EXPECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS (EAs) AND INDICATORS OF ACHIEVEMENT (IoAs) – (2008-2009)

EA1:   Improved capacity of member States to design and implement information policies and programmes related to the promotion of appropriate science and technology, including information and communications technologies, to address Africa’s development challenges and priorities, as well as build knowledge economies

IoA1:. Increased number of countries that have formulated and implemented policies and programmes related to developing knowledge economies through the use of science, technology and innovation as a result of ECA assistance

Main results to date:
Result 1: Developed a framework document for integrating technological considerations into national economic development planning; The African Union Ministerial ICT Conference adopted a harmonized ICT framework and 11 African Regional Action Plans on the Knowledge Economy (ARAPKE) flagship projects for implementation by member States and stakeholders; at the same time ECOWAS adopted a series of complementary acts and directives on the Information Society. As part of the ARAPKE flagship projects, youth knowledge networks have produced a pan-African youth development project that has been adopted by African Union Ministerial ICT Conference and will be financed by the European Union;

Result 2: The study on ICT & Education has helped some countries embark in ICT & education strategies; the work of the Academia Research Networks has resulted in the development and adoption of harmonized ICT legal and regulatory frameworks within ECOWAS,  research on socioeconomic impact indicator (linking ICT with MDGs) and African language promotion in the cyberspace;

Result 3: The work with Parliaments resulted in the development of sectoral ICT strategy (ICT Master Plan) in Zambia; other parliaments including Botswana, Swaziland and Gambia have are being supported in this process. The SADC, ECOWAS Parliaments and the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) have commenced discussions with ECA to promote ICT and S&T committees within all their Institutions; Following development of the e-health strategy, the Government of Mali has created the National Agency on Telemedicine;

Result 4:  Developed a critical mass of skilled people in the use and promotion of ICT and S&T for socio-economic development and have made decision-makers and other stakeholders more aware of the issues. This is evidenced by the well-attended and successful first session of the Committee on Information Science and Technology (CODIST-I).