Development Through Electronic Networks

OFFICEOFFICE OFOF TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENTASSESSMENT ATAT THETHE GERMANGERMAN BUNDESTAGBUNDESTAG Christopher Coenen Ulrich Riehm Development Through Electronic Networks Information and Communication Technologies in Africa Final Report Technology Assessment Studies Series, No 1 DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ELECTRONIC NETWORKS TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT STUDIES SERIES, NO 1 The Office of Technology Assessment at the German Bundestag is an independ- ent scientific institution created with the objective of advising the German parliament and its committees on matters relating to research and technology. TAB is operated by the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analy- sis (ITAS) at the Karlsruhe Research Centre. In executing its working pro- gramme the Karlsruhe Research Centre cooperates with the Fraunhofer-Institut für System- und Innovationsforschung (ISI), Karlsruhe. TAB’s task is to design and implement technology assessment (TA) projects and to monitor and analyse important scientific and technological trends and the associated social developments (Monitoring, Future- and Innovation Reports, Policy-Benchmarking Reports). Christopher Coenen Ulrich Riehm DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ELECTRONIC NETWORKS INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN AFRICA Report on TA project “Internet communication in and with developing countries. Opportunities for development co-operation – the example of Africa” for the Committee on Education, Research and Technology Assessment OFFICEOFFICE OFOF TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY AASSESSMENTSSESSMENT ATAT THETHE GERMANGERMAN BUNDESTAGBUNDESTAG NOTE The orientation and content of this report cannot be taken as indicating the po- sition of the German Bundestag or its Committees. The German Bundestag retains the copyright to this publication. Reproduction is authorised, except for commercial purposes, but full acknowledgement is re- quested. A PDF-Version of the report is currently available on the Internet at the address http://www.tab.fzk.de. The printed title can be purchased from international stationary or online booksellers. This title was first published in German language. The bibliographic information of the German title is: Christopher Coenen, Ulrich Riehm: Entwicklung durch Vernetzung. Informations und Kommunikationstechnologien in Afrika. Berlin: edition sigma 2008, ISBN 978-3-8360-8126-9. Translation: Chris Cave Büro für Technikfolgen-Abschätzung beim Deutschen Bundestag (TAB) (Office of Technology Assessment at the German Bundestag) Neue Schönhauser Straße 10 10178 Berlin Germany Fon: +49(0)30/28 491-0 Fax: +49(0)30/28 491-119 buero@tab.fzk.de http://www.tab.fzk.de/ 2009 THE COMMITTEE’ S PREFACE Following an initiative of the Committee on Economic Co-operation and Devel- opment, the Office of Technology Assessment (TAB) at the German Bundestag (i.e. the German parliament) has carried out a project on the relevance of the Internet and other new information and communication technologies (ICTs) for social advancement in developing countries. This final report, entitled »Internet communication in and with developing countries – the example of Africa and opportunities for development co-operation«, documents the results of the project. The past decade has seen the topic of ICT move significantly up the development policy agenda. Although there has been highly controversial discussion on the best ways of approaching the promotion of ICT and on the outcomes of promotion activities, everyone agrees that the problems faced by developing countries will only be exacerbated if they continue to lag behind in respect of ICT in the long term. What is more, both new and old ICTs – including the Internet and mobile telephony – are in many cases already being put to good use in development co-operation activities, although considerable potential still remains un- tapped. Against this backdrop, the Committee on Education, Research and Technology Assessment commissioned the TAB to investigate opportunities presented by ICT and in particular the Internet, problems of the global digital divide, and basic pre- requisites for ICT use to promote development. Because sub-Saharan Africa faces highly specific development challenges and because many of its problems, in the area of ICT as elsewhere, are particularly dramatic in nature, this region was cho- sen as the project’s geographical focus. During the course of the project, quantita- tive and qualitative empirical studies into the use of the Internet and other ICTs were conducted; these also included research at the local level. Actors from Afri- can and other developing countries were involved in work on the project. In the first place, the report analyses and discusses the use of ICT and how it can contribute to social development in the context of the situation in developing countries. Secondly, a more detailed examination is undertaken of contributions relating in particular to the areas of democracy, good governance and civil society, of industry and trade, and of education, research and technological development. Thirdly, the results of these analyses are used to draw conclusions about con- crete and strategic courses of action and challenges for German development co- operation within the context of general issues relevant to research and education policy. 6 THE COMMITTEE’S PREFACE As one might expect, it was found that ICTs can, under certain circumstances, make a considerable contribution to social advancement in developing countries. Precisely the example of sub-Saharan Africa, however, shows that there are still very significant obstacles to the use of these technologies, and especially the Internet, to promote development throughout society. Be that as it may, societies in developing countries are in great need of both new and old ICTs, and a vari- ety of sensible uses can already be observed. Besides strengthening development- oriented elites in civil society, government and business, such use also directly improves the life situation and opportunities of the poor. One can hardly over- emphasise the importance of the shift in cultural and political mentality that goes hand in hand with the dissemination of modern ICTs. As far as development co-operation is concerned, there are many different ways to promote the use of ICT, a challenge that cuts across many areas of development policy. This report provides the German Bundestag with a broad and solid information basis for further engagement with the question of ICT for development. For sub- Saharan Africa, a region of great importance in development policy, the report considerably extends the contextual knowledge available to political decision- makers and development co-operation actors. Furthermore, the study will make a valuable contribution to any future attempt to come to terms with the opportunities and challenges one may expect to meet on the often difficult common path towards a global knowledge society. Berlin, April 15, 2008 The Committee on Education, Research and Technology Assessment Ulla Burchardt, Member of the German Bundestag Committee Chairwoman Axel E. Fischer, Member of the German Bundestag Rapporteur Uwe Barth, Member of the German Bundestag Rapporteur Hans-Josef Fell, Member of the German Bundestag Rapporteur Swen Schulz, Member of the German Bundestag Rapporteur Dr Petra Sitte, Member of the German Bundestag Rapporteur CONTENTS THE COMMITTEE’ S PREFACE 5 FOREWORD 11 SUMMARY 13 I. INTRODUCTION 31 II. DO INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT? 37 1. ICT Use and Economic Growth 38 1.1 Developed Countries 38 1.2 Developing Countries 39 2. Inequality and Social Development 40 3. ICT and the UN Millennium Development Goals 42 4. Focusing the Use of ICT on the Millennium Development Goals 46 4.1 ICT's Contribution to Achieving the Millennium Development Goals 47 4.2 Criticism of ICT Use for the Millennium Development Goals 50 5. Conclusion 53 III. THE STARTING SITUATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA 57 1. Historical Premises and General Socio-Economic Preconditions 57 2. ICT Use: Framework Conditions and Applications 62 2.1 Telecommunications Reform and ICT Policy 62 2.2 ICT Infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa 66 2.3 ICT Use in Sub-Saharan Africa 72 3. Conclusion 81 IV. DEMOCRACY, GOOD GOVERNANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY 83 1. Starting Situation 84 1.1 Key Concepts and Central Issues 84 1.2 Starting Situation in Africa 88 8 CONTENTS 2. State Action 95 2.1 E-Government: Potential and Successes 95 2.2 E-Participation and E-Parliaments 104 2.3 ICT and Local Governance 110 2.4 Overall Assessment 113 3. Civil Society and the Political Public Sphere 115 3.1 Starting Situation in Sub-Saharan Africa 115 3.2 Civil Society Actors 121 3.3 Political Public Sphere 134 3.4 Overall Assessment of the Role of the Internet 147 V. ICT USE IN INDUSTRY 151 1. Industry and Trade in Sub-Saharan Africa 151 2. Current ICT Use in Industry 155 2.1 ICT Use in Informal and Formal Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises 156 2.2 E-Business and E-Commerce in the Formal Sector 160 2.3 Opening Up New Markets, Finding New Customers 162 3. E-Money and M-Banking: Innovative Mobile-Based Applications 163 4. Conclusion 167 VI. EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT 169 1. Knowledge Societies and the Brain Drain 171 2. Education for Children and Young People 172 2.1 Starting Situation in Sub-Saharan Africa 172 2.2 ICTs in Schools and Continuing Education for Teachers 174 2.3 »100 Dollar Laptops« 182 3. Universities, Research and Technology 188 3.1 Starting Situation in Africa 188 3.2 Political

Load more