National
Workshop on "Information and Communication Technology Policy Strategy for
Rwanda"
Organized by
Government of Rwanda (GOR), represented by the Ministry of Transport and Communication
(MINITRANSCO), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), United Nations
Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO), USAID, With support from the
Carnegie Corporation of New York and the UNDP Office in Kigali
November 30 –
December 3, 1998 Windsor Umubano, Kigali,
Rwanda
For the first time in Rwanda, international
organizations have joined their effort to the Governement of Rwanda to hold a national
seminar on " Information and Communication Technology " . Most
organizations and businesses in Rwanda have taken steps in recent years to set up
efficient information systems by introducing advanced computer-based information and
communication technologies but their efforts have not been very successful. Some of the
major factors contributing to this fail are low level of ICT understanding among staff and
decision makers, lack of proper ICT national planning, problems of access to technology in
international markets, lack of relevant infrastructure, etc.
On November 30, 1998, the key public sector
decision makers will meet to discuss the effective use of information and communication
technology in Rwanda.
Goals and objectives
Create an opportunity for the substantive
discussion on ICT and how Rwanda can benefit significantly from these technologies.
Build a mechanism for a richer understanding
of critical issues related to ICT and practical steps by Government to develop a capacity
to use ICT in Rwanda.
To firmly develop a strategic thinking among
decision makers on issues of ICT within the GOR.
The seminar comes as a response to the request
by the ECA Conference of Ministers responsible for economic development and planning
which, in their May 1996 meeting in Addis-Ababa, endorsed the " African
Information Society Initiative (AISI) ". ECA member States were then
requested to incorporate AISI in their national development plans according to national
needs and priorities. This is the first phase in that direction.
Sponsorship : The
National Seminar on " Information and Communication Technology " is
sponsored by the Rwanda Government, UNECA, UNESCO and USAID.
The Provisional Programme
Monday November 30, 1998
Session 1
|
OPENING
SESSION : CHAIRPERSON : Honorable Charles NTAKIRUTINKA, Minister of
Transport and Communication |
08 :30 |
Registration of
Participants |
09 :00 |
Welcome address by
Honorable Charles NTAKIRUTINKA,Minister of Transport and Communication |
09 :10 |
Statement by
Mr. Makane Faye, Senior Regional Advisor, Information and Communication Technology Policy,
Economic commission for Africa (ECA) |
09 :20 |
Official opening
by the Guest of Honour |
09 :30 |
Kennote speech
by M. Momar Aly Ndiaye, Délégué à l’informatique |
10 :00 |
Vote of thanks
(organization Committee): Mr. MPYISI Gerald |
10 :05 |
TEA/COFFEE BREAK |
Session 2
|
CHAIRPERSON :
Mr. MAKANE FAYE (ECA) |
10 :30 |
Information
systems in the coordination and decision making process within an organization by Mr
Joseph MUTABOBA, Chargé d’Affaires a.i for Rwanda in Ethiopia |
11 :30 |
An overview of
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by Mr. Gaston BUSHAYIJA, Director
of Management services and Information Technology, BNR |
12 :15 |
Discussions led by
Mr. Gerald MPYISI, Director of Computers and Information Management, Office of the
Vice President and Mr. Makane Faye, ECA |
13:00 |
Luncheon |
Session 3 |
CHAIRPERSON :
Honorable Pius Mercilus G. Griffith, Deputy Minister of Communication of Ghana |
14 :30 |
Infrastructure of
information and communication technology in Rwanda – current and future trends by
Mr. Sam NKUSI, Director General of Rwandatel S.A. |
15 :00 |
Liberalization of
the telecommunication infrastructure in Africa : benefits and constraints by Mr.
Abraham MUKUZA |
15 :15 |
Information
systems security, the year 2000 problem by Mr. Gerald MPYISI, Director of Computers and
Information Management, office of the Vice President. |
16 :00 |
Discussions led by
Captain IYAKO, Head of Technical Services, ORINFOR, and Mr Gaston BUSHAYIJA , Director
of Management Services and Information Technology, BNR |
16 :45 |
TEA/COFFEE BREAK |
Session 4
|
CHAIRPERSON :
Mr Hezekiel Dlamini, Computer applications officer at UNESCO |
17 :00 |
ICT Projects in
Rwandese institutions : possibility of integrating them and suggestions for national
projects. by Mr. Dieudonné NIZEYIMANA, National Consultant for the ICT Seminar and Mr.
Albert NSENGIYUMVA, UNR |
17 :30 |
Discussions led by
Mr. Assumani BIZIMANA, Director of Communication in MINITRANSCO. |
18 :00 |
End of session |
Tuesday, December 1st, 1998
Session 5 |
CHAIRPERSON : Mr
Halidou OUEDRAOGO, Director of ECA'S East Africa Sub Regional Development Center |
09 :00 |
The necessity for a national
policy on Information and Communication Technologies : lessons learned from
experiences of other countries from the region by Mr. Makane FAYE, Senior Regional
Advisor Information and Communication Technology (ECA) |
|
(Case of Senegal –
Consultant : M. Momar Aly Ndiaye, Délégué à l’informatique)
(Case of Ghana : Honorable Pius
Mercilus G. Griffith, Deputy Minister of Communications)
The year 2000 problem : the Tunisian
experience by Mr. Belhacem Zouari, Computer Expert, Secretariat of States on Information
Technology (Tunisia) |
09 :45 |
Content development and
cross-cultural information exchange by Mr. Hezekiel Dlamini, Computer Applications
Officer (UNESCO) |
09 :55 |
Democratization of access to
information by Hon. Pius Mercilus G. Griffith, Deputy Minister of Comunication (Ghana)
|
10 :05 |
Development of human resources
using ICT by Mr. Rafal Rohozinski, ICT Advisor (UN Rwanda). |
10 :15 |
TEA/COFFEE BREAK |
Session 6 |
|
10 :30 |
Working groups |
Group 1 |
Information and Communication
Technology policy (regulation mecanisms and policy-making methodology, technology
review,…) ; Mr. Momar Aly NDIAYE, Senegal ; Mr. MUNYAKAZI Isidore,
MINITRANSCO ; Mr. Gaston Bushayija, BNR; and Mr. Abraham MAKUZA (Consultant) |
Group 2 |
Content Development and
Information Exchange for cross-cultural understanding by Mr Hezekiel Dlamini,
UNESCO ; Mr. Dieudonné NIZEYIMANA, National Consultant ; and Captain IYAKO,
ORINFOR |
Group 3 |
Democratization of access to
information by Honorable Pius Mercilus G. Griffith, Ghana ; Mr. Joseph MUTABOBA,
Rwanda Embassy in Ethiopia ; Mr. Gerald MPYISI, Office of the Vice
President ; and Mr. Sam NKUSI, Rwandatel S.A. |
Group 4 |
Development of human resources
using ICT by Mr. Makane Faye (ECA); Mr. Rafal Rohonzinski, UN RWANDA; Mr. Kelly
Wong, USAID ; and Mr Assumani Bizimana, MINITRANSCO |
12 :30 |
Luncheon |
Session 7 |
CHAIRPERSONS : Mr.
Makane Faye (ECA) and Mr. Gaston Bushayija (BNR) |
14 :00 |
Plenary session :
Group discussions outcome (brainstorming) by Mr. Gaston Bushayija (BNR) |
15 :30 |
COFFEE/TEA BREAK |
Session 8 |
CHAIRPERSONS : Mr
Faye MAKANE (ECA), Mr Gaston BUSHAYIJA (BNR) |
15 :45 |
Plenary session :
Recommendations on ICT national policy |
17 :00 |
Session closing remarks |
Wednesday December 2, 1998
Session 9 |
CHAIRPERSON : Mr.
Stefen Brown, UN Resident Coordinator in Rwanda |
09 :00 |
Welcome and seminar
objectives by Hon. Charles NTAKIRUTINKA, Minister of Transport and Communication of Rwanda
|
09 :10 |
Information systems in the
coordination and decision making process within an organization by Mr. Joseph MUTABOBA,
Chargé d’Affaires a.i, Rwanda Embassy in Ethiopia |
09 :40 |
An overview of Information and
Communication Technology : the year 2000 problem. by Mr. Gaston BUSHAYIJA,
Director of Management services and Information Technology, BNR and Mr Gerald MPYISI,
Director of Computers and Information Management, Office of the Vice President |
10 :10 |
Discussions led by Hon.Pius
Mercilus G. Griffith, Deputy Minister of Communication of Ghana |
10 :45 |
COFFE BREAK |
Session 10 |
CHAIRPERSON : Hon.
Pius Mercilus G. Griffith, Deputy Minister of Communication of Ghana |
11 :00 |
Infrastructure of information
and communication technology in Rwanda – current and future trends by Mr. Sam
NKUSI, Director of RWANDATEL S.A |
11 :15 |
Legal problems for ICT in
Rwanda by Hon. Charles NTAKIRUTINKA, Minister of Transport and Communication |
11 :30 |
Liberalization of the
telecommunication infrastructure in Africa : benefits and constraints by Mr ABRAHAM
Makuza |
11:45 |
Discussions led by Colonel
HABYARIMANA, and Hon. Gerald ZIRIMWABAGABO,Minister of State for Agriculture,Livestock and
Rural development. |
12 :15 |
Luncheon |
Session 11 |
CHAIRPERSON : Mr
Christopher LIUNDI, UNESCO Representative in Rwanda |
13 :30 |
Regional and International
activities in ICT by Mr. Makane Faye, ECA ; Mr Hezekiel Dlamini, UNESCO ; Mr
Kelly Wong, USAID ; and Mr. Stephen Brown, UN Residence Co-odinator in Rwanda |
14 :30 |
Discussions led by Hon. Gerald
ZIRIMWABAGABO Minister of State for Agriculture, Livestock and Rural development |
15 :00 |
COFFEE BREAK |
15 :30 |
Recommendations from
discussion groups by Mr. Gaston BUSHAYIJA, BNR |
15 :40 |
Closing Remarks by
Mr. Makane FAYE, ECA and Hon. Charles NTAKIRUTINKA, Minister of Transport and
Communication |
16 :30 |
Cocktail |
Presentation
Discussion Papers
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