A foresight study commissioned by the Government (Senegal 2015) recognised that the new ICTs would break down geographic borders, instill a global network culture and usher in the third technological revolution. The Senegalese study identified a number of possible responses:

• adaptation of the education system

• expansion of social communication

• reinforcement of self reliance and solidarity

• management of the consequences of increased urbanisation

• revitalisation of rural areas.

This provided the context for Acacia in Senegal. The program was initiated at the end of 1996 through discussions with a representative sample of organisations and the preparation of a draft strategy. The following principles guided its development:

• access to ICTs by all sectors of society, particularly marginalised groups

• a participative approach to the identification, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects

• an integrated framework for actions bearing on policy, infrastructure, tools and applications

• a diversity of technical solutions to reflect differences in needs and populations

• participation of women and youth in all community projects.

Senegal’s ICT policy development process has been very elaborate. It received international and local support. Senegal’s advanced telecommunications infrastructure and entrepreneurship drive were the factors that contributed to the effective policy formulation. In addition to building a robust telecommunications infrastructure through liberalization of the sector of which spare capacity is now available for countries such as Mali, Senegal was able to put the necessary policy instruments to facilitate the development of its information infrastructure. The policy process is being implemented by the information and communication technology secretariat at the office of the President. President Wade is very passionate about ICT for development and has inaugurated an ICT park in Dakar. Senegal’s ICT strategy involves the creation of enabling environment to attract investment and innovation, universal access to ICTs by all including young people, harnessing ICTs in health and delivery of other public services, enhancing the capacities of small and medium enterprises and creation of content and building key instruments to advance information and knowledge.

The national strategy of Senegal has greatly benefited from the Acacia project of the International Development Research Center. The key targets of the Acacia strategy for Senegal are:

• Building ICT infrastructure

• Human resources development

• Improving ICT in the health sector

• Building the capacities of small enterprises and telecenters

• Integration of gender dimension within a national ICT strategy

• Improving utilization and diffusion of ICTs by people's organizations

• Increasing the role of ICTs in the implementation of decentralization policy, and

• Creation of youth cyberspace experimental site and information resource center

The private sectors and ICT professionals have also been active in spearheading the implementation of ICT programmes through a plan entitled “the ICT Grape.”. ICT Grape that aims at harnessing ICTs to reduce unemployment and poverty, to increase literacy and access to the healthcare, improve competitiveness and efficiency in government and private sector institutions. A strong emphasis is made on use of ICT in education and for delivery of health care and electronic business including teleservices.

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