Benchmarking the WSIS Plan of Action in Latin America and the Caribbean (Version 2.0)
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Observatory for the Information Society in Latin America and the Caribbean OSILAC United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Institute for Connectivity in the Americas (ICA) Benchmarking the WSIS Plan of Action in Latin America and the Caribbean (version 2.0) This document has been produced without formal editing for limited distribution. 2 INDEX A. INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................... 4 B. OBJECTIVES, GOALS AND TARGETS................................................................. 5 C1. THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENTS AND ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE PROMOTION OF ICTS FOR DEVELOPMENT ...................................................... 15 C2. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE: AN ESSENTIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE INFORMATION SOCIETY ................... 22 GROWTH........................................................................................................................ 25 C3. ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE......................................... 30 COUNTRY ...................................................................................................................... 32 C4. CAPACITY BUILDING ......................................................................................... 37 C5. BUILDING CONFIDENCE AND SECURITY IN THE USE OF ICTS............ 41 C6. ENABLING ENVIRONMENT .............................................................................. 49 C7. ICT APPLICATIONS: BENEFITS IN ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE..................... 53 15. E-GOVERNMENT ..................................................................................................... 53 16. E-BUSINESS ............................................................................................................. 58 17. E-LEARNING ........................................................................................................... 62 21. E-AGRICULTURE..................................................................................................... 71 C8. CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND IDENTITY, LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY AND LOCAL CONTENT........................................................................................................ 73 C9. MEDIA...................................................................................................................... 75 D. DIGITAL SOLIDARITY AGENDA........................................................................ 77 D2. MOBILIZING RESOURCES....................................................................................... 77 E. FOLLOW-UP AND EVALUATION ....................................................................... 81 3 A. Introduction This document is the second version of an ongoing exercise to benchmark the Plan of Action of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). The first version has been presented to the delegates of PrepCom I of WSIS in Hammamet, Tunisia, June 2004. A third version is being prepared for PrepCom II in Geneva, February 2005. The graphs and tables are indicative and aim at demonstrating which is the current situation of the region in achieving the actions proposed during the Geneva phase of WSIS and the consecutive challenges for Latin America and the Caribbean. Given the limited data available, the presented evidence is sporadic and sometimes anecdotic. OSILAC welcomes any comment, suggestion or additional information to improve the document. The outline follows the WSIS Plan of Action. Every section is built on the following structure: “# Citation(s) of the WSIS Plan of Action” EVIDENCE IN THE RESPECTIVE FIELD Graph(s) or policy table(s) Source of graph or table. Conclusion(s). Outstanding challenge(s) for the region. 4 B. Objectives, goals and targets “6. Based on internationally agreed development goals, including those in the Millennium Declaration, which are premised on international cooperation, indicative targets may serve as global references for improving connectivity and access in the use of ICTs in promoting the objectives of the Plan of Action, to be achieved by 2015. […] a) to connect villages with ICTs and establish community access points;” MEXICO: POTENTIAL AND SERVED POPULATION FOR ACCESS THROUGH DIGITAL COMMUNITY CENTERS (DCC), 2003 20000 100%100% 100%100%100% 100% 18000 90% 88% 84% 16000 80% 76% 14000 70% Potential Population (thousands) 12000 60% Population served by DCC 10000 50% (thousands) 8000 40% % population in need of DCC 6000 30% 18% % population in need and 15% 4000 12% 20% served by DCC 8% 5% 2000 3% 3% 1% 10% Total population in those communities 0 0% 1 2 3456 78 Population with number of inhabitants Source: Directorate-General of Tariffs and Statistical Integration, COFETEL, Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes Mexico, 2003. Policies for public access points already exist in many countries. Some of them can be considered world best practices. Nevertheless, within countries, the digital divide still prevails. To expand and balance these policies, prioritizing social inclusion and cohesion. “6 b) to connect universities, colleges, secondary schools and primary schools with ICTs;” ICT ACCESS IN EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS IN COLOMBIA 2001 (percentage) Educational Primary and Secondary Universities Establishments/Access to ICT Private Public Private Public Computer access 57 22 100 100 Internet access 21 4.5 96 95 Source: DANEE. medición de las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones – tic, 2001 5 FUNCTIONS OF COMPUTERS IN EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS IN COLOMBIA 2001 (Percentage) Educational Establishments/ Primary and Secondary Universities Use of computers Private Public Private and Public Education 53.9 49.9 53.4 Administration 10.9 9.6 27.0 Education and Administration 35.2 40.5 19.6 Source: DANE. Medición de las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones – TIC, 2001 The vast majority of universities is already connected, while in primary and secondary schools the digital divide still prevails. In a large number of cases, ICT equipment is only used for administrative purposes and not for teaching or research, especially in universities. Make better use of existing ICT infrastructure and integrate the new possibilities completely in learning and research processes. “6 c) to connect scientific and research centres with ICTs;” “22 a) Promote affordable and reliable high-speed Internet connection for all universities and research institutions to support their critical role in information and knowledge production, education and training, and to support the establishment of partnerships, cooperation and networking between these institutions.” 6 ADVANCED RESEARCH NETWORK Country Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Name of RETINA BOLNET RNP REUNA Network Year 1990 1990 1989 1986 Educational governmental Type of Autonomous not for Private organization - Private organization - organization - managing profit organization - self- not for profit - self not for profit - self partially electronic organization financed financed financed government - self- financing No. of organizations 52 20 369 19 associated 7 higher education 242 higher education 37 higher education Characteristics institutes, 8 institutes, 53 18 higher education institutes, 8 research of associated research secondary education institutes and institutions, 4 ministries, organizations institutions, 3 institutes, 68 research CONICY T 3 NGOs ministries, 2 institutions, 6 ministries NGOs Network w eb page in connected to yes (2002) yes yes construction CLARA Countries that yes yes yes yes initially signed Network connected to yes (2001) no yes (2000) yes (2000) Internet 2 Promote the development of Facilitate the integration Connect the technologies in the area Provide the country's of the existing academic university and of netw orks and higher education, netw orks, promote the research innovative applications innovation and use of new communities w ith Prioritary in Brazil, supporting the research communication each other and Objectives use of internet communities services technologies by w ith the netw orks as in Information and researchers, teachers advanced cooperators in the Communication and persons linked to netw orks of the progress of science Technologies the academic sector world. and education in general. Source: www.retina.ar, www.conacyt.gob.bo, www.rnp.br, www.reuna.cl (200$) 7 ADVANCED RESEARCH NETWORK Country Colombia Cuba Equador El Salvador Name of CETCOL REDUNIV FUNDACYT (REYCYT) RAICES network webpage under Year under construction 1994 2003 construction Governmental Type of Private organization - Mixed private law entity - organization Non governmental organization - managing non for profit - self not for profit (ministry of higher not for profit financed organization education) No. of associated 75 21 38 8 organizations 75 higher education 16 higher education Characteristics 32 higher education institutes, 2 7 higher education institutes, research institutes, 4 of associated research institutes, 1 institutes, 1 research institutes, public and research institutes, technology transfer center institute organizations private entities. 1 ministry Network webpage under connected to yes yes yes construction CLARA Countries that no yes yes yes initially signed Network connected to no no likely in 2005 no Internet 2 Promote the strengthening of Connect the scientific and technological Promote and coordinate university and activities in the country; support the development of Connect the university and research