Information Technology and the Challenge of Economic Development in Africa
RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE
In an era of dwindling resources, development through knowledge assumes more importance. In this context, the African Development Bank must rein
force its role as a knowledge and research centre for information and analysis on Africa's socio-economic issues. The emergence of knowledge as one of the most important resources in the global economy has lent more support to this role.
In this regard, the Bank's flagship publication, the African Development Report, which is now published on behalf of the Bank by Oxford University Press, pro
vides an authoritative annual survey of economic and social progress in Africa and is becoming a major source of analysis and information for policy-makers, businessmen, and economists interested in the continent. The Bank also pub
lishes the African Development Review, a bi-annual professional journal devoted to the study and analysis of development issues in Africa. To enhance its role as a knowledge centre, the Bank's human institutional capacity for research will need to be enhanced while at the same time pursuing greater networking with African development research centres.
To further its role as a knowledge centre, the Bank is making available — through the internet — its publications as well as the large body of information
Information Technology and the Challenge of Economic Development in Africa 73
and data that it has compiled over the years to African research institutions, pol
icy practitioners and individual researchers. The Bank Group could also dissemi
nate knowledge on the use of information technology and its applications to the various fields of development and share its knowledge on best practices from all over the continent and across production, services and social sectors. This could be facilitated through the development of networks with stakeholders and other relevant regional and international institutions around the world.
An information resource centre drawing on expertise in research, library and technology could be created within the Bank to monitor, compile, study and disseminate knowledge on the developmental applications of information tech
nology. The library will need to be upgraded as a major information resource centre that can develop and maintain databases and document collection via electronic networking. As the premier African development finance institution, the Bank is investing in state-of-the-art information technologies such as high performing workstations and computers, file servers, fibre optic cabling, modern office automation hardware and software, electronic mail capability, and reliable and cost-effective telecommunications. The recent overhauling of the Bank's computers and information systems that provide regional and worldwide links with member countries and other stakeholders, the private sector and academic and research institutions was a welcome development. It is also important to note the creation of the Bank's web site and installation of the Bank's own tele
communication satellite, which improved the quality and capacity of external telephone communications as well as connectivity to the internet and e-mail services. These investments coupled with efforts to increase the Bank's role as a research and knowledge centre on African development issues should enable the institution to harness information and knowledge to meet the development challenges facing African countries in the 21st century.
Conclusions
Information technology is rapidly changing economic and social activities. It provides opportunities and challenges for making progress with accelerated growth and poverty reduction in Africa. The emerging global infrastructure could make it increasingly possible for students to study and carry out research using electronic networks to reach remote universities and libraries. Physicians could remote-view entire images and patient data, diagnose diseases and per
form consultations with outside sites. Decision makers would be able to pro
mote effective economic management and good governance; and for businesses
74 African E-Economic
to complete more effectively with timely and accurate market information, to name a few. For Africa, information and telecommunication innovations pres
ent opportunities for "leapfrog" strategies that could accelerate the development of the continent. To exploit these opportunities, African countries need, as a matter of priority, to upgrade their capabilities through the improvement of their telecommunication infrastructures and the acquisition of computer and computer related equipment. National institutions responsible for data collec
tion and processing need to be strengthened and their traditional information collection and dissemination structures need to be modernised if they are to participate fully in the international information evolution. Sub-regional trade information systems would need to be improved to provide meaningful backing to national efforts in this area.
Governments have to facilitate information transmission and connectivity to the global infrastructure by passing the necessary laws and regulations. Govern
ments need to create the supportive external environment for promoting the use of information technology. It will be essential to reduce or abolish import taxes on information technology hardware such as computers, printers, satellites, televisions and radios. In some African countries, such equipment are treated as luxury items and, hence, heavily taxed. The numerous long-term benefits from encouraging the use of information technology through the reduction of taxes on hardware would more than offset the loss of government revenue. These desired improvements need to be pursued within the framework of comprehen
sive national or sub-regional plans to link African countries to each other and to the global information technology infrastructure. Within the framework of such plans, there is a strong case for earmarking the proceeds that arise from the privatisation of public telecommunications to support the computerisation of the economy and improve its accessibility to global information. In these and other related objectives, the African Development Bank Group could play a leading role through project financing, mobilising foreign resources, advisory services and technical assistance. The Bank Group needs to develop the capac
ity to respond quickly and flexibly respond to the changing needs of its member countries. In this regard, information and knowledge must be viewed as strategic resources. To perform its role as strategic advisor and knowledge centre on Afri
can development policy issues, the Bank must develop and maintain appropriate human, information and telecommunication infrastructure assets.
Information Technology and the Challenge of Economic Development in Africa 75
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CHAPTER 4