The ICT sector can leverage integration in Africa and provide development opportunities, but it still faces a number of challenges. Globalization and ICT are two major forces that shape the future of the world through elimination of geographical borders, and cross fertilization of cultures and societies. The Information Society constitutes the world of tomorrow, which is in the making today with ICT. ICT is the bedrock and facilitator of economic, social and cultural development, not only bolstering the efficacy of all human activities; but also opening up new horizons, due to their catalytic role in creativity and knowledge exchange. The creation of effective ICT systems and services represents, more particularly for Africa, the springboard absolutely necessary to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by leapfrogging constraints due to the lack of traditional infrastructure and human and financial resources.
PIDA PAP 2 ICT Sector Approach
In accordance with the aspirations of the African Union Agenda 2063 also adopted as the strategic framework for development of the second phase of the Programme for Infrastructure Development Priority Action Plan (PIDA PAP 2), NEPAD-IPPF shall align its selectivity to this overall framework.
New NEPAD-IPPF project selectivity shall broadly be guided by the integrated corridor approach. As defined under the AU PIDA PAP 2 framework, the integrated corridor approach prioritizes projects that improve connectivity between urban and rural areas and link different infrastructure sectors together, which if developed together would cost less and develop cross-sectoral synergies. This approach also emphasizes projects that maximize job creation and climate friendliness.
For the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector this shall comprise ICT infrastructure projects that enable connection of and interdependencies between telecommunication and computer networks of various countries, regions and continents,
which in turn, will contribute in promoting an increased level of Intra African and International Trade as well as Industrial Development. Of specific focus will be projects that are amenable and attractive to the private sector for investment and operation under Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements.
Project Types
The following are examples of projects that fit this sector approach to be supported by the Special Fund:
- Regional Submarine Cables (RSC);
- Terrestrial Fiber Optics (TFO);
- Broadband Communication Equipment (BCE);
- Internet Exchange Points (IEP);
- Regional Data Center (RDC);
- Intelligent Cloud Systems (ICS);
In all the above project types, higher priority will be given to assets that will be structured to attract private sector investments through PPP type arrangements, and those being or planned to be operated under concession contracts.