 Benin:
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Title: Civil
Society and National ICT Policy in Benin
Author(s): Ken Lohento
Publish date: April 2003
Summary: With a current population
of about six million people, Benin has a poorly developed telecommunication
infrastructure in spite of being connected to the Internet since
1995. There are few civil society organizations and most work primarily
in "traditional" areas of health, education, human rights
and rural development. A few have recently began work in the area
of ICTs.
This report examines ICT policy and regulation
and the role of CSOs active in this field. The report also describes
the current state of the ICT sector and the impact that this has
on the work of CSOs. It concludes with some recommendations on
how CSOs can play an active role in the formulation and regulation
of ICT Policies.
 English >> (PDF)
Title: Building
the Future: Civil Society's Contribution Towards the Emergence
of the Information Society in Cameroon
Author(s): Olivier Nzepa Nana
Publish date: May 2003
Summary: Cameroon has fewer than two hundred
registered NGOs, and few of these organizations are active in
the ICTs sector. This situation is changing rapidly mostly because
of awareness-raising on the importance and role of ICTs in development.
The emergence of an information and communication sector in Cameroon
has brought forward various debates regarding the formulation
and strategies for the implementation of ICT policies.
This report describes a partnership building process
between the Cameroonian government, private sector and CSOs in
an effort to build the ICT sector in response to government’s
perceived failure to do so. The report covers the context of the
emerging information society in Cameroon and the inadequacy of
the current ICT policy framework. It emphasizes the role of civil
society in the formulation of national ICT policy and strategies
and the creation of an enabling environment for ICT sector growth.
The report concludes with an articulation of civil society’s
capabilities in mobilization and intervening in ICT issues in Cameroon.
 English >> (PDF)
Egypt’s
CSO sector is active and far reaching, however despite the increase
in the number of users, and the fact that Internet policy and regulation
is becoming an issue, although only a tiny minority of activists
work in this area. Recent lobbying on the newest communication
bill is an encouraging sign that representatives of civil society
are waking up to the fact that civil society much stake a claim
in ICT policy formulation processes.
This report describes ICT infrastructure, policy
and regulatory developments in Egypt, and notes the activities
of civil society organizations in responding to ICT policies
 French >> (PDF,
320 KB) English >> (PDF,
315 KB)
Title: Participation
of Senegalese civil society in the formulation of ICT policies
Author(s): Marie-Hélène Mottin-Sylla
Publish date: November 2002
Summary: This study describes
the policies, strategies and actions instituted by the relevant
stakeholders (public institutions, private and international players)
and analyses the participation of local civil society organisations
(CSOs), in order to propose a draft plan of action whose aim is
to strengthen participation in formulating and supervising ICT
policy implementation.
 English >> (PDF,
433 KB)
Title: Fostering
the Capacities of the Ethiopia Civil Society to Influence
ICT Policies
Author(s): Lishan Adam
Publish date: November 2002
Summary: This paper presents
the case of civil society organizations in Ethiopia and discusses
how their involvement in ICT policy process can be improved. Although
recent initiatives by the Federal Government in modernizing its
ICT policies and the opening up the telecommunication sector present
windows of opportunities for the civil society to participate in
the policy process, the inherent weakness of the civil society
due to the spread of its efforts along dozens priorities aimed
at responding to the on-going social and economic crisis in the
country makes the participation in ICT policy process rather difficult.
The weakness of formal institutions and the uncertainties that
characterize public policy making in the country have also a considerable
impact on the participation of the civil society in policy processes
and policy implementation.
 English >> (PDF,
133 KB)
Title: ICT Policy
and Civil Society in Kenya
Author(s): Mureithi Muriuki
Publish date: October 2002
Summary: This study documents the role of civil
society in the development of ICTs in Kenya and also. Captures
the applications and exploitation of ICTs by the civil society
to achieve its development mission and the challenge it faces.
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Title: State of Free and Open
Source Software in Africa
Author(s): FOSSFA
Publish date: June 2003
Summary:
In the face of rapidly
changing technological advancement, and the exorbitant cost of
proprietary hardware and software solutions, which discriminate against
Africa
in attempting to participate in (Information and Communications
Technologies) ICTs for development, the need for open source solutions
has emerged. There is a global trend toward open source solutions,
which have become viable, cost effective and sustainable options
for Africa’s
participation in ICTs for development.
To download the report - Click here >>
Title: HIV/AIDS, Information and Communication in
Africa
Author(s): Lisa Forman
Publish date: July 2003
Summary:
More effective communication
about the disease, and greater flows of information are central
to the success of AIDS strategies, and for reducing the vulnerability
that flows to and from HIV infection. Information and communication
are sources of power in an epidemic characterized by its lack—they
confer the power to protect against infection, to influence decision
makers, and to live lives of dignity and equality once infected.
In a region often characterized by resource limitations and fragmented
infrastructures, information and communication are two of the most
critical and abundant resources available in the fight against
HIV/AIDS. They are both the prerequisites and enablers of an effective
response.
To download the report - Click here >>
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