UNSIA Newsletter Issue 1, December 1997
HITD cluster bringing Africa into the information age
Raising awareness of the challenges and possibilities for Africa in the information age is the main objective of the Special Initiative for Africa’s programme cluster Harnessing Information Technology for Development (HITD). The programme cluster, led by the ECA and the UNESCO, deals with communications and convergence, the information age phenomenon that pervades virtually every aspect of life in developed countries
The activities of the cluster which are being jointly implemented by inter-agency partners underline the possibilities that the new technologies offer, while at the same time confronting the challenges that have constrained progress in this and other areas in Africa. Examples of cluster projects underway and in planning stage include:
¨ In Rwanda, ECA and UNESCO, together with other multi-lateral and bilateral partners, are working with senior government officials creating awareness at policy level on information technology. In addition, policy awareness workshops, focusing on creating an enabling environment for the information age have been held. Assistance in the development of national information and communication infrastructure plans and training for senior government officials in using Internet to access development information will be provided;
¨ policy guidelines to assist African countries in the area of communications and connectivity will be developed;
¨ a course in Dakar in conjunction with Afristech’97 for senior policy officials from Senegal in the use of the Internet and other new information technologies; and
¨ a proposed SIM project to assist African media in capacity building to embrace the new technologies for state supported and independent media with special attention to the promotion and development of African content on the Internet. The project will also create learning networks for African teachers.
To facilitate this and other Harnessing Information Technology for Development activities, UNESCO is posting a high level Regional Information and Telematics Advisor in Addis Ababa to work closely with ECA on HITD support.