Greater momentum needed to transform society through ICT

There is a direct relationship between economic growth and information and communication technology (ICT) strategy and implementation which can transform lives, said Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma.

Speaking at the opening of the Commonwealth Connects Steering Committee meeting at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, UK, on 12 September 2008, Mr Sharma observed: “From the remote village in Guyana which can use the internet to reach new markets for its high quality artistic artefacts, to the Gujarati farmer standing in a field on his mobile phone, receiving weather forecasts or market prices for his crop, we should be in no doubt of its power to change and better lives.”

The Secretary-General said the Commonwealth Connects programme can use the digital bridge to overcome the development divide. He stressed that the goal is to achieve a deeper level of penetration and use of ICTs in Commonwealth member countries to support political, economic and social transformation.

“ICTs are a means to achieve development and democracy. Countries need ICT strategies and the structures to manage their implementation,” said Mr Sharma. “ICT penetration of society is now a crucial link to socio-economic development because many of our development solutions are ICT-related. We must use it as an instrument such as e-commerce, e-governance, e-health, e-education. To make the development leap, we need this facility and synergy to achieve it.”

The Secretary-General said with two years of solid foundation work undertaken by the Commonwealth Connects Steering Committee, now is the time to push forward. He added that the challenge for the Steering Committee is to determine how its work can support the goal of adding value to what is already being done or helping to get things started. Mr Sharma stated that efforts must be made to find ways to accelerate the participation of ICT-wealthy countries in support of ICT-poor countries to “help lift the smallest and most vulnerable and most in need off the bottom rung.”

He also pointed out the importance of building effective partnerships with other international organisations and the private sector for ICT development. Mr Sharma said the limited resources available to Commonwealth Connects make it critical to work smarter to maximise return on limited investments.

The Secretary-General welcomed Salomao Manhica, Director of the technical unit involved in implementing Mozambique’s national ICT policy, as Chair of the Commonwealth Connects Steering Committee. The Steering Committee comprises representatives from the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Network of Information Technology for Development, the Commonwealth Business Council, the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, the Commonwealth of Learning, the Commonwealth Foundation, and the Governments of Malta, India, Mozambique, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Mr Manhica, who addressed the Steering Committee from Maputo through a teleconference, stated that there is a need for the development of multimedia communication centres to promote rural connectivity and to create an enabling environment through the introduction of legal frameworks. He said Commonwealth Connects can help translate ideas into a tangible reality for the people of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth Connects has completed a number of projects to date such as the Commonwealth African Rural Connectivity Initiative, which has mapped out gaps across Africa and identified ten projects for implementation. Other Commonwealth Connects projects include a radio programme in Cameroon to promote small business training for women entrepreneurs; ICT training for communities in Lesotho; computer stations for a village in Kampala, Uganda; and an ICT programme to help women farmers to develop organic farming through information sharing and networking.

Mr Sharma called for a strategic approach to add momentum to the work of the Steering Committee by appointing a Vice-Chairperson to lead meetings in the absence of the Chairperson, as well as establish a Strategic Advisory Committee to focus on priority areas. His proposals were welcomed and supported by the Steering Committee.

Key Links:

• Commonwealth Connects