REPORT
RURAL INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT
ON INFORMATION SOCIETY
HORIZON HOTEL, GOBABIS
22 – 24 SEPTEMBER 2009
GOBABIS, NAMIBIA
Content Page
1. Glossary 2
2. Introduction 3
3. Executive Summary 4
4. Presentations 5
5. Deliberations 15
6. Recommendations 15
7. Next Steps 16
8. Participants’ Evaluation 16
9. Acknowledgement of Donors 16
10. Appendix (Delegates list) 17
GLOSSARY
AIDS Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome
GRN Government of the Republic of Namibia
HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus
ICT Information, Communication and Technology
MoAWF Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry
MoE Ministry of Education
MoICT Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology
MoYNSSC Ministry of Youth National Service, Sports and Culture
NAMCOL Namibia College of Open Learning
NBC Namibia Broadcasting Corporation
NDF Namibia Defence Force
NDP National Development Plan
NPC National Planning Commission
NYC National Youth Council
OSISA Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa
OTC Ounongo Technology Centre
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Introduction
Rapidly growth in information communication and technology is one of the greatest challenges for mostly developing nations who are wrestling with complex issues in relation to sustainable development.
With her small population of about 2 million inhabitants, Namibia has the highest income inequality rate in the world and efforts to breach the gap between the poor and the rich seem, elusive.
Majority of the citizens live in rural areas where abject poverty and inadequate access to public services persist. Taken together, the 1991 population and housing census enumerated 28 percent of the total population in urban and 72 percent in rural areas. In essence, Namibia is still largely a rural population.
It has become apparent that such as a scenario, if not systematically challenged through targeted programs and projects may adversely contribute to stagnated development if not unsustainable efforts.
It is scholarly argued that government and private sector intervention through policy and deliberate empowerment programs is needed to bridge the digital divide between rural areas and urban centres which profoundly purports poverty and underdevelopment.
Although concerted efforts are being made by government, Namibia is still lagging behind in ICT integration.
ICT is still seen as a luxury by many people and while rural populations would prefer to shy away from this revolution, they are unwillingly bundled in the wagon and there seem not be options out there, but to join the information society – ICT is here to stay!
More so, the interaction of rural and urban populations and the inherent relations in commerce and industry exerts pressure on societal formation and might as well be one of the stronger forces prompting the need for integration of nations.
The application of ICT tools is recognised broadly as a fundamental way of assisting citizens to access statutory rights enshrined in their constitution but bring about participatory development and deepening the values of democracy.
ICT is a catalyst tool for economic development and social emancipation for developing countries such as Namibia.
Ounongo technology Centre was founded five years ago to promote development through the application of affordable, relevant ICT tools and solutions in particular targeting the rural populace.
The organization has since set basic infrastructure (community tele-centres) in different constituencies within the region to cater for ICT needs.
Executive Summary
Ounongo Technology Centre, a non-profit making organization focussing in the area of empowering communities with tools and solutions related to information, communication and technology, organized a two day rural international summit in Gobabis, a town situated 200 kilometres east of Windhoek.
The meeting, the first of its kind in the history of Namibia, drew diverse participation from various experts and political leaders who hailed it as a step in the right direction in promoting constructive debate and engagement on topical issues related to ICT and how it impacts on rural population and the youth in particular. About 100 participants attended the 2-day summit deliberating on a wide range of issues pertaining to the pros and cons of ICT in general but with particular reference to rural populations.
Discussions critically centred on areas of access to ICT tools by rural areas which appears to be a major hurdle given the realities of inadequate infrastructure, skills shortage and financing. Rural populations and majority of the youth experience challenges of unemployment, poverty and find themselves humming a wrong tune.
Perhaps, the greatest hurdle is access to basic services such as electricity, roads and expertise in areas such as public health, veterinary services, housing and sometimes even water management is either inadequate or resources are not there to develop infrastructure to draw underground water or maintain existing equipments.
But in all the services, access to electricity even through solar system, holds a major breakthrough for rural remains a problem. While such technology is available in the market, the cost of procuring the equipment, installation and maintenance
prohibitive.
Although the information age or knowledge –based society has become the buzz word for both developing and developed nations, the backlog in service delivery to rural population has become more evident and in the case of ICT tools and unless prompt actions are taken, rural communities will take decades to come at par with their contemporary urban –based citizens.
In simple term, the situation could pose serious backlog and perpetuate the status quo for critical industries such as education, agriculture, small and medium enterprises and health which are cardinal for the advancement of rural communities.
On the other hand the promotion of ITC tools and solutions is seen as a means to reaching rural communities with basic services to enable them to participate optimally in the development of their economy. The rural population is actually seen as an untapped resource which when fully utilised could contribute immensely to the booming of the country’s economy and people.
The presenters hence facilitated discussions on topics such as, how best can rural communities harness the potential of ICTs, access to information and knowledge for development, how ICT can be applied to reach targets of ensuring education for all in particular using E-learning tools, what role can community radios and multimedia centres play in advancing the pace of development toward a fully fledged knowledge-based society. This report captures the deliberations of the summit and resolutions for the way forward in rolling out ICT in rural communities and the challenges thereof.
Presentation Extract
The Governor of Omaheke Region, Honourable Laura Veendapi Mcleod – Katjirua commended Ounongo Technology Centre for organizing the historic event in her region adding that the programs and projects advanced by OTC are making a positive impact on the lives of rural dwellers in particular women and youth.
The Governor acknowledged that access to information and knowledge, culture diversity; linguistic and local contend development and E-learning could become integral cornerstones in integrating ICTs in the regions particularly in complimenting decentralisation program.
In outlining the aims and objectives of the summit, the Manager of Ounongo Technology Centre, Mr. Operi Murangi said the application of ICT tools and solution can improved service delivery; institutionalise democracy and the rule of law.
He said while the rest of the world seem to have embraced ICT tools as a means to empower citizens to participate meaningfully in development programs, rural populations are yet to be counted. Barriers such as language and costs of ICT tools are prohibitive to majority of the citizens in developing nations such as Namibia.
OTC made significant impact in training and capacity building in areas such as basic computer skills development as well as exposing clients particular learners to research tools and other benefits of ICT such as E-mail, websites and emerging platforms such as facebook.
The Secretary General of the National Youth Council, Mandela Kapere challenged the government to recognise the youth as a positive resource and reward their intellectual capacity as an incentive to promote youth empowerment.
He pointed out that rural youth in particular, feel neglected as they wrestle with unemployment, substance abuse and are often on the wrong side of the law. Such scenarios can be changed for the better if the youth can be engaged in constructive activities that bring out the best out of their intellectual reserves.
A nation that does not value its youth, according to Kapere, neglects its future.
He used the platform to encourage the youth to abstain from unprotected sex and to focus their energy in positive activities, using Mr. Operi Murangi as a shining embodiment that attest to the fruits of determination, perseverance and hard-work.
The patron of OTC, Dr. Theophilus Kamupingene said ICT cuts across all spheres of life and hence must be embraced as a way of life particularly for the farming communities to increase profit margins.
He challenged farmers to come out from the closet and take ICT solutions for procurement, marketing, buying and selling their products and produce. He told the participants that ICT has come to stay and urged them to ‘jump in and eventually not die, but enjoy its numerous benefits.’
The patron ended his deliberation by challenging more corporate companies, donor partners, the government and the international community to support OTC in meaningfully playing it role – building a knowledge-based society.
He further applauded the donor partners who supported OTC from conception and continue to assist the organization in achieving its mandate.
Institutions such as OSISA, UNESCO, Government of the Republic of Namibia through various Ministries such as Education, Youth, National Services, Sports and Culture, regional local government and housing and rural development, India High Commission, the National Youth Council, Omaheke Regional Council, Gobabis Municipality and the corporate world such as Pupkewitz Holdings through the foundation, Telecom Namibia, Polytechnic of Namibia and Namcol made a significant contribution to the realisation of the summit and have made commitment to explore areas of further support.
In officially opening the summit, the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Honourable Joel Kaapanda said the meeting came at a very opportune time as the world was increasingly becoming dependent on technology to drive economic and social development.
Kaapanda said the thematic areas addressed by the summit were in conformity with development objectives enumerated in the country’s Vision 2030 and National Development Plans.
The summit further addressed thematic areas and requirements set by the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in amongst others fostering public private community partnership built on people-centred, inclusive and development –oriented information society in Namibia.
The Minister said Namibia has made some improvements in the ICT field on the policy legislative and operational levels, citing the creation of a dedicated Ministry as one of such positive actions.
He succeeding in the implementation of the Ministry’s mandate, a review of ICT policy and regulatory framework was undertaken during 2008.
The Minister agreed acknowledged that the ICT sector in Namibia is need of reform to address issues of costs of telephony, limited bandwidth fragmented, sometimes non-existent policy and a lack of an enabling legal framework.
According to the Minister, Namibia needs to embark upon an accelerated and yet managed liberalisation process to be competitive in the market arena.
The benefits if liberalisation processes include improved quality of service; decrease in the cost of ICT; transparent price information; a healthy telecommunications retail market; improved community access and skills development; infrastructure expansion and increased foreign direct investment.
The government’s vision is to transform Namibia into a knowledge-based, highly competitive, industrialised and eco-friendly nation with sustainable economic growth and high quality of life by 2030.
The mission is to ensure that every citizen and resident shall have affordable access to high quality information and communication services to meet these outlined objectives;
· Enhance the market and regulatory structure of ICT in Namibia and to fully liberalise (open, competitive markets and private sector participation) all telecommunication services by 2010, following controlled process;
· To enable streamlined, efficient and effective regulation of ICT industry on a fully transparent, technology, neutral and competitively balanced basis;
· to provide universal access to information and communication facilities in Namibia for all communities ensuring access to telecommunication services, internet and multimedia services by 2011;
· to enable affordable prices for telecommunication services particularly for low I income groups by 2010; to enable profitable investment opportunities in all segments of the market by 2010;
· to successfully implement government ICT initiatives in education and training by 2013 and E-government initiatives by 2015;
· to establish Namibia as a first class regional ICT hub that will contribute toward job creation by 2013;
· to entrench freedom of expression, pluralism, diversity and competition; protect the media users and particularly the vulnerable groups such as children against undesirable and involuntary exposure to offensive and harmful material;
· Foster provision of services to all Namibians in appropriate languages and foster economic development of the electronic media and tradable information sectors.
Against these noble ideals, the Minister acknowledged that the challenges the ICT sector in Namibia are real, mammoth and need collective concerted efforts to overcome.
The challenges facing youth and women in rural areas in accessing and using ICT manifest s the gaps in resource allocation and development deficit.
The Minister assured participants that the new legal framework his ministry was putting in place in place through the Communication Bill will provide for a Universal Service Fund dedicated to ensuring adequate rural access for the citizens including youth and women. This will compliment efforts of the Ministry of Education which is working through SchoolNet and Tech /Na in rolling out ICT educational programs for the benefit of the youth and school children to improve access and usage of ICT tools.
The Minister said OTC was a good case study of entrepreneurial initiative at regional level to promote access to information and knowledge adding that government encourages and supports such type of efforts since rural ICT connectivity and usage features prominently in the National Development Plan III (NDPIII).
Through the establishment of facilities such as multipurpose centres, government is eager to facilitate access to information and enhance communication of citizens.
The Minister told the summit that with the recent visit of His Excellency President Hifikepupunye Pohamba to India, the President signed up to an Indian sponsored broadband connectivity project called Pan-African e-Network that will provide real time e- educational and e-learning facilities to Namibian citizens with India education specialists. He encouraged OTC to take advantage of India’s vast knowledge and skills –base to benefit Namibia’s rural population.