Bridging the Information Technology Divide in Africa

-Congressman Ed Royce, U.S. House of Representatives: June 14, 2001

Many Africans and others are concerned that African countries are being left behind as information and communications technology continues to transform economic, social, and cultural developments worldwide. Africa lags behind other regions of the world in usage of the Internet, the most powerful medium for mass communication the world has ever known. The international community is increasingly focused on this "digital divide," being particular aware that Information Technology (IT) is a significant factor in attracting foreign investment and fueling economic growth. The World Bank reported in 1995 that, "The information revolution offers Africa a dramatic opportunity to leapfrog into the future, breaking out of decades of stagnation or decline." It warned though that, "Africa must seize this opportunity, quickly. If African countries cannot make advantage of the information revolution and surf this great wave of technological change, they may be crushed by it."

The concern is that without IT tools, Africa will be unable to expand, or even maintain, its already very low level of engagement with the world marketplace. Africa also risks forgoing the advantages IT brings to confronting educational, health, governance and other challenges. These concerns led the U.S. Agency for International for Development to launch its Leland Initiative in 1996. The Initiative aims to promote Internet connectivity in Africa. This hearing aims to assess the Leland Initiative, while exploring the potential of IT in Africa and the roadblocks to its expansion.

Information technology is already bringing benefits to Africa. These include:

~ Improved flow of information. Some 120 African newspapers and newsmagazines are now available on-line.

~ Job creation. A major U.S. health insurer is now processing claims in Ghana using telecomputing technology.

~ Economic integration. A West African women's fishing cooperative has set up a web site to enable its 7,000 members to monitor export markets and negotiate prices with overseas buyers.

~ Education. Medical students in Senegal are being instructed by doctors in Belgium via video link.

~ Accountability. The Southern Africa Development Council's Parliamentary Forum is using the Internet to encourage greater government accountability. This effort addresses issues of conflict resolution, HIV/AIDS, regional economic integration, and parliamentary cooperation and oversight. Democracy activists throughout Africa are using e-mail to press for democratic change.

Unfortunately, while there has been considerable IT expansion on the continent over the last decade -- every African country now enjoys Internet connectivity -- Africa is not expanding its IT as rapidly as the rest of the world. While Africa has an estimated 2.6 percent of the world's Internet connections today. This figure is expected to decrease to 1 percent by 2005. The World Bank, USAID and other institutions have been focused on aiding African governments in establishing a regulatory environment encouraging of critical IT investment. This means liberalization. Added challenges to IT expansion in Africa include training, affordability, and illiteracy.

Despite the benefits of IT, some have questioned whether its development should be a priority for African countries. Why, some ask, should resources be devoted to IT when tens of millions of Africans lack running water and electricity? Others, and I include myself in this camp, believe that IT development now is largely a matter of private sector investment, hence it is not a public sector resource drain, and that IT is increasingly central to economic growth, which is a prerequisite to addressing the health, environment, government and myriad other challenges Africa faces. We should also weigh that fact that African governments appear committed to developing the continent's IT infrastructure.

Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) is chair of the House Subcommittee on Africa. He can be reached via his web site.