Development Conference, organised by the ITU and held in Abidjan in May 1996
• supported by the then G7+1 as Africa’s major ICT initiative in its 1997 Summit in Denver
• recommended by the recently held ECA Conference of Ministers of Planning and Finance, held in Algiers, from 8 to 10 May 2001, as the guiding framework for ICT initiatives in Africa. The Ministers have invited international partners to consider launching a special initiative to support the harnessing of ICT for development as defined in the African Information Society Initiative and updated in the African Development Forum 1999.

• Support provided to 28 African countries to develop their own national information and communication infrastructure (NICI) policies, plans and strategies
• Periodic consultations were organised with member states and partners through the following activities:
  • organised the Global Connectivity for Africa Conference in Addis Ababa 2 to 4 June 1998 in collaboration with Partners for ICTs in Africa (PICTA)
  • organised the African Development Forum 1999 (ADF’99)3, which took place from 24 to 28 October, to bring the message of information technology and development, within the context of globalization and the knowledgebased economy.
• Capacity building for decision makers and technical training
• Launched the evaluation of ICT impact on peoples’ lives and welfare (SCAN-ICT project)

• promoting sectoral applications of ICT for eradicating poverty and improving quality of life. The ADF strategy called for commitment from the highest levels of leadership to applying ICTs to Africa’s pressing social and economic problems including:

  • applications to support the educational process and meet the needs of Africa’s youth
  • applications in support of the delivery of health care, opportunities for business and trade
  • electronic Government, and
  • creating the enabling policy environment

Programmes in these areas now constitute the core of the follow-up to ADF'99 and the renewed vision of AISI.

• building the capacities of African telecommunications policy makers and regulators
• building global, regional, sub-regional and national networks on ICTs for development
• harnessing the potential contribution of the diaspora in improving ICT and knowledge in Africa
• analysing and evaluating ICTs and content trends in Africa

ECA is among others responsible for the overall coordination of the implementation of the AISI action framework. The full document of this text is available both in English and French. You can also contact us.