Originator: --- (APC/UNECA)
Date: 2002/15/02
Country: SOUTH AFRICA
Source: APC/UNECA

ICT POLICY AND CIVIL SOCIETY WORKSHOP IN AFRICA

JOHANNESBURG - The Association for Progressive Communications (APC), ARTICLE 19 and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) will be holding a five-day information and communications technology (ICT) policy and civil society workshop from November 6th to 10th, 2002 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Civil society groups have been at the forefront in advancing ICT applications in various sectors, however the purpose of this workshop is to build knowledge and expertise of civil society organizations to engage ICT policy processes in Africa.

According to Emmanuel Njenga Njuguna, APC's project coordinator, "Few civil society organizations are aware of the policy developments taking place at the global, regional and national levels that can impact on their ability and potential to use ICTs as a tool in their work, let alone own or control the production and application of these technologies locally. This workshop will help build people's awareness and capacity to understand ICT policy concepts, issues, and how these impact on their work and their communities."

Says Karima Bounemra Ben Soltane of Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), "Increasing the participation of civil society in harnessing ICT for development in general and ICT policies in particular is one of the key objectives of the African Information Society Initiative and is considered a priority for ECA." Ms Bounemra further adds, "ECA is working with some thirty-two countries in Africa, assisting them in developing national ICT policies. It is hoped that civil society in these countries will work with these governments in this regard."

The workshop, which will bring together approximately seventy representatives from civil society organizations from all regions of Africa, is particularly timely, closely following a month-long discussion on the African Information Society Initiative forum on the role of civil society in promoting the use of ICTs to strengthen and stimulate participatory approaches to policy issues especially governance in Africa. The forum discussions will provide the basis for a strong African civil society input to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in December 2003 in Geneva, and then again in Tunis in 2005.

The workshop has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), HIVOS and the Open Society Institute (OSI).

ABOUT APC

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is an international network of civil society organizations dedicated to empowering and supporting groups and individuals through the strategic use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), especially Internet-related technologies. APC and its members pioneer practical and relevant uses of ICTs for civil society, especially in developing countries. APC is an international facilitator of civil society's engagement with ICTs and related concerns, in both policy and practice.

Our network of members and partners spans the globe, with presence in Western, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America and North America. APC: http://www.apc.org.

ABOUT APC'S POLICY WORK IN AFRICA

The Africa ICT Policy monitor website, launched in May 2002, is a user-friendly resource which aims at demystifying the concepts of ICT policy-making. APC hopes that the Website content will stimulate discussion between users from around the continent about the use and relevance of ICTs for development in Africa, and facilitate the development of a network of civil society organisations promoting African Internet rights issues.
Africa ICT Policy Website: http://africa.rights.apc.org

ABOUT ARTICLE 19

ARTICLE 19 works to promote, protect and fulfill freedom of expression, including access to information and to the means of communication. We do this through advocacy, campaigns, research, litigation and the building of partnerships. We engage global, regional, state institutions and the private sector in critical dialogue and hold them accountable for the implementation of international standards.

The Africa Centre for Free Expression is the African Office of ARTICLE 19 based in Johannesburg, we believe that democracy and social justice are promoted and protected through the full exercise of the right to freedom of expression, including access to information and to the means of communication.

ABOUT ECA

Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is the regional arm of the United Nations, mandated to support the economic and social development of its 53 member States, foster regional integration, and promote international cooperation for Africa's development. The Commission is a key pioneer in the area of ICT for development over the last 25 years. ECA is an implementing agency for the African Information Society Initiative (AISI) - an action framework for bridging the African digital divide that was adopted by the conference of ministers of planning and economic development in 1996 and endorsed by African Heads of State. AISI's major activities and objectives include the development of national ICT policies and strategies, and building Africa's information and communication infrastructure and capacity involving all major stakeholders. Website: http://www.uneca.org/aisi

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

For more details about the workshop please contact:

Emmanuel Njenga Njuguna
Project Coordinator, AFRICA ICT POLICY MONITOR PROJECT
Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
E-mail: njenga@apc.org or africa.rights@apc.org
Tel/Fax: +27 11 726 1692

John M Barker
Head of Africa Programme
ARTICLE 19
PO Box 30942
Braamfontein 2017
South Africa
Tel. +27 11 403 1488
Fax. +27 11 403 1517
Email. johnb@article19.org.za
Web. http://www.article19.org

Aida Opoku-Mensah
Team Leader
Promoting ICTs for Development
Development Information Services Division
Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
E-mail: aopoku-mensah@uneca.org
Tel: +251-1-51-11-67
Fax: +251-1-51-05-12

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of APC. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit APC.

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