Thursday, June 24, 2004
Digital Solidarity Fund growing strong
By Rebecca Wanjiku, Highway Africa News Agency (HANA)
YASMINE HAMMAMET, TUNISIA June 24, 2004. In a move aimed at bridging the digital divide, the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) has established an Inter ministerial committee to harmonise the African position on the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS).
Through the Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF), NEPAD has sought to bring Africa closer to the information age by establishing a committee that is expected to
identify needs and way forward for Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Africa.
Mamadou Diop, Senegalese minister of information and Pan African Cooperation says the move demonstrates that the DSF has moved from concept to action and that it will steer ICT development in Africa.
The DSF was first proposed by Abdoulaye Wade, the Senegalese president,
during the second preparatory committee meeting in Geneva in September 2003. Proposing, in his capacity as chair of NEPAD ICT committee, Wade said the fund would receive contributions from donors, individuals, governments and business entities.
While the fund was identified as a proper vehicle to bridge the digital divide, it received immense hostility from western governments who saw it as a new
form of taxation. They suggested that African countries should use the existing funding streams. However, some cities such as Geneva proposed to host the headquarters of the DSF and to finance an initial study of its status and mode of operations.
Diop confirmed that apart from the committee, the fund has received contributions amounting to U$3 million from cities such as Geneva, Paris, Lyon, Rome, Torino, Bilbao and the Basque province of Spain.
The ministerial committee was formed at the DSF conference in April where 35 African countries attended and offered their support. The meeting also
adopted a resolution launching an appeal to other African countries to contribute to the fund.
In this regard, Diop says that by February 2005, African governments are expected to have made major strides at national level. This approach is expected to harmonise the different country needs.
To demonstrate its support for the WSIS cause, Senegalese government has sent 10 members from its government to Tunis for the PrepComm and a further 30 members of the civil society are attending the meeting.
By Rebecca Wanjiku, Highway Africa News Agency (HANA)
YASMINE HAMMAMET, TUNISIA June 24, 2004. In a move aimed at bridging the digital divide, the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) has established an Inter ministerial committee to harmonise the African position on the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS).
Through the Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF), NEPAD has sought to bring Africa closer to the information age by establishing a committee that is expected to
identify needs and way forward for Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Africa.
Mamadou Diop, Senegalese minister of information and Pan African Cooperation says the move demonstrates that the DSF has moved from concept to action and that it will steer ICT development in Africa.
The DSF was first proposed by Abdoulaye Wade, the Senegalese president,
during the second preparatory committee meeting in Geneva in September 2003. Proposing, in his capacity as chair of NEPAD ICT committee, Wade said the fund would receive contributions from donors, individuals, governments and business entities.
While the fund was identified as a proper vehicle to bridge the digital divide, it received immense hostility from western governments who saw it as a new
form of taxation. They suggested that African countries should use the existing funding streams. However, some cities such as Geneva proposed to host the headquarters of the DSF and to finance an initial study of its status and mode of operations.
Diop confirmed that apart from the committee, the fund has received contributions amounting to U$3 million from cities such as Geneva, Paris, Lyon, Rome, Torino, Bilbao and the Basque province of Spain.
The ministerial committee was formed at the DSF conference in April where 35 African countries attended and offered their support. The meeting also
adopted a resolution launching an appeal to other African countries to contribute to the fund.
In this regard, Diop says that by February 2005, African governments are expected to have made major strides at national level. This approach is expected to harmonise the different country needs.
To demonstrate its support for the WSIS cause, Senegalese government has sent 10 members from its government to Tunis for the PrepComm and a further 30 members of the civil society are attending the meeting.
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