A number of the African countries have adopted a strategic focus in the development of their respective Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) policies. This approach is based on the argument that for most underdeveloped African countries, there is the need to use ICTs as a broad-base enabler of their socio-economic development process as well as putting in place policies and programs to develop their ICT sector and industry. For example, a number of them, including Zambia, Rwanda, Nigeria, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Ghana among many others have directed their respective Information Communications and Technology for Development (ICT4D) policies at both the development of their ICT sector and as well as focusing on using ICTs as an enabler of broad-base development focusing on other sectors of the economy.
The use of ICTs to facilitate the development of the key sectors of the economy other than the ICT sector constitutes the main effort of most African countries directed at using ICTs, among other things, to address a number of developmental goals like the MDGs.
It is envisaged that the simultaneous focus of developing the ICT sector and industry while at the same time using ICTs to drive other sectors of the economy can accelerate the development of these countries faster and spread the social impact much faster than a single focus on the development of the ICT sector. In other words, the argument being put forward is that the chances of making progress towards the achievement of the MDGs through the use of ICTs is much greater with the dual focus approach than would be the case with the single focus approach.
Although the majority of African countries have not and perhaps did not directly address within their ICT4D policies the question of the use of ICTs to achieve the MDGs, a number of them identified within their policy document focus areas or pillars that have relevance to the achievement of the MDGs. For example, a number of ICT4D policies listed some of the developmental goals being targeted through the use of ICTs as: poverty reduction and eradication; provision of health services including primary health care; promotion of education including primary education, economic development, universal access to technological resources and services; promotion of gender equality; environmental protection among others.
The assumption is that efforts being made by African countries within their respective ICT4D processes to facilitate their socio-economic development through ICTs could impact on the achievement of a number of the MDGs. With this said, I wish to share a few ways that I think ICTs can facilitate accountability and transparency, citizen engagement, and public debate, all of which are necessary to bring about development, improvement, and achieve the MDGs. Obviously these are not the only ways ICTs can support the MDGs, but I feel that these are key issues that must be embraced among others.
1. Enhancing municipal services and information management
Civil registration documents, especially a birth certificate, are a precursor to demanding any number of rights or accessing a wide array of services. Without a birth certificate, a child may not be able to sit for school exams, receive immunizations or free health care, or claim rights to inheritance or legal protection in the courts of law. Proof of age is critical in successfully prosecuting perpetrators of crimes against children such as child trafficking, sexual violence and/or offences, early recruitment into the armed forces, child marriage and child labor.
2. Defining resources and mapping patterns for better decision-making
Tracking and visualizing information is an excellent way to improve decision-making capacity. The advent of simpler and open source participatory digital mapping tools allows community members to map their communities digitally and to have more ownership of the information. Mapping helps identify patterns that may not have been visible before. Local maps shared on-line allow local people to provide their own information from their own perspective, and that information serves multiple purposes at the local level and beyond. Digital mapping can be helpful when governments decentralize. District authorities can track their own initiatives and those by local and international organizations to avoid duplication of efforts and wasted resources. When maps are public, the population can better demand answers about where resources are being allocated and why.
3. Endorsing accountability and transparency
ICTs are useful to support accountability and transparency, necessary for attempts to track and ensure good use of funding for different efforts, including those related to the MDGs and other aid and development programs. Making information more available to the public by mobile is one such way.
4. Engrossing children and youth in the development process
An engrossed and active population is a key ingredient for good development programs. Children and the youth have much to offer, are directly targeted in the MDGs and many other development initiatives, offer valuable ideas and energy, and make up around half the population in many of the countries that are lagging in reaching the MDGs. ICTs can help children and youth engage in the development process and bring their ideas, opinions and voices alive at the community, district, national and global level. ICTs empower young people with skills that make them more confident and more involved at the community level.
5. Pulling in quick information to guide further investigation, response, or advocacy; pushing out information for targeted actions
ICTs can be used to gather quick information from a broad population. This can be useful in a variety of situations and themes, including those outlined in the MDGs. For example, SMSs are being used to report on whether teachers are showing up at school, where violence against children and women is happening, where help is needed in the aftermath of a disaster, and for tracking endangered wildlife. Crowd sourced information can help governments and agencies get preliminary information so that further investigation and support can be provided in a particular area. Another example is the use of mobiles in different health initiatives, including: child-birth care; HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment programs; support for volunteer community healthcare workers; and bed net treatment reminders.