PADIS Newsletter,Vol.11,No.4, 1996

More than 29 organisations involved in the African Information Society Initiative attended the AISI coordination meeting organised by ECA at Addis Ababa from 21-23 October 1996.

The coordination meeting drew up concrete implementation plans to set the ball rolling to utilise information and communication technologies to stimulate overall economic and social growth in Africa. In May 1996 the ECA Conference of Ministers responsible for economic and social development and planning approved the AISI, which is complementary to the United Nations System-Wide Special Initiative on Africa programme on `Harnessing Information Technology for Development' (HITD). The HITD was created to help build the necessary infrastructure for the construction of the African Information society.Participants in the meeting included organisations, both from the United Nations system, including UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation) and FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) and outside bi-laterals and NGO's such as IDRC (International Development Research Centre) as well as private sector organisations such as NCS (National Computer Systems, Ghana) and the GIIC (Global Information Infrastructure Commission). Representatives each presented their organisation's plans, programmes and projects to work towards coordination and to avoid overlapping of activities. `Let's maintain the momentum we've built...through enhanced multi-lateral information sharing...' were the words of Mr. K.Y. Amoako, Executive Secretary of the ECA.A key goal to be achieved before the end of 1997 is full Internet connectivity across the African continent. At present 23 out of the 53 African nations have full Internet connectivity, representing a 50% increase in connectivity in the last six months.The crux of the AISI implementation plan lies at the country level with the development of National Information and Communication Infrastructure (NICI) plans. NICI planning will raise awareness about the potential of the information society for political, economic and social development. Countries can choose from sector applications which will help overcome stubborn development constraints and assist in the elaboration of country plans.Equally important is democratising access to the information society by bringing connectivity to the bulk of the population of Africa. Providing communal access to modern telecommunications facilities and information services in remote and rural areas is an AISI implementation goal to improve the development of these regions under the banner of AISI. UNESCO, ITU (International Telecommunications Union) and IDRC are collaborating in pilot `telecentre' (or multi-purpose community centre) projects in Tanzania and Uganda (and soon in Mali, Benin and Mozambique). Funds of US$1.2 million will be utilised to provide low-cost access to national and global electronic information banks for the 70%-80% of Africans who live in rural areas.Other areas covered by the AISI coordination meeting included development information. The AISI is implementing ways of aiding member states build an information infrastructure which will help African decision-makers make much more informed socio-economic planning decisions. The establishment of African training centres is important in spreading information and communications technologies across Africa, ranging from training on how to type to local content development at the community level. ECA and UNESCO will take the lead in this area.The AISI recognises the need to sensitise policy makers to the importance of information technology, and will implement national level policy and awareness workshops, to demonstrate the development potential of information technology. ECA is charged with overall coordination of the AISI.The African Information Society Initiative aims at building towards easy access to the information superhighway for all levels of the African populace. The coordination meeting succeeded: in a commitment to mobilising resources for projects; identifying training as a major need; in a commitment to assisting countries in developing national information and communication infrastructure planning; and the introduction of African `telecentres' as a concrete example of collaboration within the AISI. Copies of the report of the meeting are available from PADIS. It can also be accessed electronically at the following address: http://www.bellanet.org/partners/aisi.

Standing Committee on Standardisation and Harmonisation

Dr. Nancy Hafkin, Officer-in-charge at PADIS, opened the 7th meeting of the Standing Committee on Standardisation and Harmonisation of Information Systems in Africa, with an address read on behalf of the ECA Executive secretary. The keynote address, inaugurating the meeting held in Addis Ababa on 18-20 November 1996, focused on economic and social policy formulation issues and their direct relevance to all aspects of every day life in Africa. The meeting also reviewed progress made so far by the Standing committee, particularly in the area of new information technologies, for example CD-ROM development and the Internet.The advantages of standardisation highlighted in the meeting include: worksharing, increased skills, better work practices, and the removal of conflicting assignments. Various subcommittees deal with issues like document analysis, database formats and structures, computer networking and on-line access, authority file (ODIN programme) and CD-ROM development. It was recommended that PADIS play a leading role in the education and training of staff, and run a special training of trainers course to create a core body of experts that can impart specific skills at sub-regional levels. Bethlehem Abera of PADIS is to be rapporteur to subcommittee 5, `Computer networking, e-mail, and on-line access'.

Mission to ECLAC and World Bank

An ECA mission was in Santiago and Washington D.C., USA, from 10-25 October 1996 to observe at first hand ECLAC's (Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean) and the World Bank's information technology systems and processes for possible use and lessons at ECA. The mission, led by Mr. Raj Rikhy, and including Messrs. M. Faye (PADIS), V. Petkov, and O. Aladumiye, was met with a great deal of willingness to share information and ideas. ECLAC uses information technology very efficiently, has a very positive work ethic, and the ECA mission returned with a large number of ideas relevant and adaptable to ECA. Lessons learnt from the sophisticated and automated World Bank promise to be of great value in increasing ECA efficiency.A series of recommendations were made by the mission including the establishment of an ECA Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Committee to oversee automation at ECA. No additional resources would be required for 8 out of the 11 recommendations, for example implementing ECLAC payroll and accounting modules and encouraging/mandating the use of e-mail. The World Bank has a huge amount of validated, statistical data that is very relevant to ECA's work including the `Africa Live Data Base' (up to 1500 economic and social development indicators per year, per country), and `Country Profiles' (country by country comprehensive economic analyses). A copy of the mission report is available from PADIS.

Lome Technical Assistance and Training Workshop

Lambert Hogenout, Associate Expert at PADIS, provided technical assistance to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in establishing e-mail connectivity during a mission to Lome, Togo, 22-29 October 1996. A FIDO-node was installed at the ECOWAS Community Computer Centre (CCC) that exchanges e-mail at regular intervals with GreenNet (UK), allowing ECOWAS to provide for an unlimited number of users, both at ECOWAS and at other institutions, with e-mail. Recommendations were made on how to upgrade the e-mail system to be integrated in a LAN and be combined with other Internet services in the future. Mr. Hogenhout also organised a regional training workshop which was described by participants as `very useful'. The workshop was held in Lome, Togo, from 31 October to 7 November 1996. The objective of this training workshop, attended by 18 participants from 8 West-African countries and 2 regional organisations, was to introduce new tools for standardised database development developed by PADIS. The workshop was hosted by the ECOWAS-CCC. PADIS was represented by Mr. Hogenhout and PADIS senior documentalist Mr. Teffera Woldeyes. The workshop consisted of 6 days of intensive training during which the participants were continuously given practical exercises while subjects were discussed. At the end of the workshop all participants received a copy of the software (PADOR/ODIN/AUTO) to be installed at their organisations. Other training given at the request of the participants included a general overview of CDS/ISIS: setting up a database, data entry, indexing and sorting. E-mail applications and an introduction to HTML was given to ECOWAS staff.A copy of both mission reports is available from PADIS.

Tanzanian Needs Assessment Mission

PADIS training coordinator, Mr. Francis Inganji, went to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from 4-8 November 1996 following a request by the Government of Tanzania to send an information needs assessment mission in order for Tanzania to participate fully in the activities of PADIS. The mission centred around the formulation of information plans and policies in addition to an information needs assessment.Like many other African countries, the information sector in Tanzania remains undeveloped. There is an absence of a national information policy and inadequate trained manpower to man the information sector. There is a pressing need for the standardisation of information collection, processing, storage, retrieval and associated procedures and technologies, the lack of which leads to a waste of resources.The library of the Planning Commission (commonly known as DEVPLAN library) has been designated as the PADIS focal point in Tanzania. Immediate assistance from PADIS takes the form of the creation of the library bibliographic database and installation of CDS/ISIS software, in addition to practical training in the application of the CDS/ISIS and PADIS methodology. The strengthening of the PADIS focal point is to be carried out within the context of implementing the African Information society Initiative (AISI).Copies of the mission report are available from PADIS.

National Capacity Strengthening

PADIS made a presentation on `Connectivity in Africa' at the UNDP-sponsored regional workshop on `Management of Development: National Capacity Strengthening' held in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia from 9-15 November. Participants at the workshop, from Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda are expected to help their respective countries foster technical cooperation among developing countries (TCDC) to look towards collective self-reliance.PADIS' presentation centred on what is on the ground now in African connectivity and what is coming soon. It also presented the efforts being made by ECA and its partners in the African Information Society Initiative (AISI) to build information and communication infostructure in Africa.Ms. Nancy Hafkin, Officer-in-charge of PADIS made PADIS' presentation, copies of which are available upon request from PADIS (at the address listed on page 1). Co-sponsors of the workshop were the Ethiopian Management Institute and the United Nations International Training Centre in Turin, Italy.

ESADIS Agreement Extended

The agreement which established the Eastern and Southern African Development Information System (ESADIS) in Zambia will come to an end in February 1997. The agreement signed between the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the government of Zambia, under which the government of Zambia has seconded staff to ESADIS, is due to expire in February 1997.Mr. Francis Inganji travelled to Zambia from 1-6 December 1996, to review this agreement with the government of Zambia, with a view to having it extended. After discussions with relevant government officials, the government of Zambia agreed to extend this agreement for a period of two years. The extension is to allow ECA and member states of the subregion to find alternative sources of funding for ESADIS activities.

Training Workshop in PADIS Methodologies

At the request of the `Centre d'Information et de Documentation Economique et Sociale' of the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Planning (Niger), PADIS organised a training workshop on PADIS methodologies. These centred around CDS/ISIS software and its new interfaces (ODIN, PADOR and AUTO) which are respectively dealing with data entry and the management of an authority file. Twenty five participants, representing 11 ministerial departments attended the workshop.PADIS's team took this opportunity to disseminate and promote the African Information Society Initiative (AISI) to several governmental and international organisations. Along with this promotion, the PADIS team organised a conference and press conference at the `Institut de Formation aux Techniques de l'Information et de la Communication' (IFTIC)'. The theme of the presentation, covered by Nigerian TV and Voix du Sahel as well as two local newspapers, was on the information highway in the African context as well as the presentation of the AISI.The workshop was conducted by PADIS staffers Mrs Noelie Akande, senior documentalist and Mr Saddik Solbi, Chief Computerised Documentation Section.

IDAMS (UNESCO) Technical Advisory Group

PADIS was represented by regional advisor in information systems, Makane Faye at the ninth consultation of the International Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) in Paris, France on 23-26 September 1996. The Technical Advisory group works for UNESCO's (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) Internationally Developed Data Analysis and Management Software Package (IDAMS).The main advance thus far had been the introduction of the application concept in IDAMS release 4.0. This allows for application specific parameters to be set, defining a customised environment for one or more users to work on different projects.Most of the resources of the IDAMS project for 1997 are to be assigned to the consolidation of IDAMS 4.0 and its dissemination and training with further software development taking a lower priority for the time being.

International Institute for Communications Conference

The 27th annual conference of the International Institute for Communications was held in Munich, Germany 1820 October 1996. PADIS officer Mr.Lishan Adam attended the conference in which around 350 delegates representing some 44 countries participated. The three day event explored the future of new communications technologies and their relationship with, and role in shaping societies, communities and individuals. It was preceded by a two day preconference on Communications for Development organised by the Freiderich Ebert Stiftung Institute and the International Development Research Centre. The preconference seminar took place on 16 - 17 October 1996 within the context of the IIC conference. Over 40 highranking and multidisciplinary profession individuals working in the diverse field of communications around the world participated in this two-day session that critically examined the challenges facing developing countries' communications. The main annual conference was opened by the key note address of Ms. Birgit Breuel, Commissioner General of the World Exposition, Expo 2000, who outlined a major concern of the need for a balance between society, nature and technology. She discussed the importance of humanising new technologies, and of making sure that the good of mankind and the environment are central to the use of these technologies.The representative of PADIS mission, Mr. Lishan Adam, project officer, presented a paper entitled "UNECA activities in information and communications in Africa" . (Copies are available from PADIS).

Health Information Exchange

CAB (Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences) - International organised a workshop in Nairobi, Kenya on Health Information exchange in Eastern and Southern Africa, 12-14 November 1996. The objectives of the workshop were:to contribute to the growing culture of information in Eastern and Southern Africa.to share experiences of information management and technology.to increase awareness of trends and developments in information management and technology.to enable regional participants to formulate their information needs in the form of one or more project proposals.Workshop content consisted of country presentations and presentations by resource persons on key issues - namely: management of information, uses of information, and group discussions. Participants discussed the problems that are hindering access to information and made recommendations on how these problems can be addressed. It was agreed that CABI should finalise a project document on `improving access to health information in Eastern and Southern Africa', and to look for possible donors.The workshop was aimed at library and information staff, researchers, planners, policy makers and those interested in developments in health information management in Eastern and Southern Africa. Participants were drawn from Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Some international organisations and non-governmental organisations were also represented. PADIS was represented by Mr. Francis Inganji who participated as a resource person and presented a paper entitled `Improved Access to Information in Africa'. He also introduced participants to the `African Information Society Initiative Document'.

STI in Africa

PADIS Officer-in-Charge Nancy Hafkin participated in a meeting of the National Research Council (USA) Panel on Science and Technology Information in SubSaharan Africa held in Washington, D.C., 2324 November. Ms. Hafkin has been a member of the STI Advisory Panel since 1992. One of the tasks of the panel is to identify ways to strengthen the planning, design and management of scientific a