FYI

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Date sent:              Tue, 10 Dec 2002 11:21:48 +0100
Send reply to:          "African Network of IT Experts and Professionals (ANITEP) List"
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From:                   Leo Van Audenhove <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:                Digital divide and ICTs in Africa
To:                     [log in to unmask]

Dear All,

hope this can be of interest.

FYI - Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are
increasingly filtering through into every day lives of people
throughout the world. However a lot of people are lagging behind
regarding their access to these ICTs and the underlying
infrastructure; and regarding their capacity to afford, maintain and
use these ICTs. This is creating a digital divide which can have
far-reaching consequences. For ICTs give access to information. This
information can lead to knowledge. And knowledge is a prerequisite
for development. Therefore ICTs are considered to be promising
technologies that can be one of the tools to stop the ongoing
underdevelopment of some regions in the world.

In the book 'The digital divide in developing countries: towards an
information society in Africa' the editors have brought together a
selection of articles centred around the changing communications
landscape and the digital divide in Africa. Some authors point at the
possibilities of ICTs for Africa to become part of the global
information society. Others are warning for too optimistic scenarios
and are arguing that the way to go is long, difficult and
problematic. In general this book is presenting an overview of the
different discourses and scenarios linked to the information society
in Africa. The book is mainly written by African authors.

The book is published by VUBPress, Free University Brussels in
co-production with SMIT (Studies on Media Informationan and
Telecommunication) and UN-ECA (United Nations - Economic Commission
for Africa).
ISBN 90 5487 310 8 (Europe)
ISBN 92 1 125084 6 (Africa)
Email: [log in to unmask]

Table of Contents:
Introduction
        Gert Nulens, Nancy Hafkin, Leo Van Audenhove and Bart
Cammaerts (editors)
Part I: Scenarios towards an Information Society in Africa
Telecommunication and Information Society Policy in Africa. The
dominant scenario reassessed.
Leo Van Audenhove, Gert Nulens, Jean Claude Burgelman and Bart Cammaerts
Globalisation and the Information Age:  Role of the African
Information Society Initiative
Karima Bounemra Ben Soltane
Part II: Challenges and Opportunities of ICTs in Africa
Globalization and the Information Economy: Challenges and
Opportunities for Africa
Catherine Nyaki Adeya and Derrick L. Cogburn
Policies and Strategies for Accelerating Africa's  Information
Infrastructure Development
Michael R. Jensen
Democratizing Access to the Information Society
Aida Opoku-Mensah
Information and Communication Technologies for Improved Governance in Africa
Bhavya Lal, Gary Gaumer and Salamao Manhica Part III: Case studies: Practises
and Policies in Africa Using Information and Communication Technologies for
development at centres in rural communities: lessons learned Pieter Conradie
Information and Communication Technologies and African Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) Aida Opoku-Mensah Foundations for an Information Society
in
Zimbabwe Eric Mazango The Information Society in Egypt Sherif Kamel Postface:
The African Information Society Initiative: Origins and Assessment Nancy Hafkin


Kind regards
Gert Nulens
Leo Van Audenhove



--
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dr. Leo Van Audenhove
Researcher - Advisor SMIT/TNO-STB

Studies on Media, Information and Telecommunication
Vrije Universiteit Brussel-Free University Brussels
Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
Tel Office: ++32.2.6292415 - Fax ++32.2.6292861
Mobile: ++32.479/753236
E-mail:  [log in to unmask]
http://www.vub.ac.be/SCOM/smit/smit.html

TNO Strategy, Technology and Policy
Schoemakerstraat 97, 2628 VK Delft
Postbus 6030, 2600 JA Delft, the Netherlands
Tel +31/15/2696900
http://www.stb.tno.nl/
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