By Zachary Ochieng
ADDIS ABABA----African countries need to strengthen their ICT policies and strategies in order to generate wealth and employment to their people. In his opening remarks at the Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology (CODIST-II) currently underway in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, Abdoulie Janneh, the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and UN under-secretary-general noted that limited and inadequate economic transformation partly explains why Africa continues to experience jobless growth as the sectors that have been driving its commendable economic performance are mostly capital intensive and generate a limited number of jobs.
“The pressing issue of jobs reminds us of recent developments in North Africa where ICTs were used innovatively to propel demands for democracy, freedom and human rights. Whether we are talking of WikiLeaks, which has changed the nature of diplomacy, or about social networks being used to mobilize popular movements, ICTs have been in the forefront of bringing about change”, Janneh told the conference.
Noting that the traditional uses of ICTs have also grown in leaps and bounds through industrial applications such as mobile banking, electronic billing and global marketing of local services by SMEs, the UN under-secretary-general underscored the need for technological developments that have reduced operational costs, increased market penetration, improved competitiveness of firms and presented new opportunities of growth.
“In order to reduce its vulnerability to external shocks, Africa, indeed, must overcome its current narrow and weak technological and industrial base. It is noteworthy that while primary commodities make up about 80 per cent of Africa’s merchandise exports, the ratio is 54 per cent and 24 per cent in the Latin America and Caribbean region and Asia respectively. Yet, we know for a fact that Africa is unlikely to transform this situation without significant investment in science, technology and innovation.”
CODIST-II, being held under the theme Innovation for Africa’s industrial development, has been organized by ECA in collaboration with the African Union Commission. It includes workshops, a colloquium as well as the Technology in Government in Africa (TIGA) awards. The Second Session of CODIST will explore the extent to which African countries have harnessed innovation to enhance industrial development on the continent.
The theme of the conference couldn’t have come at a better time. While the impact of the innovation taking place in the ICT sector in Africa is not enough to dent high unemployment, there is nevertheless ample evidence of its potential to drive industrial development if properly used.
“Africa must commit to innovation by exploiting existing knowledge to add value and develop its industrial and technological base. Our continent must create industries that deepen skills and human capital, produce the drugs, vaccines and medical devices needed to bring quality healthcare services to our people, and that enable production of tradable goods that are competitive in regionally integrated markets and also in the global market”, Janneh said.
The four-day conference, which runs from 2-5 May has brought together senior government officials including cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, National Assembly Speakers as well as Science and Technology experts from the continent and beyond. The Second Session of CODIST also provides a good opportunity to discuss the potential of geospatial and space-related technology for Africa’s development. Notably, advances in space technology have impacted positively on natural resource management, oil and gas, urban planning and in combating climate change.
