The African Information Society Initiative (AISI) : a decade's perspective

Abstract

The African Information Society Initiative (AISI), launched in 1996 is perhaps one of the most comprehensive regional ICT-for-development frameworks of its kind. The first 10 years of AISI has been devoted to laying the necessary foundations and building blocks in building the Information Society in African countries. As evidence, three quarters of ECA’s 53 member States now have national e-strategies complimenting their development efforts as well as harnessing their ICT sectors to play a greater role in their economies, through the National Information and Communication Infrastructure (NICI) Plans and Strategies. This publication serves to assess the 10 years of the existence of AISI, which was adopted by ECA as its work programme, and highlights the opportunities and challenges of the implementation of this framework within the context of African development. Apart from assisting member States to formulate national strategies, other aspects of the implementation of the AISI include information and knowledge development, an outreach and communication programme, and networking and partnerships.