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| Regional forums aim to boost technology know-how in Africa ECA Press Release No. 12/2007 Addis Ababa, 6 June (ECA) - The first regional best practices forum on the use of information and communication technology (ICT) kicks off in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on 7 June to encourage interaction among users and providers. The two-day meeting has been jointly organized by the Burkina Faso government, Economic Commission for Africa, the African Development Bank and Microsoft. In ECA's case, the forum is part of implementing the African Information Society Initiative (AISI). It will enable governments, donors, institutions and other interested groups from west and central Africa to share their own best practices. According to a recent European Union forum, if all the IT innovations from the various African countries were integrated into one single country (fictionally called ‘Africana'), it would be the 12 th most technologically advanced nation in the world. This shows that African countries have a lot to learn from each other, as well as globally. The level of interest in technology solutions to critical development challenges in Africa is high. By providing a forum to exchange experiences and demonstrate practical successes, it is hoped that practitioners will create a roadmap for the future to boost the effectiveness of public sector institutions. It will also allow for successful technology solutions to be more easily replicated throughout the region, particularly given the shortage of skills. Microsoft, together with its organizing partners, will produce a “best practices” website exclusive to the Africa region to highlight issues discussed at the forums, as well as other ICT4D best practices. The forum will be replicated in east and southern Africa over a one-year period. Click here for more information. Issued by the ECA Information and Communication Service Tel: 251 11 5445098 |
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