eThink Tank and IT Policy

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eThink Tank and IT Policy

• Public Policy Dialogue
• Karimjee Hall, 24 November 2000
• Presented by Simbo Ntiro

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Introductions

• Simbo Ntiro, IT Director for KPMG Tanzania
• Was to be joined by
• David Sawe, Director of MIS for Civil Service
  Department, and
• Ali Mufuruki, Chairman and CEO of Infotech Group
  of Companies

3
Background of eThink Tank

• An informal group of Tanzanians with a common
  vision
• First meeting on 8 February 2000
• Information Document published on 22 June 2000
  and is available on the Internet
• Regular meetings, usually weekly
• Open to all

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Why form eThink Tank?

• Public educational institutions lack computers
• No focal point for ICT and no leadership
• Inappropriate policies, regulations and laws
• Little coordination of national IT projects
• No regional harmonisation of policy
• Basic ICT infrastructure is poor and limited
• Some commercial ICT initiatives not feasible
• Policy, regulatory and legal framework does not
  stimulate ICT for development

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How can ICT help Tanzanias development?

• Improving the quality and content of education by
  distance-learning country-wide
• Cheaply circulating information by email instead
  of paper
• Sale of Tanzanian products over the internet with
  better prices and at reduced cost, to larger
  markets
• Improving the quality of health care by
  disseminating relevant information quickly and
  cheaply
• Introducing eGovernment to improve the quality,
  speed, and range of services delivered
• Introducing eCommerce to reduce the cost of
  purchasing products
• Improving the quality of agricultural extension
  services
• Introduce new commercial opportunities
• Promote productivity (efficiency, effectiveness,
  and reliability)

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What is the impact of NOT intervening in ICT
policy?

• Expensive computers and accessories because of
  high taxation
• Inadequate training in the use of technology
• Poor penetration of telephone lines and digital
  access to the internet
• Hollowing out of industries resulting in
  reduced taxation and revenue to government
• Poor infrastructure because of un-informed
  decisions
• Our workers are not competitive as they lack
  appropriate skills
• Unable to participate effectively in the new
  Internet economy

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Our Mission
Offer ICT leadership by catalysing policy changes
and by supporting related developments aimed at
enabling Tanzanians to participate effectively in
the modern Internet-based global economy,
benefiting their Nation and partners
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Our goals

• Phase I. To establish a national ICT organisation
  with mandate from the Government. Organisation to
  is to become the ICT focal point for Tanzania by
  remaining in the public domain while bringing
  together diverse stakeholders to contribute to
  ICT policy development at national and
  international levels
• Phase II. To educate, support, and advise the
  national ICT organisation in all its ICT
  activities at the national and international
  level for the benefit of Tanzanians, whilst
  assisting in the formation of working groups
  focused on ICT development

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National ICT Organisation will

• Have Government mandate for ICT at national and
  international levels, and drive relevant policy
  changes
• Be a public private partnership that is NOT
  part of Government, but has the mandate of
  Government and key ICT Stakeholders on furthering
  ICT for Tanzanias development
• Be Tanzanias ICT focal point and link to
  international ICT organisations
• Safeguard Tanzanias unique characteristics
  including its sovereignty, diversities, unity,
  culture, and social values in the globally
  networked world
• Maintain a view of global and regional strategic
  perspectives to assure cross-border alignment of
  significant ICT initiatives and interdependencies

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National ICT Organisation activites

• Stimulate Tanzanians to develop and propagate
  content on the Internet that is relevant to them,
  that addresses local issues, reflects Tanzanias
  cultural diversity, and their social values
• Educate the Tanzanian public on benefits of ICTs
  and the way business is increasingly conducted in
  the new global economy
• Establish working groups focused on ICT
  development including on legal, regulatory,
  technical, cultural and social, education,
  economics, trade, and finance
• Be the focal point to address emerging issues or
  trends that relate to ICTs. For example
  cross-border taxation within the context of
  global eCommerce
• Monitor the development, implementation, and
  evaluation of standards, policies and regulations
  related to ICT, incorporating stakeholder
  requirements for their benefit
• Monitor the proposed investments in ICT-enabling
  infrastructure, incorporating stakeholder
  requirements for the greater national benefit

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Progress in achieving mission

• CSD and UNDP are supporting / funding eThink Tank
  to establish the national ICT organisation
• Becoming a focal point for ICT in Tz
• Agreed an Interim Steering Committee and
  eSecretariat
• Engaging in dialogue with interested parties and
  participating in ICT initiatives
• Participating in DOT Force

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Proposed organisational arrangements

• Interim Steering Committee
• Ali Mufuruki eThink Tank
• CSD to be assigned
• UNDP to be assigned

• CSD
• Link to Government
• Institutional arrange-ments under PSRP
• UNDP
• Resources
• Facilitation

• eThink Tank
• Establish self-funded Association
• Guidance, oversight, validation
• Continue to meet
• Provide input as relevant

• Services to eSecretariat
• ICT tools
• Legal advice
• HR consultancy
• IEC consultancy
• Other consultancy
• Office accommodation

• eSecretariat
• Oversight Management to be recruited
• Regulatory / Legal to be recruited
• Information, Education, Communication to be
  recruited
• Technology to be recruited
• Administration and accounting - to be recruited
• UNDP Advisor to be assigned

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Tanzanias involvement in the Digital Opportunity
Task Force

• DOT Force was set up in the G8 talks in Okinawa
  in July 2000
• DOT Force intends to eliminate the digital divide
  between developed and developing countries by
  taking concrete collective steps on
• Fostering policy, regulatory, and network
  readiness
• Improving connectivity, increasing access and
  lowering cost
• Building human capacity
• Encouraging participation in global eCommerce
  networks
• There is significant funding for DOT Force
  activities
• Tanzania among other developing countries was
  nominated to DOT Force last week, and two
  delegates are in Tokyo for the first meeting on
  27 November 2000. Others are Bolivia, Brazil,
  China, India, Indonesia, Senegal, and South
  Africa
• DOT Force will report to the G8 in Genoa, Italy
  in July 2001

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More information and how to contact us

• Information Document and other documents of
  interest on
• www.cats-net.com/ethinktank/
• http//ethinktank.intafrica.com
• www.raha.com/ethinktank/
• Contact people
• Simbo Ntiro Simbo.Ntiro_at_eThinkTankTz.org
• David Sawe David.Sawe_at_eThinkTankTz.org