From ITU to Africa, 100 Telecentres

Nigeria’s neigbour Benin Republic and 19 other African countries are to benefit from a new initiative by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to establish a network of about 100 multipurpose community telecentres (MCTs) on the continent.

The MCTs will open ICT access to communities to help
them “obtain the social and economic benefits that
come with participation in the information society.”

It is hoped that initiative would open fresh
opportunities for people in under-served areas to use
ICT tools to improve their primary economic activities
such as fishing and farming on a continent where the
majority still survive on subsistence agriculture.
 
"Multipurpose community telecentres are one of the
most innovative and practical ways to bring the
benefits of the information society to the people of
Africa," says Hamadoun Touré, director of the ITU
Development Bureau as quoted by the South African
based news portal IT Web.

"Not only will they create employment and provide
basic information services, but they establish
community focal points for e-education, e-health and
e-governance initiatives through Web-based multimedia
content, Toure explained.

"They also stimulate the development and growth of
local businesses as well as ICT skills among the local
population," says Touré.

The initiative was requested by a number of African
countries, including Benin, Burundi, Central African
Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Guinea
Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia
and Ethiopia.

The ITU, in cooperation with the African Ministries of
Communication and other local partners, has
established four MCTs in Tanzania and Guinea Bissau.

"These are now already providing basic training in the
use of computers and will soon supply other services
such as public telephone, fax and Internet
connectivity as well as basic information," says ITU
project manager Asenath Mpatwa.

The MCTs will be managed by women, enabling them to
actively participate in the development and
decision-making processes of the African continent.

 
This initiative is in partial fulfilment of the
commitment made by 175 countries to a plan of action
at the first phase of the World Summit on the
Information Society to extend the benefits of ICT to
"all of humanity".

"The importance of this initiative for African women
can't be understated," says Mpatwa. "The MCTs provide
an enabling environment where women can actively
participate in the economy and expand their role in
communities through the use of ICT and the provision
of new services."
 

 More…..

Back To Top