Regional impact of Information Society Technologies in Africa

October 2005

IST-Africa is a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on closing the digital divide in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a collaborative initiative between organisations from Ireland, Malta, Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania, and is coordinated by International Information Management Corporation Limited (IIMC).

Why this project?
"While ICT cannot address all of [Africa's] problems, they can do much to place Africa on a firmer industrial footing and strengthen the continent's human resources, with training that leads to sustainable livelihoods." Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General (20.11.2002).

Exploitation of ICT has enormous potential for impact in Developing Countries, to meet societal demands, more efficient delivery of public services, and supporting economic development.

What does the project hope to achieve?
The goal of the IST-Africa project is to have a regional impact on the Digital Divide by opening up the European Research Area. The project will build capacity on the African continent, in the spheres of e-Health, e-Learning and e-Government.

This objective will be achieved through the development of training modules, case studies and comparative country research reports. Training and dissemination will take place in the form of workshops, to be held with relevant target groups. International conferences in Africa and Europe have also been planned to serve this purpose. The project will also provide a framework for European and African researchers to explore opportunities for cooperation under the EU FP6 and EU development through human capital FP7.

South African participation:
The Meraka Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has teamed up with two European partners and government agencies from Mozambique and Tanzania, in the IST-Africa project.

Aimed at improving the digital infrastructure of Sub-Saharan Africa, the IST-Africa project is the Meraka Institute's first research endeavour that involves collaboration and funding from the European Union. The Meraka Institute derives its mandate as a national strategic initiative from President Thabo Mbeki's 2002 State of the Nation Address. The major objective of the Meraka Institute is to facilitate national economic and social development through human capital development and needs-based research and innovation, leading to products and services based on ICT.