Online Forum: An Information Society for Uganda

Online Forum: An Information Society for Uganda - Discussion Messages
April 14 - 30, 2003

Following the WSIS PrepCom II in Geneva, two basic working documents have been produced: a draft Declaration of Principles and a draft Plan of Action. Comments to the two working documents may be submitted by May 31, 2003. To facilitate contribution to the WSIS working documents, the goal of the online forum is to gather contributions from a civil society perspective.

ISUG Online Forum Discussion Messages

April 14	Introduction
April 15-16	Key principles
April 17-18	Specific actions
April 21-25	Role of civil society in the ICT policy process in Uganda
April 28-30	Wrap-up

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

I. Introduction to the Online Forum: "An Information Society for Uganda"

The premise of the World Summit of the Information Society (WSIS) is to declare a common desire and commitment to build an information society based on the principles of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in which new technologies, in particular information and communications technologies (ICTs) become an essential tool, accessible to all. Access to accurate and timely information by women and men can result in enhanced economic activity and social development, for example, increased food production, better hygiene and disease prevention.

In Uganda, while 80% of the Ugandan population lives in rural areas, the bulk of communication services are only available in urban areas. Further, while women are particularly affected by this skewed availability of communication services being that the majority of women are based in rural areas, effective participation of women in the information society is required if national development objectives are to be met. In January 2003, participants at a WOUGNET meeting recognized the following challenges in the application of ICTs -- "the essential tool of the information society":

Language is a constraint to information access especially to the semi-literate
Lack of access to ICTs
Lack of skills
ICT equipment is expensive to acquire
Lack of connectivity
Technophobia - especially among women and girls
Information overload
Content is inadequate
Gender roles impact effective participation
Lack of sufficient ICT facilities
Hackers
Data loss

Participants then made the following recommendations for the wide application and integration of ICTs:

Information/content should be available in local languages and in easily accessible formats.
Research needs to be conducted on the information needs in order that appropriate and relevant information is made available.
Training is required in the usage and application of ICTs.
Traditional and modern forms of ICTs should be used for information sharing and dissemination.
Sensitization and awareness campaigns should be conducted on the use of ICTs.
Regular public fora should be conducted for information sharing on ICT usage and application.

In terms of the WSIS, a number of efforts are engaged in "putting gender on the agenda" including the WSIS Gender Caucus, the NGO Gender Strategies Working Group and regional caucuses. The general objective is to lobbying for an enabling environment that includes national ICT policies that promote women's empowerment and gender equality. Calls are made for actions including:

Integration of gender perspectives in the development and implementation of national ICT policies, programmes and strategies.
Promotion of women's economic participation in the information society.
Implementation of measures to ensure women's equal access to ICT education, training and literacy.
Promotion of social responsibility of all stake holders in an information society.
Promotion of women's human rights.
Enhancement of cultural and knowledge production.

"Putting Gender on the Agenda" by Anne Walker of the International Women's Tribune Center (IWTC) presents an overview of the WSIS process including an outline of the WSIS preparatory structure and process and gender perspectives for the WSIS.

Following the WSIS PrepCom II in Geneva, two basic working documents have been produced: a draft Declaration of Principles and a draft Plan of Action. Comments to the two working documents may be submitted by May 31, 2003. PrepCom III will be convened in Geneva from September 15-26, 2003, and will consist of two weeks of negotiations on all issues related to the Summit. There will be an Intersessional Period between PrepCom-II and PrepCom-III dedicated to refining the working documents for the Draft Declaration of Principles and Draft Action Plan. The working documents are available in WORD and PDF format at: http://www.itu.int/wsis.

The objective of the online forum "An Information Society for Uganda" is thus to facilitate contributions to the WSIS and to the Uganda working documents that address the issues and concerns for men and women in Uganda. The forum will proceed according to the following schedule:

April 14 -- Introductions & Expectations

April 15-16 -- Key principles: Comments, changes and additions to the WSIS Draft Declaration of Principles (21 March 2003)

April 17-18 -- Specific actions: Comments, changes and additions to the WSIS Draft Action Plan (21 March 2003) and to Uganda's Working Document.

April 21-25 -- Role of civil society in the ICT policy process in Uganda: Discussion on how ICTs support the work of your organisation, and how your organisation can play a role in the development and application of ICTs in Uganda.

April 28-30 -- Wrap-up: This period is to allow for continued discussion in light of the Easter holiday. The forum will be concluded on May 30, 2003.

II. Key principles that should underline an Information Society in Uganda, April 15-16, 2003

What are the key principles that should underline a global information society, and in particular, an information society in Uganda? The common vision of the information society, as stated in the WSIS Draft Declaration of Principles, is that we seek to build an information society that is inclusive, where all persons, without distinction of any kind, are empowered freely to create, receive, share and utilize information and knowledge, in any media and regardless of frontiers. The key principles identified in the Draft Declaration of Principles address:

Information and communication infrastructure
Access to information and knowledge
The role of governments, the business sector and civil society in the promotion of ICTs for development
Capacity building
Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
Enabling environment
ICT Applications
Cultural identity and linguistic diversity, local content and media development
Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
International and regional co-operation

For these two days, we call for contributions based on the WSIS Draft Declaration of Principles. Your replies, comments and examples to the following questions are greatly welcomed.

Are there particular statements you support?
What are your issues of concern on any of the statements?
What modification and/or deletion of specific statements do you recommend?
What addition(s)do you recommend?

Additional comments are welcome.

When making contributions specific to statements in the draft Declaration, kindly include the section and paragraph number that your contribution addresses. Note, Section 1 of the draft Declaration of Principles consists of contributions by governments, while Section II consists of contributions by observers (including civil society, private sector and international organisations).

III. Specific actions that are priority in order to ensure equitable access by all within the Information Society, April 17-18

What are specific actions are required in order to ensure equitable access by men and women in the information society, and in particular, an information society in Uganda? The draft Action Plan recognizes that the information society has reached different levels of development across the regions and countries of the world. As such, it is considered necessary and more effective to design a flexible Action Plan that can be used as a reference framework and as a source of guidance and inspiration at regional and national levels. The list of nine issues addressed by the Action Plan are:

Information and communication infrastructure: financing and investment, affordability, development and sustainability
Access to information and knowledge
The role of governments, the business sector and civil society in the promotion of ICTs for development
Capacity building: human resources development, education and training
Security
Enabling environment
Promotion of development-oriented ICT applications for all
Cultural identity and linguistic diversity, local content and media development
Identifying and overcoming barriers to the achievement of the Information Society with a human perspective

Uganda's vision for ICT development is for a Uganda where national development, especially human development and good governance, are sustainably enhanced, promoted and accelerated by efficient application and use of ICT, including timely access to information. Uganda's Working Document addresses similar issues as in the draft Action Plan. Specifically eight themes are considered:

Infrastructure: financing, deployment and sustainability
Identifying and overcoming barriers to the achievement of the information society
The role of government, the business sector and civil society in the promotion of ICTs for development
Education, training and human resource development
Access to information and communication technologies
Information network security
Development of a policy and regulatory framework
ICT Applications (education, health, culture, poverty eradication, government, employment, business)

Uganda's Working Document is available at: http://www.ucc.co.ug

For these two days, we call for contributions based on the WSIS Draft Action Plan and on Uganda's Working Document for the PrepCom II. Your replies, comments and examples to the following questions are greatly welcomed.

Are there particular statements you support within the two documents?
What are your issues of concern on any statements in the two documents?
What modification and/or deletion of specific statements in the two documents do you recommend?
What addition(s) to the two documents do you recommend?
What challenges do you forsee in implementing actions proposed in the two documents?
What recommendations do you make for the implementation of actions proposed?

Additional comments are welcome.

When making contributions specific to statements in the draft Action Plan, kindly include the section and paragraph number that your contribution addresses. Note again, Section 1 of the draft Action Plan consists of contributions by governments, while Section II consists of contributions by observers (including civil society, private sector and international organisations). For Uganda's Working Document, include the chapter, theme, issue and/or action as appropriate.

IV. Role of civil society in the development of ICTs and equitable information access in Uganda, April 21-25, 2003

Uganda's Telecommunications Policy seeks to increase the penetration and level of telecommunicaton services in the country primarily through private sector investment. A Rural Communications Development Policy has also been developed with a principle objective to ensure that basic communication services of acceptable quality are accessible, at affordable prices, and at reasonable distances, by all people in Uganda. The policy is available online at the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) website at: http://www.ucc.co.ug.

For this week, we discuss the role of civil society in ICT for Development in Uganda and in ensuring equitable information access by men and women in Uganda. Civil society can certainly play a significant role, for example, by creating awareness, by conducting training, and by initiating/introducing information services within the communities they work. Your replies, comments and examples to the following questions are greatly welcomed.

In what ways do ICTs support the work of your organisation?
In what ways do Uganda's ICT policies support or hinder the work of your organisation?
In what ways can civil society play a significant role in the development and application of ICTs in Uganda?
With reference to Uganda's working document:
- what programs that you/your organisation conducts support the proposed strategic issues and actions?
- what recommendations do you make for the implementation of the proposed strategic issues and actions?
- what additional strategic actions and/or issues should be addressed?
- what challenges do you forsee in implementing the actions proposed?

Additional comments related to civil society's role are welcome.

Back to top

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

V. Wrap Up, April 28-30, 2003

Because of the Easter holiday, April 18-21, a few more days have been allowed for continued discussion to address any outstanding issues based on the three objectives of the forum. The online forum will close after April 30, 2003.

Back to top

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Contact information

If you would like further information, contact ictpolicy@wougnet.org.

Last update: April-5, 2003