e-Applications for the development of Africa

The e-applications provide online access of certain services to the end-users. The objective is to reduce costs and time and ensure the sustainability. The e-applications also contribute to capacity building. In Africa, several projects have been launched successfully and are already operational.

The Pan-African e-Network project for Tele-Medicine and Tele-Education is an initiative of the Indian government. Its main objective is to build a pan-African telecommunications network by satellite and fibre optics to provide tele-medecine and tele-education and diplomatic communications services to the 53 member states of the African Union (AU).

Six countries still to sign

In Africa, implementation had been completed in 33 countries while the Hub Earth Station located in Dakar is operational since April 2008. The first phase of the network covering 11 countries was inaugurated in February 2009. As at June 2010, 47 member states of the AU had signed the agreement to participate in the project and six countries are yet to sign the agreement.

The e-Post Project aims at installing terminals within each post office in Africa. In this framework a study jointly carried by the AUC, ATU and PAPU recommended the development of services related to the postal function especially on the development of the electronic money transfer and the development of the track and trace system in the short term. It also recommended the Modernization of the postal sector infrastructure, establishment of a relevant organisation and a definition of the services to be deployed in the medium term.

Challenges pointed out

However, challenges such as identification of services with demonstrated added-value, low coverage of the telecommunications infrastructure and lack of funding have been pointed out. In this regard, CITMC-3 is expected amongst others to request to accelerate the implementation of the pilot project and extend it to the five regions and to urge regional economic communities (RECs), member states and international partners to support the project.

The e-Schools Initiative was presented by the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA). Its aim is to equip African youth with skills and knowledge that will enable them to participate effectively in the global information society and knowledge economy. The project seeks to harness ICTs, to improve quality of teaching, learning and school management in African primary and secondary schools.

Continental framework developed

So far, the NPCA has developed a continental framework, a business plan signed by 16 countries. A demo project was developed and showed in the 16 countries. It has been fully funded by the African private sector. Challenges have been identified with regard to maintenance in order to support efforts.

The information society in Africa, the African ministers in charge of ICTs, on their extraordinary conference held in Johannesburg in November 2009, adopted the resolution, endorsed later by the AU February 2010 Summit of Head of State and government, to draft a convention on cyber legislation based on the continent's needs and which adheres to the legal and regulatory requirements on electronic transactions, cyber security, and personal data protection.

A draft convention was thus drafted under the lead of AUC and UNECA and presented to the conference. The final draft of this conference should be adopted by AU member states by 2012.

The experts session which started on 3 August 2010, ended on 5 August. The recommendations from the experts' session will be submitted to the AU ministers in charge of ICTs, meeting on 6 August.