Sub-Plan for….

Legal, Regulatory, Institutional Provisions and Standards

Relevant Vision for Rwanda (VfR) Mission Strategies

The GOR acknowledges that: the development and the exploitation of ICTs in the economy and society as well as the development of the information and knowledge economy will need to be supported and facilitated by appropriate legal provisions and legislation; regulatory framework and provisions as well as institutional structures. The Government is therefore committed to implementing relevant and appropriate sections of the "African Telecommunication Policy and Regulatory Framework Development Programme --prepared by the Africa Ministers of Communication --the African Connection) at African Telecom'98 in Johannesburg, May 1998. The Government is also committed to the enactment of the necessary laws and legislation in area like: Intellectual Property Law; Telecommunication Law -- to govern and regulate the activities of the telecommunication sector and in passing the necessary legislation to facilitate electronic commerce and other Internet-related activities in the country.

The GOR acknowledges that the deployment, exploitation and the development of ICTs in Rwanda will need to be guided by appropriate Standards, Best Practices and Guidelines. The GOR is therefore committed to facilitating this process

LRI-1: Initiatives to facilitate the necessary regulatory enabling environment for the promotion and development of the information and knowledge economy

Relevant SUNRISE Component

Type and Scope of Programme

Note: This Programme forms part of the Rwandan Electronic Government and Governance Initiative (REGGI)

Implementation Details Requirements

Programme Ownership

Programme-Specific Goals

Plan-Specific Actions

Plan-Action Prerequisites and Linkages

Time-Bound Measurable Targets

Plan-Action Implementation Agency

L1.1

Implement a programme to separate government regulatory and operator duties

Non

Ministry of Transport Public Works and Communications

Non

Ministry of Transport Public Works and Communications to establish the National Communication Authority by 2001

Ministry of Transport Public Works and Communications

Non

Establishment a mechanism for co-ordinated spectrum management and frequency planning by 2002

Ministry of Transport Public Works and Communications

Programme

LRI-2: Initiatives to facilitate an enabling legal and legislative environment for the development and exploitation of ICTs in Rwanda

Relevant SUNRISE Component

Type and Scope of Programme

Note: This Programme forms part of the Rwandan Electronic Government and Governance Initiative (REGGI)

Implementation Details Requirements

Programme Ownership

Programme-Specific Goals

Plan-Specific Actions

Plan-Action Prerequisites and Linkages

Time-Bound Measurable Targets

Plan-Action Implementation Agency

Enact the Telecommunication Law

Non

The National Transitional Assembly

Put in place a programme to develop and enact laws and legislation relating communication sector libralization

Non

The National Transitional Assembly

Note: Some of the Cyberlaws to enact include: (i) Legislation for the Prevention of computer crimes (ii) Laws relating to Security including Digital Signatures, Cryptography and Encryption etc (iii) Copyright and Intellectual Property Right Laws (iv) Electronic Government Legislation (v) Laws relating to Privacy of data, etc. and (vi) Freedom of Access to Information Laws

Non

Note: The GOR as part of developing and putting in place the necessary cyberlaws, could adopt and adapt relevant sections of UNCTRAL – the model cyberlaws developed by the United Nations

The National Transitional Assembly

Programme

LR1-3: Initiatives to put in place the necessary institutional framework, structures and bodies for supporting the implementation of National ICT policies, strategies and plans

Relevant SUNRISE Component

Type and Scope of Programme

Note: This Programme forms part of the Rwandan Electronic Government and Governance Initiative (REGGI)

Implementation Details Requirements

Programme Ownership

Programme-Specific Goals

Plan-Specific Actions

Plan-Action Prerequisites and Linkages

Time-Bound Measurable Targets

Plan-Action Implementation Agency

Non

2. Set-up the NITC by 2001

GOR

Non

Appoint an ICT Advisor to the President by 2001

GOR

Non

3. Implement Project-RITA by 2001

GOR

Implement a programme to expand and fully operationalize the activities and the operations of RITA

Non

Expand and fully operationalize the activities and the operations of RITA by 2003

GOR

Implement the programme to set up Information Technology Divisions or Directorate (ITSDs) in Government Ministries and Public Service Organizations

G2.2

All Government Ministries including the Office of the President and the Office of the Prime Minister to set-up their ITSD by 2002

Relevant Ministries and Public Sector Organizations in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Service and Labour

Non

Set-up the Parliamentary Select Committee on ICTs for Development by 2001

The National Transitional Assembly

Programme

LRI-4: Initiatives to facilitate standards, best practices and guidelines for ICT deployment and exploitation in the society and economy.

Relevant SUNRISE Component

Type and Scope of Programme

Implementation Details Requirements

Programme Ownership

Programme-Specific Goals

Plan-Specific Actions

Plan-Action Prerequisites and Linkages

Time-Bound Measurable Targets

Plan-Action Implementation Agency

Commission and develop a programme to define standards to guide the importation of ICT products

Non

Commission and complete the formulation of standards to guide the importation of ICT products by 2001

The National Standards Organization

Non

Implement and enforce standards for the importation of ICT products by 2002

Ministry of Commerce, Industries and Tourism

Commission a programme to formulate Guidelines and Standards for the provision of ICT training services by private computer training centers

Non

Commission and complete the formulation of Guidelines and Standards for the provision of ICT training services by private computer training centers by 2002

Ministry of Education and RITA

Non

Implement and enforce Guidelines and Standards for the provision of ICT training services by private computer training centers by 2002

Ministry of Education and RITA

Commission an initiative to define standards and best practices to guide the activities of companies and organization operating within the ICT production sector

Non

Commission and complete the development of standards and best practices to guide the activities of companies and organization operating within the ICT production sector by 2002

The National Standards Organization

Put in place and enforce standards and best practices to guide the activities of companies and organization operating within the ICT production sector

Non

Implement and enforce standards and best practices to guide the activities of companies and organization operating within the ICT production sector by 2002

Ministry of Commerce, Industries and Tourism

Commission and develop a programme to define standards for the certification of ICT professional skills in Rwanda

Non

Commission and complete the setting up of standards for the certification of ICT professional skills in Rwanda by 2002

National Council for Computer Education (NCCE)

Put in place and enforce standards for the certification of ICT professional skills in Rwanda

Non

Implement and enforce standards for the certification of ICT professional skills in Rwanda.

National Council for Computer Education (NCCE)

Set-up a Unit within RITA to monitor and ensure compliance with Standards, Best Practices and Guidelines

Non

Set-up a Unit within RITA to monitor and ensure compliance with Standards, Best Practices and Guidelines by 2002

RITA

Possible Contributions to the Realization of the GOR’s Multi-Sectoral Economic Development Policy

Another possible area of direct and indirect contributions of this Sub-Plan to the GOR’s multi-sectoral economic development policy relates to the enactment of relevant cyberlaws to support the development of Internet-related activities and electronic commerce in Rwanda. These initiatives for Standards and Best Practices and Guidelines for ICT deployment and exploitation as per this Sub-Plan also have the potential to contribute directly and indirectly to the realization of GOR’s multi-sectoral economic development policy

Areas of Emphasis as per the ICT-2020 Policy

This Sub-Plan will therefore contribute to the realization of the GOR’s policy goal aimed at simultaneously pursuing both ICT exploitation and production involving: the utilization and exploitation of ICTs to support the delivery of government services and the activities of various sectors of the economy as well as the production, development and delivery of ICT products and services ---- i.e. towards the development and promotion of an ICT industry and service sector.

The Risk Factors

There are no apparent risk factors associated with the implementation of the Programmes, Initiatives and Action-Plans of this Sub-Plan