The NICI Development Process

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The NICI Development Process
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• www.uneca.org/aisi/nici
• mfaye_at_uneca.org

Atelier de la CEMAC sur les Technologies de
lInformation au Service de lIntegration
regionale
Yaounde, 11-13 septembre 2002
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The African Information Society Initiative - AISI
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• an action framework to utilise ICTs in
  accelerating the socio-economic development of
  Africa and its people http//www.uneca.org/aisi

• developed to assist African countries to build
  their respective information societies

• calls for the elaboration and implementation of
  National Information and Communication
  Infrastructure (NICI) plans involving development
  of institutional frameworks, human, information
  and technological resources

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National Information and Communication
Infrastructure (NICI)
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• emergence and convergence of information and
  communication technologies (ICT) remain at the
  centre of global social and economic
  transformations

• NICIs - "technologies, organisations, and
  capabilities that facilitate the production and
  use of ICTs"

• Came into existence as a result of the challenge
  for developing countries to be responsive and
  flexible to the convergence of telecommunication,
  audio-visual and computing technologies

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What is a NICI Plan and Policy
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• an integrated set of decisions, guidelines, laws,
  regulations and other mechanisms which are geared
  to directing and shaping the production,
  acquisition and use of ICTs

• need to reflect overall development priorities

• redefine sectoral policies

• support the introduction of new regulatory
  framework

• to improve efficiency

• to mobilise resources for building national
  information and communication infrastructure

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Broad Steps in the development of NICI Plans and
Policies
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• Awareness-raising

• Formulation of strategic goals and targets

• Decision making process

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Detailed Steps in the development of NICI Plans
and Policies
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• Define vision, mission, strategic objectives,
  scope

• Define the institutional framework.

• Define the regulatory framework.

• Define the information technology business sector.

• Define the development priorities (five-year
  plan, cabinet directions, etc.).

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Detailed Steps in the development of NICI Plans
and Policies (contd)
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• Define the economic and business sectors as well
  as the market trends.

• Define education and science and technology
  infrastructure

• Define needs and priorities for information,
  decision support, networking, information
  services, etc.

• Define the data/information and decision support
  agencies, actors, etc., at the different levels
  national, local

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Detailed Steps in the development of NICI Plans
and Policies (contd)
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• Define the technology infrastructure

• Identify, formulate and develop programmes and
  projects

• Formulate strategies for development of NICIs

• Develop a detailed action plan, time schedule,
  priorities and budget

• Determine the implementation agencies in charge

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Detailed Steps in the development of NICI Plans
and Policies (contd)
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• Solicit the commitment of policy makers, industry
  leaders, etc.

• Formulate the public awareness campaign

• Implementation

• Evaluation

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Major Components of NICI Plans and Policies
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• Institutional framework and legal, regulatory and
  management mechanisms

• Human resources

• Information resources (Infostructure)

• Technological resources (Infrastructure)

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Statut des NICIs en Afrique
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Impact of NICI
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• Integration of Information and Communication
  Technologies in existing and future National
  Development Plans

• Development of sectoral strategies aimed at
  specific sectors such as education, health,
  governance, etc.

• Improvement in regulatory regimes, the result of
  which are improved infrastructure and increased
  access

• Foundation for integration into the global
  information society and accelaration of regional
  integration process

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Challenges in NICI Development
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• Lack of awareness in some circles mainly among
  policymakers

• Identifying an ICT champion at the top level of
  government Head of State or Prime Minister

• Putting in place innovative funding mechanisms to
  implement projects set out in NICI plans as
  spelled out by the NEPAD Financing Conf in Dakar

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