Dear all, Here is the latest issue of the APC Africa ICT Policy Monitor e-updates No. 8, a selection of the latest content added to the Africa ICT Policy Monitor Website chosen by our editors. The content is categorised by theme and country to allow you to view items in the following main sections of the website; - News - Information - Upcoming Events Do send us your feedback, comments or news on ICT policy issues and we will be glad to add these onto the Africa ICT Policy Monitor Website. Kind Regards, Editor APC Africa Policy Monitor Website http://africa.rights.apc.org/ //\//\//\//\//\//\/ - NEWS - //\//\//\//\//\//\/ News > Access & Telecommunications Kenyan youths take on net skills <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ne_1&x=33444> 29/05/2005 (BBC <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4584231.stm>) -- A project offering business skills to impoverished Kenyan youths has been recognised with a prestigious award. The non-profit Global Education Partnership - Wundanyi won the $7,500 (£4,213) Africa Hafkin Communications Prize. Nigeria: Telephone Lines to Hit 20m By Year End <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ne_1&x=33415> 27/05/2005 (ThisDay <http://www.thisdayonline.com>) -- Telephone lines in Nigeria may hit the 20 million mark from the current level of 12.1 million by year end, Vice President Atiku has said. And to deal with the problem of acquisition of handsets, the Federal Government is working in collaboration with a Chinese firm, ZTE to begin local production of handsets by end of December. Kenyans to enjoy faster Internet services as backbone is launched <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ne_1&x=33343> 23/05/2005 (East African <http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafrican/>) -- Kenyans will now experience a faster transmission of electronic mail within the country, and speedy browsing of websites. * News > Content and Language* New initiative to promote content creation in South Africa <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21871ne_1&x=33592> 30/05/2005 (HANA <http://www.highwayafrica.ru.ac.za/hana/index.asp>) -- The LINK Centre at Wits University in South Africa and the Centre for Technology and Society of Brazil have announced a collaborative project to boost production of local content in countries of the South.With funding from the Ford Foundation, the "Building the Southern dialogue on intellectual property, media and culture" project which begins in June 2005 will over the next year, engage several stakeholders in creating content relevant to the South. News > Intellectual Property WIPO launches opportunity for stakeholders to participate in IP policy debate <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21868ne_1&x=33554> 01/06/2005 (WIPO <http://www.wipo.int/>) -- The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will host an online forum on Intellectual Property in the Information Society - from June 1 to 15, 2005. The forum will provide a unique opportunity for all to contribute to the emerging debate on the value of intellectual property in the information society. Patents: Do they boost or break development? <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21868ne_1&x=33594> 27/05/2005 (HANA <http://www.highwayafrica.ru.ac.za/>) -- Are patents and copyrights helping or hindering development in Africa? That was the debate that took centre stage at the first session of the final day of the Common Sense conference currently underway at Wits University in Johannesburg. News > Internet Governance WIPO Recommends Uniform Mechanism to Regulate Domain Name Registrations <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21869ne_1&x=33600> 01/06/2005 (WIPO <http://www.wipo.int/>) -- The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has recommended the introduction of a uniform intellectual property (IP) protection mechanism designed to further curb unauthorized registration of domain names in all new generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs). This came in a report by WIPO's Arbitration and Mediation Center (WIPO Center) on the IP implications of introducing additional generic Top-Level Domains (new gTLDs). News > Laws and Regulation Nigeria: Regulator envisages efficient service delivery <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=33489> 31/05/2005 (BusinessDay <http://www.businessdayonline.com>) -- The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC says attaining efficiency in the telecom sector would form the bedrock of its strategic thrust for the next three years. This is contained in a presentation to the National Political Reform Conference Committee on Social Infrastructure for national development by Ernest Ndukwe, the executive vice chairman of the NCC. Botswana: Quality of telco services remains questionable <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=33337> 25/05/2005 (Mmegi <http://www.mmegi.bw/>) -- Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) operations are less cost efficient than its fixed line operators in similar countries, a draft report policy on the regulations of utilities and infrastructure revealed last week. South Africa: ICASA says telecoms shake-up threatens its independence <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=33339> 25/05/2005 (BusinessDay <http://www.businessday.co.za/>) -- The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) yesterday (24/05/05) criticised a planned shake-up of the telecommunications industry, saying it threatened the regulator's independence. Kenya: Competition a Challenge for Regulator - CCK <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=33341> 24/05/2005 (Daily Nation <http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/>) -- The new board Communication Commission of Kenya board appointed two weeks ago faces unique challenges. The telecommunications, IT and broadcasting industries are rapidly converging. News > Media Tunisian media: second private radio station to start broadcasting, depot legal abolished <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21872ne_1&x=33590> 27/05/2005 (Tunisia Online <http://www.tunisiaonline.com/>) -- President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali announced today (May 27) the launching of a new private radio station and the abolition of the procedure of legal submission of press publications (depôt legal). At Long Last Swaziland has Draft Media Policy <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21872ne_1&x=33205> 20/05/2005 (AMARC Africa <http://africa.amarc.org/>) -- The justification for the national media policy is the presence of a policy vacuum in the mass media sector and an existing legislative framework characterized by outdated and sometimes conflicting laws with regard to the access to information in the hands of public or private bodies and/or their representatives; official secrecy; the right to individual privacy; libel and defamation. News > National ICT Strategies Rwanda: Information technology to drive development <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21873ne_1&x=33578> 01/06/2005 (NewVision <http://www.newvision.co.ug/>) -- The government of Rwanda recognises the role information and communication technologies (ICTs) play in accelerating the socio-economic development. The Rwanda cabinet adopted the National Information and Communication Infrastructure (NICI) Policy and Plan in 2000. Botswana: Information conference to bridge digital divide <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21873ne_1&x=33413> 26/05/2005 (Mmegi <http://www.mmegi.bw/>) -- The consultative conference on the National Policy for Information Technology Development is a landmark for consulting the public about the information policy and empowering Batswana on ICT, the Minister of Information, Science and Technology has said. Tanzania: ICT missing link in agriculture, says Lowassa <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21873ne_1&x=33114> 20/05/2005 (IPPMedia <http://www.ippmedia.com>) -- Lack of or poor Information Communication Technology (ICT) and disorganised marketing systems have limited the growth of agricultural sector, the Minister of Water and Livestock Development, Edward Lowassa, said yesterday. News > Training and Education Uganda: NEPAD to launch e-school in Uganda in July <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21878ne_1&x=33576> 02/06/2005 (NewVision <http://www.newvision.co.ug/>) -- Johannesburg, wednesday - A consortium headed by HP has announced that the first Nepad e-school is to be launched in Uganda next month. The announcement, made at the World Economic Forum Africa Summit in Cape Town this week, comes two years after the Nepad e-schools project was first publicly launched at the 2003 African Economic Summit in Durban. Zambia: Computer Society draft bill finalised <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21875ne_1&x=33574> 01/06/2005 (The Zambia Post <http://www.post.co.zm/>) -- The Computer Society of Zambia (CSZ) has finalised drafting the proposed CSZ Bill, society president Milner Makuni has revealed. The bill Bill aims to empower the society to regulate and set standards for practitioners in the information and communication technology (ICT) field and also augment the yet to be enacted computer misuse Bill. News > Software South Africa in key open source project <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21876ne_1&x=33500> 31/05/2005 (ITWeb <http://www.itweb.co.za>) -- The University of the Western Cape (UWC) and the Council for Industrial and Scientific Research (CSIR) are SA's representatives in a European Union-funded international research project on free and open source software. South Africa: Task team set up to act on open source <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21876ne_1&x=33586> 27/05/2005 (BusinessDay <http://www.businessday.co.za>) -- The potential for open-source software to help poor and undeveloped countries use technology to advance their economies recently drew 30 standard-bearers from Africa, Asia and Australasia to an open-source workshop in Pretoria. Delegates agreed that open source could reduce the digital divide through its low start-up costs and the adaptability of the source code to let programs be written in a user's mother tongue. *News > WSIS* Tunis seminar prepares the ground for participation by the handicapped to WSIS <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=29740ne_1&x=33588> 01/06/2005 (Tunisia Online <http://www.tunisiaonline.com>) -- Facilitating the participation of the handicapped to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was among the key topics discussed in a Tunis seminar. <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=29740s21809e_1> //\//\//\//\//\//\/ -INFORMATION & RESOURCES - //\//\//\//\//\//\/ Free/Libre and Open Source Software and Open Standards in South Africa: A Critical Issue for Addressing the Digital Divide <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=33556> 01/06/2005 -- The National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) Open Software Working Group have produced a discussion document called "Free/Libre & Open Source Software (FLOSS) and Open Standards in South Africa: A Critical Issue for Addressing the Digital Divide". New Generation of Policy Development: The Case of Multi-stakeholder ICT Policy Process in Kenya <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=33349> 26/05/2005 -- It is becoming increasingly clear that no one sector can deliver the complexities of sustainable development alone as a result the structure of decision making processes is changing provoked by ICTs, globalization and other factors that are influencing the nature of traditionally governed national, regional as well as international institutions. The concept of "sovereignty is therefore changing and the monopoly of the state as the sole decision making organ is becoming increasingly challenged even in African countries. Checks and Balances:Why phone calls should be cheaper in Africa <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=33598> 12/05/2005 -- It is estimated that African telecom operators are cheated for revenues totalling more than US$ 1 billion from their northern counterparts, who are not properly billed when international calls are made to Africa. These losses are a major reason behind the stiff pricing of international calls for Africans. The lack of up-to-date billing systems between telecoms is held responsible. New book: How to Build Open Information Societies: A collection of best practices and know-how <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=33347> 26/05/2005 -- (Edited by Amy Mahan & Yuri Misnikov) presents a collection of knowledge-based best practices accumulated by UNDP in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Case studies and examples from 19 countries illustrate different e-governance programmes and applications - from a diverse range of initiatives including support for policy formulation, customs reform, youth sexual education, rural deployment of ICTs and training, country database building, and others. New release: How to Build Open Information Societies <http://www.ecissurf.org/index.cfm?module=BookStore&page=Book&BookID=89> 24/05/2004 -- This book presents a collection of knowledge-based best practices accumulated by UNDP in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Its main purpose is to identify and share UNDP's know-how in this rapidly emerging area, by showing how ICT can promote socio-economic development and good governance. An African guide to Creative Commons <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=33596> 27/05/2005 -- The Digital Information Commons: An African Participants Guide was launched yesterday (26th May) at LINKS Centre here in Johannesburg in a bid to popularise the Creative Common (cc) movement on the African continent. ICTs and the MDGs: On the Wrong Track? <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=33345> 26/05/2005 -- The purpose of this article is to prompt some questioning of current "e-development" priorities. We have too readily assumed the Millennium Development Goals must be the priority for application of ICTs. Yet the MDGs themselves can be challenged, as can the relevance of applying ICTs to those goals. This article will argue that we ought at least to be considering some different priorities if we want to make most effective use of the opportunities that new technology affords. Bridges.org study identifies harsh realities of using free/open source software (FOSS) and proprietary software in public computer labs in Africa <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=33406> 26/05/2005 -- A desire to promote equal access to information and communication technology (ICT) has led to a variety of projects bringing computers to the disadvantaged in Africa. Many put computer labs in public places like schools and community centres. But these projects face a range of practical realities -- from poor infrastructure to a lack of technical support -- and the choice of appropriate technology can be a make-or-break factor. So it is crucial that decision-makers behind these efforts carefully weigh the pros and cons of different technologies and their suitability for the local context. The choice of software is one of the core issues. State of media freedom in southern Africa 2004 <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=32662> 06/05/2005 -- This eleventh instalment of So This Is Democracy? documents the numerous media freedom and freedom of expression violations that MISA recorded in the southern African region in 2004. The documentation and exposure of these media freedom alerts help turn the spotlights from around the world squarely on those responsible for human rights violations. This can make a significant difference, as those who violate human rights often rely on the cover of darkness. FXI's Anti-Censorship Programme releases fifth progress report <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=32251> 21/04/2005 -- The Anti-Censorship Programme (ACP) of the Freedom of Expression Institute has just released its fifth progress report, covering the period October 2004 to March 2005. In it, the Programme noted that is was pleased to announce that there was progress in regards to some of the matters in which it have intervened in the recent past. //\//\//\//\//\//\/ - UPCOMING EVENTS - //\//\//\//\//\//\/ *23/06/2005*, Rwanda <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21845e_1> The 2nd Rwanda ICT Convention: Theme: "e-Government: the Driving Force for Socio-Economical Development" <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=32163> Organized by AITEC in association with the Rwanda Information Technology Authority (RITA). This premier conference and exhibition focuses on meeting the challenges of putting electronic government into practice. *28/06/2005*, Kenya <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21843e_1> ICTe AFRICA 1st Continental Exhibition, Conference and Media Event <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=31278> All Global roads lead to Nairobi, Kenya where ICTe AFRICA hosts the inaugural continental ICT fair in partnership with the African Telecommunication Union (ATU) and the Union of Radio and Television Organisation of Africa (URTNA). *05/07/2005*, Nigeria <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21833e_1> Africa Regional preparatory meeting for the World Telecommunication development Conference (WTDC-06), Abuja (Nigeria), 5-7 July 2005 <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=33449> Africa Regional preparatory meeting for the World Telecommunication development Conference (WTDC-06), will be held in Abuja (Nigeria), 5-7 July 2005. The objective of these meetings is to adopt appropriate development strategies at regional and subregional level. //\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\// ABOUT APC The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is an international network of civil society organisations dedicated to empowering and supporting groups and individuals through the strategic use of information and communication technologies, especially internet-related technologies. APC and its members in more than 30 countries pioneer practical and relevant uses of ICTs for civil society. APC is an international facilitator of civil society's engagement with ICTs and related concerns, in both policy and practice. APC: http://www.apc.org. APC and ICT Policy Advocacy in Africa APC's Communications and Information Policy Programme aims to contribute to more enabling ICT policy environments through promoting inclusive policy processes. In Africa APC is doing this through the Africa ICT Policy Monitor project which aims to enable civil society organisations to engage in ICT policy development to promote an information society based on social justice and human rights. APC's Africa ICT Policy Monitor: http://africa.rights.apc.org The APC Africa ICT Policy Monitor is supported by HIVOS and the International Research Development Centre (IDRC). //\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\// ========== HURIDOCS-Tech listserv ========== Send mail intended for the list to <huridocs-tech@hrea.org>. 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