Appropriate information technology in Africa's economic development and integration

Abstract

Information technology has profound implications for the future development of Africa, and for the evolving relationships between the North and the South. A full exploration of all the policy implications and concrete institutional proposals will require a sustained process of dialogue. Information technologies generally comprise the machinery for producing and disseminating data/information. Some of the equipment that makes up these technologies include: printing, reprographic, micrographic, computer, telecommunication, transportation and video technology. Africa's lack of development over the years is attributed principally to the information poverty which has characterised the socio-economic development planning efforts of many of the countries on the continent since their attainment of political independence. The prevailing situation is not because the planning environment of these countries lacks data on which they could base various meaningful socio-economic planning exercises. On the contrary, the problem has been one of the inabilities of African countries to develop and maintain appropriate infrastructures for data generation and use.