ECA and the promotion of information technology for development in Africa

Abstract

The African Information Society Initiative, adopted in 1996 by the ECA Conference of Ministers of planning and development, advocated African countries adopting National Information and Communication Infrastructure policies and set out guidelines for their drafting. The NICI policies cover not only the technological aspects of infrastructure, but also the applications, information systems and human resources plans that are a necessary part of them. ECA has been working with African countries since 1996 to elaborate information and communication policies and develop programs and strategies for their implementation.