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Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – 7 June 2007 – The role that technology can play in helping governments, the private sector and civil society operate more efficiently was elevated significantly today as the ICT Best Practices Forum West Africa kicked off in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The Forum has been sponsored and organised by the Government of Burkina Faso, the African Development Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and software company, Microsoft, via its Africa Chairman, Dr. Cheick Modibo Diarra. Similar fora for other sub-regions of the continent are being planned.
It brings together governments, donors and experts from across Africa to share specific experiences of technology solutions in education, agriculture, healthcare and governmental operations, among other things. It will provide an opportunity for countries to learn from these experiences and allow for these solutions to be replicated in other countries. This is an important fact, given the general shortage of skills and experience in the region, and should encourage an overall increase in technology investment.
“The world has entered an era in which access to the sources of information and knowledge has become a decisive factor in competitiveness and economic growth,” said His Excellency, Blaise Compaoré, the President of Burkina Faso.
“In the face of the digital divide that threatens to increase the marginalisation of developing countries, we must step up the introduction of electronic communication infrastructures to seize the opportunities offered by new technologies. I would like this Forum to be an occasion for African governments, their advisory institutions and ICT experts to share their experiences, so that we can build an inclusive information society to serve the sustainable development of our countries."
The African Development Bank – which is discussing partnership arrangements with Microsoft on alleviating poverty through education, technology access and training initiatives – agrees. Over the last three decades, the Bank has spent over US$1 billion to finance telecommunication projects, $500m in master plan studies, and $200m in institutional development.
“ We are all aware of the potential that ICT has to enable our countries to ‘leapfrog' in certain aspects of development. The dissemination of good practices is a good first step in raising awareness of [this] and I strongly support the Forum,” said Dr. Donald Kaberuka, the president of the African Development Bank.
For its part, the UNECA – which recently launched the First Technology in Government in Africa (TIGA) Awards with support from the Government of Canada – believes that a ccess to information and knowledge is a prerequisite to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), reducing poverty and promoting economic growth – all of which are core drivers of the Forum.
“Our approach must therefore be inclusive. By showcasing ICT at work through the Forum, we can help West and Central African countries and stakeholders [to] dialogue, brainstorm and learn how to practically accelerate socioeconomic development," said Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, the Executive Secretary of the UNECA.
The Forum integrates well with Microsoft's Unlimited Potential programme – a long-term commitment to use technology, training and partnerships to transform education, foster local innovation, and enable jobs and opportunities, added the company's Dr. Diarra.
“Through UP, Microsoft aims to sustain social and economic growth for the estimated five billion people around the world who are not yet realising the benefits of technology. And by the time we finish here on Saturday, we will have direction, inspiration and a roadmap for making this work in Africa,” he said.
As part of the activities at the Forum, the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) will partner with Microsoft to establish a government learning academy, increase digital literacy training, and help formulate national ICT policies for African countries.
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and Microsoft are expanding their dynamic partnership to build a sustainable business model for refurbished computers in Africa. The objective is to provide access to affordable, quality hardware to small and medium-size enterprises. As part of this new initiative, UNIDO and Microsoft will promote the creation of a regional e-waste recycling facility for East Africa.
Microsoft has also signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Government of Burkina Faso. In terms of this agreement, Microsoft will invest in ICT capacity-building and support for broader e-Government initiatives to strengthen Burkina Faso's knowledge-driven economy.
For more information on the ICT Best Practices Forum West Africa, please visit www.ictbestpractices.net .
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Editorial contacts
Emmanuel Ngwainmbi
+27 12 427 2727
African Development Bank
e.ngwainmbi@afdb.org
Lamousse Oualbeogo
Secrétaire Général du Ministère des Postes et des Technologies de l'Information et de la Communication
+226 70 20 10 50
sg.mptic@fmptic.gov.bf ; oualbeogo@onatel.bf
Eskedar Nega
UN Economic Commission for Africa
+251 11 544 5315
enega@uneca.org
Barbara Kreissler
UNIDO Industrial Development Officer, Microsoft Focal Point
+43-1-26026-3420
B.Kreissler@unido.org
Adrian Wainwright
Microsoft West, East & Central Africa
+27 82 652 7525
adrian.wainwright@microsoft.com
Katie Reckyn
Waggener Edstrom Public Relations
+44 207 632 3879
katier@waggeneredstrom.com
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