IfG.CC - The Potsdam eGovernment Competence Center

Mobile communications help create virtuous circle in Africa Closing the digital divide in Africa is a primary goal for stakeholders from operators to governments to NGOs. Ensuring its more than 1 billion citizens can participate in the global economy and raise living standards across the region will require commitment and time, but can create a virtuous circle that will benefit all.

On the supply side, public/private partnerships and the many national broadband plans have help spur investment, and dramatically increase the availability of telecom services in Africa. This access is helping to bring many out of the informal or shadow economy. Business benefits from this access by becoming more productive, while governments benefit from the additional tax revenues—which can help fund additional infrastructure investment. For example, if a farmer can get a text to tell him which location will give him the best price for his goods, can save valuable time and increase his income. Given that large swaths of Africans make their living in agriculture, the multiplier effect can be profound.

Mobile phones are performing a key role in enhancing transparency and accountability. Mobile penetration in the DRC is increasing rapidly, from 16% to 47% in 2013. In addition, 55% of the country’s population resides in areas currently covered by mobile networks, including most rural areas from the eastern province of South Kivu.

The Government will continue to help get seniors digitally enabled, Minister for Seniors Ginny Andersen announced today.

Six providers of digital training will deliver essential digital skills courses for up to 5,000 learners around the country.

“Being online is increasingly important for participation in modern life, but as many as one in four older people do not access the internet regularly,” Ginny Andersen said.

Collaboration at the regional level is a critical force for scaling up effective technologies and increasing innovation capacity in the fight against COVID-19, according to high-level officials and key stakeholders at the third session of the Committee on Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Science, Technology and Innovation.

Convened by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the two-day Committee meeting highlighted how digital inclusion and resilient digital networks across the entire region have become the foundation for government measures to effectively stem the worst impacts of the pandemic.

Kudos to the government and all stakeholders for ensuring that no students are left behind, “All in favour of making digital learning a success” (The Star, March 8).

However, there is a group that is definitely at risk of being completely left behind. I am referring to our warga emas, especially those in their 70s and above. If we do not reach out to them, they will not be able to participate actively when the economy starts to pick up again.

Deputy Minister of Information, Communication and Culture Datuk Joseph Salang said the school now has become a centre for information and communication technology (ICT) knowledge and applications not only for the district but also for other surrounding areas.

“It started with the basic ICT training which was provided for students and teachers and subsequently extended to the community members.

Opening the conference yesterday, Education Minister Nangolo Mbumba said an ICT educational programme, called Techn/Na!, had been rolled out at schools and vocational training centres.

According to Harris Miller, president of the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA), people have become too focused on pushing for Internet-related policies and regulations such as censorship and e-commerce trading issues. A consortium of 67 info-tech associations worldwide, WITSA aims to drive policies toward the industry's growth and development and facilitate global trade and investment in IT products and services.

A new ICT access gaps study indicates that despite Kenya’s rapid ICT growth there is danger that some sections of the masses, especially in rural areas, could be left behind.

Speaking on Tuesday during the launch of the study in Nairobi, Ministry of Information and Communication Permanent Secretary, Dr Bitange Ndemo said Kenya must leapfrog from agricultural production based economy to a knowledge –based economy through deployment of basic infrastructure, including electricity, for widespread of ICT services.

The Minister of Communications Technology, Omobolaji Johnson, said on Thursday that 16 per cent fewer women than men use the internet.

Ms. Johnson made this known at the launch of the Digital Girls ICT clubs at the Federal Government Girls College, Bwari.

Minister of Science and Technology, Mohamed Abubakar, who stated this at the commissioning one of such centres at the Mambilla Barracks, Abuja, noted that a total of 85 of such centres have been established already.

The Postmaster-General of NIPOST who spoke last week in Lagos during a stakeholders engagement meeting with Telecom CEOs in Nigeria in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications told the audience in attendance that the post office network is arguably the best platform for achieving digital inclusion of the rural populace in Nigeria.

This paints a different picture from the generally accepted idea that the internet is the medium of the younger generation. Speaking about the findings, Research Lead at Twinpine Eniola Moronfolu said, “This knowledge is an eye opener and shows how trends in internet usage are taking shape among consumers. This also means that marketing efforts can be more effectively targeted to reach the right demographics”.

18 Prozent der Deutschen erledigen den Gang zu Behörden über Internetseiten. Nur in Japan gehen weniger Menschen online zum Amt, 13 Prozent. "Behörden und Bürger in Deutschland nutzen die Möglichkeiten des Internets zu wenig, um miteinander zu sprechen", sagt Michael Pitsch vom Beratungsunternehmen Accenture.

Seniors will have the chance to become more technologically confident via a digital skills training programme the Government is rolling out for up to 5000 people across the country today.

The 2022 Budget has allocated $1.341 million over three years for the Office for Seniors to expand its digital literacy training programme.

In announcing the programme, Minister for Seniors Ginny Anderson said barriers to digital inclusion can include a lack of access to devices or connections, the skills needed to use them or mistrust of the online environment.

Pakistan’s State Minister for Information & Broadcasting Syed Sumsam Ali Shah Bukhari launched the portal recently, called the National Rabta Information Portal, which was developed by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

Mr Bukhari said: “The Government of Pakistan has a strong believe in utilising Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to move into the era of electronic service delivery (e-Services) by simplifying procedures, and making credible and timely information available to all the citizens at all levels.

In his address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on the opening day of the Budget session, Dr Kalam said, "Our Information Technology sector continues to develop and remain globally competitive," adding that, "My government will take forward the National Identity Card Project under the National e-Governance Plan for nationwide roll-out in a phased manner so as to ensure better delivery of services to our citizens."

Greater effort must be made to connect more people to the internet and to create an environment that unleashes the benefits of digital technologies, a World Bank report says.

The spread of digital technologies over the last two decades has been rapid but the hoped-for benefits of greater productivity, more opportunity for the poor and middle class, more accountable governments and companies have not spread as far and wide as anticipated, the World Bank’s 2016 World Development Report on the internet, “Digital Dividends” says.

Digital divide, inadequate information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure, and outdated laws have hampered the delivery of an efficient electronic government system, according to study conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

These factors need to be addressed as a sound e-government system is crucial to the efficient delivery of services in the ‘new normal’ amid the COVID-19 pandemic.