COMESA High Level ICT Policy Forum

1
COMESA High Level ICT Policy Forum
Financial Institutions Perspective on ICT Policy

• Ini Urua, African Development Bank

2
Pre-requisites for Investments in ICT
Infrastructure Initiatives

• Peace and Security
• Political Stability
• Clear Policy framework
• Effective Regulatory systems
• Adequacy
• Transparency
• Fairness
• Protection for investors and users
• Effective Legal Systems
• Good and independent legal systems
• Ability to Enforce the Law
• Robust Capital Markets
• Local Management Capacity
• For Regional Initiatives Harmonised Regulatory
  Systems

3
Making Projects Attractive for Investment

• Structuring of the Investment Proposals
• Understanding and quantifying risks
• Project
• Technology
• Market
• Management
• Institutional
• Roles of project participants
• Govermnent
• Users
• Providers of Services

4
Role of Government

• Is there a clear policy to guide development of
  the sector?
• Is the policy coherent and implementable?
• Is there a clear delineation of functions?
• Are there clear rules and ruglations to guide
  sectoral activities and business activities?
• Is there a robust legal system to mitigate
  conflicts and interests?

5
The need for clear Policy Framework
ICT Policy
Country Goals and objectives
Broad Agenda for Action
Broad Engagement Philosophy
Regulatory Functions
Infrastructure
Public/Private Involvement
Rules and Regulations
Human Resources
Rural Access
Legal System
6
The Role of the ADB

• Encouraging infrastructure investments,
  especially those directed at rural areas to
  enhance poverty alleviation through better
  provision of educational services, health care
  services and development of small enterprises.
• Encouraging more private sector involvement in
  infrastructure.
• Information source on economic, market, and
  institutional issues in Africa.
• Institutional advisers to governments, on
  development, market, and financing issues.
• Acting as a honest broker in partnerships.
• Encouraging regional co-operation by initiating,
  developing and funding regional projects to
  enhance more integration.
• Conduit for funds mobilisation and Direct Foreign
  Investment in Africa.

7

• Thank you for your attention