Harnessing new communication technologies for development in Africa
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Using new technology to inform people and improve communication
systems is a recognised part of the fight against poverty. Re-
cent research shows the extent to which this has been happening
in Africa and makes recommendations for future policy to make it
more effective.
A synthesis report, prepared by Gerster Consulting for the
Building Digital Opportunities Programme (BDO), draws on re-
search into the use of information and communication technology
in Mali, Uganda and Zambia. It examines progress in fulfilling
BDO's global objective to ensure that such technology contrib-
utes to the achievement of the 8 Millennium Development Goals
and 17 Millennium Development Targets.
According to the report, this technology is being put to the
following uses in the three African countries examined:
Community radio programmes have given Ugandan farmers access to
information about new crops and potential markets; this has in-
cluded information on the financial benefits of cultivating to-
bacco, provided by the multi-national, BAT (British American To-
bacco)
In Mali trainees have gone on to establish telephone-working
companies and software companies which support health projects.
In Uganda radio has been used to warn local communities before
attacks by the guerrilla group, the Lord's Resistance Army. Ra-
dio broadcasts are being used as part of health promotion cam-
paigns on issues such as immunisation, HIV and sexual health.
There is increased communication between health professionals
from developed and developing countries. In Uganda information
and communication technology has been used to inform people of
their rights, particularly the right to vote, and to make the
counting of votes more transparent.
New technology has been used to facilitate communication between
activists in the developing world and the richer countries work-
ing on international issues, such as fighting pharmaceutical
corporations who are using intellectual property rights legisla-
tion to stop the development of cheaper anti-HIV drugs by poorer
countries.
The report points out that there is a risk that technology can
become a status symbol, and that buying it could worsen the fi-
nancial situation of many poor families. Many African states
lack any policy on such technology, or only have regulatory sys-
tems covering telephones, but not the latest computer driven
communication technologies. Making commercial providers stick to
obligations to provide universal service - to both urban and ru-
ral, rich and poor communities - can prove unsustainable and un-
affordable.
The evaluators make the following policy recommendations:
* national strategies on the development of information technol-
ogy which promote market competition;
* self-regulation independent from government;
* licence fees to be imposed on service providers;
* legislation to guarantee that community radio remains not-for-
profit;
* the promotion of a political climate which encourages freedom
of expression, media pluralism and journalistic courage;
* independently regulated Universal Service Funds (funded by a
levy on operators) in order to ensure effective service provi-
sion and the inclusion of local languages and content;
* regional co-operation between countries in developing ser-
vices.
Contributor(s): Richard Gerster and Sonja Zimmermann
Source(s):
'Information and communication technologies (ICTs) and poverty
reduction in sub Saharan Africa: a learning study (synthesis)'
by Richard Gerster and Sonja Zimmermann, Gerster Consulting, Oc-
tober 2003.
Funded by: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
id21 Research Highlight: 6 January 2004
Further Information:
Richard Gerster and Sonja Zimmermann
Gerster Consulting
Göldistrasse 1
CH-8805 Richterswil
Switzerland
Tel: +41-1-784 83 08
Fax: +41-1-784 83 17
mailto:info@gersterconsulting.ch
http://www.id21.org/society/s4brg1g1.html
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Program Manager Child Survival, Mozambique
Provincial Coordinator Sofala Province, Mozambique
Health Alliance International, Seattle, WA, USA
http://depts.washington.edu/haiuw/
Coordinator South Asian Public Health Forum
http://www.saphf.org
mailto:jawad@alumni.washington.edu
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