Regional Roundup : ICT for Development Included As Aspect Of G8 Africa Action Plan
Africa 01 July 2002
 
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been included in a new ‘G8 Africa Action Plan’ which leaders of industrialized countries committed themselves to at the G8 summit held in Kananaskis (Canada) held from 25 – 28 June 2002. The Action Plan represents a fresh engagement by industrialized countries with Africa, in reflection of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). Coupled with improving and promoting education, ICT is included in the Action Plan in recognition that the capacity of ICTs to help Africa digital opportunities has not yet been realized, and because NEPAD has targeted ICT as a priority for economic and human development. Indeed, NEPAD is establishing an ICT Task Force of its own (see [ilink=http://www.ictdevagenda.org/frame.php?dir=07&sd=10&sid=1&id=123]Regional Roundup: NEPAD To Establish ICT Task Force[endilink]).

The essence of this Action Plan is for the G8 countries to commit to establishing enhanced partnerships with African countries that are committed to and implementing NEPAD. According to a press release: ‘G8 governments are committed to mobilise and energise global action, marshal resources and expertise, and provide impetus in support of NEPAD's objectives. Our Action Plan focuses on a limited number of priority areas where, collectively and individually, we can immediately add value. These areas are: 1) Peace and Security; 2) Political and Economic Governance; 3) Trade, Investment, Economic Growth and Sustainable Development; 4) Debt Relief; 5) Education and Information and Communications Technology (ICT); 6) Health and HIV/AIDS; 7) Agricultural Productivity; and 8) Water Resource Management.’


Source: G8 Africa Action Plan http://www.g8.gc.ca/kan_docs/afraction-e.asp

The Role of DOT Force in G8’s Engagement.

The inclusion of ICTs in the plan can be traced to the G8 Digital Opportunity Task Force (DOT Force), which has triggered a range of new ICT-for-development initiatives in Africa. DOT Force sprang from the G8 summit held in July 2000 in Kyushu-Okinawa (Japan), and nine-point Action Plan at the G8 summit the following year in Genoa (Italy) (see [ilink=http://www.ictdevagenda.org/frame.php?dir=07&sd=10&sid=1&id=49]DOT Force: Review The Genoa Plan of Action[endilink]). Although DOT Force will now cease to exist as a formal organisation after the summit in Kananaskis, its work will continue through an informal network and other organisations including the UN ICT Task Force, and its momentum will continue in this G8 Action Plan for Africa.

‘At the Genoa Summit, G8 leaders were also joined by African leaders, who presented an initiative now known as the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD),’ said Peter Harder, Industry Canada Deputy Minister and Chair of DOT Force last week at the United Nations General Assembly session on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for Development held in New York (see [ilink=http://www.ictdevagenda.org/frame.php?dir=07&sd=10&sid=2&id=216]UN: General Assembly Session on ICT for Development[endilink]). ‘This initiative includes a comprehensive vision to meet the social, political and economic challenges faced by Africa's peoples, highlighting ICTs as a priority area to help all African countries achieve economic and social development objectives. Through its various implementation teams, the DOT Force is targeting the specific needs expressed by African leaders through the NEPAD, notably the needs of the least developed countries.’

Resources:

The full text of the G8 Africa Action Plan can be downloaded from Industry Canada at: