While the Nepad e-Africa Commission says ICT projects in Africa will be strengthened as it is integrated into the African Union, analysts disagree over whether the shift will push ICT projects or hinder ICT in Africa.
The Nepad secretariat is currently being integrated into the African Union (AU), while Nepad is being transformed into the Nepad Planning and Coordinating Authority (NPCA) as part of the process. Directorates will be created within the NPCA and ICT projects are expected to fall under the energy and infrastructure directorate.
While Nepad e-Africa communications manager Eric Foadey notes that the integration will lead to the strengthening of ICT projects, one analyst says the focus on ICT will be diluted.
World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck notes that, while Nepad has been fairly successful in pushing the ICT agenda, it hasn't been able to produce much-needed results. The specialised ICT focus will be lost through the integration plan, he notes.
Goldstuck adds that the AU has historically struggled for funding and is not renowned for its leadership, and this will not help ICT projects in the future.
Nepad, through the e-Africa Commission, has fibre-optic projects in East and West Africa, as well as national backbone projects meant to interconnect landlocked countries with the undersea cable. The commission also runs an e-schools project in collaboration with the private sector.
It also heads the Kigali Protocol; an agreement aimed at the interconnection of the national terrestrial fibre projects in 23 countries in Africa, but has struggled to reach its objective and secured only eight countries.
Funding woes?
Frost & Sullivan ICT analyst Mpho Moyo notes that, while the AU has struggled with funding, the political backing from AU members could ease funding issues. She explains that Nepad has struggled to secure funding from donors, but the backing of the AU would be a “platform to get the necessary funding”.
Nepad projects and major infrastructure projects can expect more government support, following integration into the AU, she notes. The move is a commitment to drive development on the continent and will have positive results for Africa.
Foadey says Nepad will receive part of its funding from the AU and will be allowed to raise funds unilaterally. The aim will be to create an ICT component in all of the NPCA sectors, and funding will have to be secured for these projects, he adds.
Goldstuck, however, says it still remains doubtful that the AU will be able to fund major ICT projects in the continent.
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