1.

Introduction
As the Information Age replaces industrialization in developed and some Third World nations, governments are facing historic challenges. The phenomenon is widely recognized around the world as fundamental and irreversible.Widely recognized too is that governments around the world are not performing enough, frozen in old structures, at risk of becoming irrelevant and loosing the confidence of their citizens.The problem is not wasting, fraud, abuse, poorly designed processes, lack of appropriate technology, or even bad management; those are just symptoms.The time has come for our government to think strategically and examine whether they are doing the right things poorly, or may, in fact, be doing the wrong things, although efficiently. This calls for a change in governance, adapting to the Information Age. This should be part of the "Modernization of public Administration" initiative and "Decentralization" process.As Rwanda moves toward decentralized, distributed models of governance, networks, information storage and retrieval and computer software applications will play a greater role in the way government autonomous units interact with each other, as well as with other entities at local or national level.Further more, information has become a critical force, shaping the worlds economic system. In the next century, the speed in creating information, its accessibility and its multiple uses will result in more fundamental changes in each nations economy.With this in mind, governments (including developing nations) have sharply focused their public policies and initiatives on the capabilities of their underlying information infrastructures.In Rwanda, a number of public and private institutions have indeed tried in recent years to improve their information systems by introducing advanced computer based information technologies but their efforts have not been very successful. This was due to lack of government commitment and of technical competence, resulting in lack of computerization plans and strategies, and most of all, the lack of proper coordination.The National Workshop on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Policy and Strategy for Rwanda, held in Kigali on November 30 December 4, 1998, is for Rwanda a first step in addressing those problems.It was organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Transports and Communications and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, with the financial sponsorship of USAID, UNESCO and UNDP.The ICT Workshop is part of an African initiative, taken when the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa adopted, in May 1995, the resolution entitled "Building Africas Information Highway". A concrete expression of that initiative was the appointment of a high-level working group whose work resulted in the "African Information Society Initiative - AISI", adopted by the ECA Conference of Ministers in May 1996 and implementation of which must take place at country level. The Workshop was the first step for Rwanda in implementing the AISI. As outlined by the Organizing Team, the aim of the Workshop was: To create a opportunity for the substantive discussion on Information and Communication Technology and how Rwanda can benefit from these technologies; To build a mechanism for a richer understanding of critical issues related to ICT and practical steps by Government to develop a capacity to use ICT in Rwanda; To firmly develop a strategic thinking among decision makers on ICT related issues

As expressed by His Excellency Major General Paul Kagame, Rwanda Vice President and Minister of Defense in his opening speech, an expected output from the workshops was "a compiled report containing recommendations on the process required to establish a national strategic framework and implementation plan for the development of a national ICT policy"With this objective in mind, different national and international facilitators presented papers on various topics, including: the importance of information systems in any organization; the emerging new ICT and the information-based globalization information systems security and the Year 2000 problem; the liberalization of Telecommunication infrastructures; the situation and trend in Rwanda ( Infrastructures and current ICT Projects); the experience of some other African countries (Ghana, Senegal, Tunisia,.); the necessity and approach for an ICT national policy; the ICT related legal problems in Rwanda;

The different papers are found in APPENDIX of the report "PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS"Discussions were conducted among participants, both in plenary sessions and sectorial groups, and the results from the 3-days efforts are compiled in this report.The first and most important result from the workshop is an increased awareness, among participants in general, and top decision-makers in particular, of the importance that Information and Communication Technologies are irreversibly taking in individual and national life, and consequently, the need for Rwanda to take urgent steps to fill the gap in that area.After an overall assessment of the countrys potential and its ICT related problems and constraints, the workshop recommended steps by the Government towards the formulation and implementation of an ICT policy and strategy, the most important of which is the creation of a high level national ICT coordinating structure.The workshop went further and recommended ideas to be used as inputs by the national structure in defining the ICT policy and strategy. In this regard, the major ideas from the workshop are, in this report, grouped into different themes of national interest: Identified global objectives, in accordance with a national vision for ICT and taking into account the countrys socioeconomic situation; General strategy for ICT development; General guidelines to be applied in different areas, including human resources development, modernization of the public administration and the role of the private sector.

And finally, the report indicates which actions should be immediately initiated, as a follow up.

2. The Current Situation, Potential and Constraints

During a few weeks prior to the ICT Workshop, the Ministry of Transport and Communication carried out some investigations to assess the current situation, in relation to the use of ICT in Rwanda.The investigations covered most of the Ministries and some parastatal institutions. Below is summary of the main findings, most of which were presented during the workshop; they give, as a starting point, useful information for planning future developments. An overview of past efforts for national plan on Information Technology. The first computer came to Rwanda in 1978, for the first population census. Timid steps for the generalized use of computers in public offices were recorded around 1985.But it was only in 1990 that there were some efforts by the Ministry of Planing to have a systematic approach for Information Technology development. These efforts resulted in the formulation of a National Policy in 1992 and a Government Master Plan on Information Technology in 1993.The 1994 tragic events did not allow any implementation, but today, the new technological developments make the Policy and Plan obsolete, particularly because of the established integration of Computer and Telecommunications technologies, which was not a major concern in 1992/1993.After the 1994 events, the first significant step for a National Policy and plan for ICT development is the National ICT Workshop. General description of the current use of ICT The use of computers is being more and more generalized in most institutions, but very few use them with dataprocessing applications for management or decision making purpose.In a few institutions with some computer-based applications, the communication feature is ignored. Networking computers within a building, a compound or beyond is inexistant for most institutions. Some of them do not even include networking in their formal or informal plans for future development.The lack of qualified human resources for planning and/or implementing ICT solutions for information management remains the most critical problem.There is also, at top management level, little or no understanding at all, of the importance and possibilities offered by ICT for achieving the respective missions in their organizations.It is, for example, reflected in the absence of any ICT-related structure on the organizational chart in most institutions. An overview of existing ICT projects

ICT projects are currently being defined planned or implemented in some institutions , despite, though reflecting the problems described above (b). Such projects reflect the growing realization of the importance of ICT for effective decision making. However, if not well handled in the early stages, their implementation may result in some problems, including: Duplication of efforts in developing software for common functions, such as budget, stock, payroll, human resource management, logistics, etc.; Incoherent systems among different institutions, with resulting problems in exchanging data and information ; Insufficient or no integration, in each project, of the need for connectivity among different organizations, for an effective national information system; Incompatibility of technological choices by different Government agencies leading to difficult communication and to losses. The latter may particularly occur when there is a need for each Government unit to train its staff on the technology to implement; standardizing technological choices would allow to share costs for human resources development among different agencies. Lack of any master plan, resulting in the impossibility to implement the projected systems, or the difficulty to maintain the resulting incoherent and fragmented systems.

3. Global Objectives of ICt Development in Rwanda

As information is playing a very crucial role in individual, national and international life, success in any of those areas lies more and more in the ability to control information processing and flow.The adequate use of information Technology (e.g. computers) improves efficiency, transparency and, in most cases reduces operating costs for organizations.Combining Information and Communication Technologies has made it possible to manage information in a decentralized, yet integrated and coherent way for the benefit of information producers and users. Therefore, as recommended by the National Workshop,The Government of Rwanda should be committed to promoting the development and use of Information and Communication Technologies in the direction of the realization of the socioeconomic objectives of the country.The decentralized use of Information and Communication Technology, reflected by the generalized use of personal computers (instead of the traditional centralized systems), personal and portable devices for telecommunication, is definitely a positive step in the current development. However, without any coordination, the situation presents some major risks including: Dispersion of efforts, resulting in lack of integration of ICT projects; Duplication resulting in financial losses Too much diversity of technological choices, resulting in less benefits from training efforts and difficulty to have any successful program for human resource development; Incompatible technologies, resulting in lower "connectivity" and difficulty in exchanging data and information.

In order to reduce the risk,The Government should implement a mechanism to coordinate all ICT related activities, so that ICT development is cost effective, coherent and integrated at organizational and national level, within both the public and private sectors.The role of the Government is not only that of policy-making. In Rwanda, the Government remains the largest employer and potential consumer of Information and Communication Technology products and services. As such it can play a decisive role by promoting the use of ICT in the country and becoming a catalyser for new development.Therefore,

Through the use of Information and Communication Technology, the Government of Rwanda should modernize the administrative apparatus in order to make it more efficient and to create a momentum for Information and Communication Technology development in all sectors, public and private. With the established integration of Information Technology (Computers) and Communication Technologies, recent and current developments in the field of telecommunications offer new possibilities in achieving some of the most challenging and strategic objectives for socioeconomic development. Applications in distant learning and health programs are but a few priority examples; thus, The Government of Rwanda should encourage those ICT projects that are designed to have an impact on a greater part of the population, with particular emphasis on applications for education and literacy programs, health programs, and national databases.

4. Overall Strategy
RWANDA is only at early stages towards the information age and opportunities offered by the new Technologies are being slowly discovered at all levels of the society. The major constraint for development is the national low investment capacity, making it difficult for the country to become a competitive ICT producer.However, the countrys potential lies in its human potential and the possibility of building modern telecommunication infrastructure for efficient communication services.The high population density, often seen as a handicap in developing nations, could allow a greater impact of new infrastructures and improve the cost-effectiveness of any human resources development program.Considering this, The strategy, as recommended by the workshop to the Government of Rwanda, is to take advantage of existing Technologies, and make efficient use of information for socioeconomic development. As far as production is concerned, special emphasis should be put on ICT related services, the production of which rely more on the human factor. Initial investment efforts, both for infrastructures and human resources development, should be integrated in public budgeting and a set of measures should promote initiatives in the private sector.

5. Recommended Guidelines
From the different papers that were presented during the workshop and the discussions in plenary sessions and working groups, some guidelines can be drawn as the contribution of the participants to the definition of a National strategy for ICT development.These can be grouped into 6 main themes: Coordination mechanism Human resources development Modernization of public Administration Promotion of ICT and private sector Regulation standards and technology review

5.1. ICT Coordinatinating Mechanism and Structure It was clearly outlined that the objective of a coherent, harmonious and integrated development of ICT cannot be achieved without a coordinating structure. It was therefore recommended that the Government urgently create a strong national coordinating structure for ICT development.For maximum efficiency, the structure should report to a high authority with a coordinating role (e.g. Office of Prime Minister, Vice President, or President). The experience of the former National Office of Information Technology (Service National de lInformatique), a directorate within the Ministry of Planning, was not a success in some areas. It achieved some results especially in terms of defining a national policy and plan for Information Technology and conducting Computer training programs for a number of Government employees. But the office was not successful in harmonizing and coordinating IT development in different institutions; there were signs of failure in combining projects for economy and efficiency, integrating the

needs for compatibility and communication between different organizations, and in enforcing standards. Reasons for the failure very likely included the fact that a Ministry could not overlook the action of other Ministries.The missions of the coordinating structure, as recommended by the workshop, would include:

a.

b. c. d. e.

Draft the National Policy and strategy; for the definition of strategic guidelines, the seminar made a contribution by initiating a brainstorming process; the coordinating body should introduce and maintain ICT advisory standards, procedures and guidelines in the line suggested by the Workshop. Develop ICT strategic thinking within the country by organizing sensitization seminars and identifying ICT objectives in all sectors. support the promotion of ICT in all sectors of the economy; although its main missions are at national level, the coordinating structure, which should have qualified ICT personnel, will be involved in supporting ICT projects in strategic sectors, such as education, health, etc.... Set the rules for competition in the ICT market, in a context of liberalization and competition, as recommended by the workshop (see 5.4.2) Define regulatory and ethical framework of ICT at the national level; in this regard, some of the areas of concern are: Intranets and internet regulation Required standards for ICT businesses, (equipment, etc.) in accordance with the Government policy; Privacy and transparency on the information highway Intellectual property and content.

f.

Define and implement a coordinating mechanism for all ICT projects in public institutions and play a harmonizing role for ICT development in the private sector;

Efforts in that direction would aim at: A more coherent integrated system at national level; Integrating the country into the "Global Village" through appropriate information systems; Reducing ICT development costs by avoiding duplication; Recommending technological choices for the country and adopting equipment and software standards to be used in public institutions.

g. h. i.

Develop a mechanism for periodical technological review and information about new technologies. Serve as an interface for donors interested in investing in Rwanda ICT future. This would ensure that external funds are used in accordance with the government policy and strategy. And that the related projects are well integrated into the national ICT plans. Find strategies for proper cooperation and coordination between private and public sectors, for continued, harmonious and secure ICT development.

5.2. Human Resources Development At many occasions during the workshop, the presentations and discussions converged on the human resources theme.The most challenging problems and constraints for ICT development in Rwanda are related to the lack of qualified personnel. It was recognized that the countrys ICT backwardness is mainly due to the fact that the human resources problem was not given its due importance in the past. Following are the main guidelines from the workshop.

5.2.1 Integrating ICT Training in Education at all Levels This requires major investment in ICT equipment and the countrys low investment capacity is a major constraint.However, it was recommended that the Government find ways to gradually include ICT training in curricula at all levels, including primary education.In the early stages of education, the focus could be on sensitizing, in order to give a vision of ICT possibilities and stimulate the interest of the youth, who will be the beneficiary and architects of our ICT future. The national coordinating structure should contribute in designing the curricula ICT content. 5.2.2 Formal and Professional Training in ICT Urgent steps should be made to include ICT courses, at graduate and post-graduate levels in all existing and future institutions of higher education. The Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, the Adventist University of Central Africa (formerly located at Mudende, Gisenyi) and the National University of Rwanda have made or are making efforts in that direction. They deserve the Government support.Proper students guidance and motivation (see 5.2.4 motivating measures), combined with rational use of external funds and scholarships should allow to increase the number of ICT students in foreign countries.The workshop welcomed news, from the Ministry of Education, about a good number of ICT students already registered in Indian Universities.In general, the training of trainers should be recognized as the first and foremost priority.However, any program for promoting ICT training will fail if there is no action to uplift the teaching profession in general, and for ICT in particular. Not only do we need to have more ICT experts and incite them to work in public sector, we also need to motivate them to work in the education sector.Also, information came to light that Rwanda had been selected to host a Regional School on Information and Communication Technology. Concrete steps should be taken to implement it, as it will have a positive impact in boosting our ICT projects. 5.2.3. Using ICT for Human Resources Development One major constraint for implementing any education or training program is the lack of trainers. Investment efforts to increase their number, provided the required financial resources are available, will not yield results before some years.In order to use effectively the available human resources for training more people and thereby increase quickly the number of trainers in all fields in general and in ICT particularly, infrastructure and ICT equipment should be made available to be used in education and professional training. Recommended actions include:

a. b.

Implementation of the Virtual University of Africa project (with World Bank funding) Promotion of distant education using ICT for all fields of knowledge in general and for ICT training in particular.

At national level using ICT, including audio visual, satellite broadcast technology and Internet would allow implementing more cost-effective training programs, using limited number of trainers. Special emphasis should be made on training trainers.At international level, with the use of ICT, more students would be able to benefit from international training programs without travelling. In this regard, the role of Government, with the ICT coordinating structure as its implementing tool, should include: Identity available distant education programs and publish related information; Create and organize centers for distant education in areas of public interest and promote the creation of such centers in the private sector; Implement a mechanism and procedures for evaluating distant education programs and recognition of degrees, certificates and diplomas obtained through such programs;

Include distant education in the sponsorship programs; part of the funds from Government and donors for scholarships should be used for training more people through distant education programs; Support local higher education institutions in their efforts to have their students access international sources of information through the Internet. The National University of Rwanda has made steps in that direction and a similar project is under study in the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST); Promote access to information by all categories of population, taking into consideration their budget and availability; action in that direction should include the creation of "TELECENTERS" in urban and rural areas.

5.2.4. Informal Training And Continuing Education Most of the recommendations presented above ( 5.2.3) would result in promoting continuing education and informal training. This is important for all fields of knowledge, but even more in the ICT fields because of the fast speed of technological development.Indeed, it is a real challenge, even for the initially well trained people, to keep pace with the fast changing technological environment.As brought to light by some of the workshop participants; ideas to explore includes: Teleconferences Specifically designed training programs for decision makers Training programs for people initially trained in other fields (mathematics, statistics) in order to convert them into ICT professionals with fewer resources and within a short period of time. Creation of documentation centers and libraries with modern ICT equipment (computers, CD-ROM, VIDEO & TV, Radios, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), etc.)

5.2.5. Other Measures and Incentives It was emphasized that for the Government to have a leading role in implementing ICT policy, the modernization of its own administration through ICT is an essential.Therefore, in addition to efforts for capacity building, measures should be taken to avoid brain-drain to foreign countries, and to motivate ICT professional for public services jobs.It would be an illusion to think this is possible, with the current employment wages and benefits.At the same time, procedures for employing foreign ICT professionals should be made easier and the government should do away with the related fee.Also, participants recommended the development of a national database for ICT competence, the ICT coordinating would create and maintain it. 5.3. Modernization of Public Administration The development of ICT in Rwanda will be reflected by and dependent on the ability of the government to integrate the new technologies in public management for more efficiency and productivity.Investigations in several public institutions and discussions during the workshop emphasized that the main reasons for the backwardness in using ICT in Rwandan public institutions are related to the lack of qualified human resources. In addition to the recommendations in that area, guidelines are related to the following aspects: Coordination of ICT projects Connectivity and Networking Planning ICT projects Realistic projects (self sustainable)

5.3.1. Coordination of ICT Projects in Public Institutions

The current trend, if left as it is, could lead to an incoherent ICT development in addition to the inevitable waste of resources due to duplication and, in some instances, projects which are not properly planned to achieve the expected objectives. Benefits from coordinating ICT projects in public institutions include: Avoiding duplication by creating a mechanism for channeling the resources when developing information systems of common interest for several institutions. Reducing the cost of equipment and / or services by grouping the requirements of different institutions and calling for competition, in the context of larger contracts. Integrating sectorial projects in a national comprehensive program. This is particularly important for the different networks that are being designed. Making human resources development efforts more profitable by adopting some standards for the different departments and train a number of employees on common software. The possibility of having a team of qualified personnel for technical support to different departments based on identified priorities.

5.3.2. Connectivity and Networking A very common feature in Rwandan public institutions is the use of stand-alone computers. Very few of use Local Area Network and only one Ministry (MINADEF) was found to have a Network extending connections beyond the headquarters main building.It was strongly recommended that a network system be designed and developed, connecting all government departments and public institutions. As a result, the following benefits can be expected: More effective communication and therefore more coherent government action Reduced cost related to communication (vehicles and petrol for written or verbal communications.); More access to information both for government agencies and public services users. More transparency through Executive Information System (EIS) controls.

5.3.3. Planning For ICT Development There is an alarming lack of planning in the way ICT is developing in public institutions. In some instances, because of the lack of qualified personnel for defining and designing ICT projects, the planning and design related tasks are handled by the same company that will supply equipment or software, or a related companyWithout the required systematic approach, there is no guarantee that the resulting information systems will be efficient, integrate and maintained by the available resources in the organization.A systematic methodology should be used by all public institutions in defining, designing and implementing ICT related projects in public institutions. The national coordinating structure could play the role of defining and enforcing the methodology, and providing technical assistance when needed. Finally, it is obvious that any ICT plan should integrate the need to prepare automation by redefining procedures and, in many cases, the organizational structure. 5.3.4. Realistic, Sustainable ICT Projects The Government should resist the temptation of implementing hitech and sophisticated ICT projects unless there is evidence that the local personnel is able or being trained to maintain and upgrade the resulting systems. The risk of having "unrealistic projects" is particularly high when the project involves -, as it is frequently the case for the Rwandan administration - external funding and foreign technical assistance. 5.3.5. National Databanks

One of the features of a modernized administrative system should be the availability of various types of information to the public, both at national and international level (Internet)The workshop urged the Government to initiate and coordinate creation of national databanks.Priorities need to be defined, and areas of information to be provided would include: Civil society register; Economy and social management; Products and services for exports; Tourism; Investment opportunities; Information on the structure, functioning of the administration; Various common administrative procedures and forms; Laws and legal matters. A number of ICT projects, which have been or are currently being initiated in different institutions, may partially cover some of the databanks requirements. There is a need to coordinate those initiatives and make sure they contribute to the development of a national information system.

5.4. The Role of the Private Sector The different presentations and discussions emphasized the importance of the private sector for ICT development.The large amounts required for investment in the sector, the necessity to provide cost effective services and the need to keep pace with the rapidly changing technology are such that the responsibility of ICT development cannot be left to the Government. Experiences from countries that have developed or are developing successfully their ICT sector confirm the necessity to involve the private sector.For the promotion of private initiative in the Rwandan ICT sector, some guidelines can be drawn from the workshop. They are mainly related to the development of infrastructure, liberalization and competition in the telecommunication sector, the creation of a regulatory body to oversee the Telecommunication market, the development of ICT related services industry, and the review of the existing laws and regulation. 5.4.1. Development of Telecommunication Infrastructure As clearly highlighted during the workshop, the main feature of the newly emerging technologies is the integration of the telecommunication, audio-visual and computer technologies.Therefore, the effectiveness of any information systems will depend upon on the development (both qualitative and quantitative) of Telecommunication infrastructure.With its limited resources, the Government of Rwanda, alone, cannot carry out the large investments that are necessary to take the country into the information age.Enabling mechanisms, (see 5.4.3 review of laws and regulation) should promote private investments in telecommunications, especially for those regionally integrated projects which will target, in addition to the limited national market, the commercialization of their products and services on a larger, regional market.As an objective the workshop suggested that each home in Rwanda should have at least a phone within 5 km. 5.4.2. Liberalization and Competition in the ICT Market The need for improved ICT services, with a positive impact on other socioeconomic sectors, calls for liberalization and competition in the ICT market generally.Management of telecommunication services particularly, should be based on commercial principles, with a greater number of consumers gradually resulting in reduced costs.The current situation, with a private company (RWANDATEL) monopoly, is perceived by many as worse than a state monopoly.With a legal mechanism to take into consideration the sovereignty and security concerns, private radios and TV should be allowed to operate. 5.4.3. Regulatory Body

With greater involvement of the private sector and the establishment of the liberalization and competition principles, there is, as a result, a need for telecommunications regulation.The workshop recommended the creation of an independent regulatory body with, among others, the following missions: Defining monopoly regimes Defining and enforcing rules for free competition Frequency distribution and management Safeguarding the strategic interests of the State (including security and sovereignty) in the area of telecommunications Conflicts management and cost monitoring on the telecommunication market.

5.4.4. Promoting ICT Services Industry It is clear that all the recommended efforts for ICT coordination, human resources development, modernization of public administration and more involvement of the private sector will gradually result in the development of ICT related industries in general.In addition, the workshop recommended that the government provide incentives for those who want to invest in ICT related services, particularly those providing the services in rural areas.Also, it is believed that the country has a potential for software development industry and Internet content development. If well promoted, local industries could satisfy the local market and reduce imports, and even target the regional market and thereby increase exports. 5.4.5 Review of Laws And Regulation While emphasizing the need for promoting private sector initiatives, the workshop participants did not loose sight of the need for the Government to have some control on strategic areas. Indeed, it is Government responsibility to guarantee that ICT is used for the interests of the nation as whole and of the individuals, without violating their rights.Such control, however, should not be an obstacle to progress. This is why it should be implemented on the level of laws and regulation.It was therefore strongly recommended that the Government initiate a review of legal and regulatory texts in order to take into consideration the emergence of new technologies and avoid the situation where inadequate laws would hinder to progress.Areas of concern to be taken into account include: Information systems security: ICT related crimes are increasing in the world and so will in Rwanda. Transparency as a rule in communication: encryption of information should be regulated. Individual privacy, which is being alarmingly challenged on the World Wide Web, should be enforced by appropriate regulation; And finally, on the review of laws and regulation, an overwhelming recommendation from the workshop is the removal, in the early stages of ICT development, of all custom taxes on some ICT equipment and software to be identified. This measure could apply only for a period of time to be determined, the aim being to allow the country to fill the gap and gain momentum in ICT development before a reasonable, normal tax scheme can be applied again.
Back to top

6. Immediate Action
Many of the recommendations from the workshop will be valuable inputs when formulating policy and strategy on ICT, a process that may take some time.Also, without any appointed responsibility for the workshop results follow up, the recommendations may just enrich the national archives without being implemented.In addition, workshop

participants realized that some of the problems discussed during the workshop require some urgent attention.It was therefore recommended that the Government initiate immediate action for:

a. b. c.

The creation of the ICT coordinating structure, which will be, in addition of drafting a national policy and strategy, responsible for the follow - up of all the recommendations from the workshop; The review of current ICT projects in public Institutions in order to harmonize them and make sure they are properly planned, and integrate the organizational and/or national requirements for effective information systems. The reinforcement of existing initiatives toward the solution of the year 2000 problem; for that, the approved National Steering Committee should be made operational and given sufficient means.

7. Conclusion
As one of the participants read from the recommendations concluding the Workshop, this was the first significant step into the Information Age.The three-day brainstorming process gave an opportunity to evaluate the gap to fill for Rwanda, the main challenges, constraints and opportunities on the journey.The workshop succeeded at least in raising awareness among the participants on the necessity to start the ICT journey without any further delay.It is hoped that the content of this report will, on one hand convince the Government on the need to take immediate concrete steps, and on the other hand, provide some useful ingredients for ICT planing and development.Whether and how the country embarks on the ICT train, to the "Information Age", for the well being of present and future generations, depends now largely on the Governments decision. It is indeed the responsibility of our leaders to show the Rwandan society where to go and how to get there.The critical issue for Rwanda is how to bypass some of the industrialization stages and leap right into information age. From experience elsewhere it was found to be possible. The New Industrialized Countries (NIC) in South East Asia like Singapore or Malaysia are well known cases of economic success derived, in large part, from a national information technology strategy. From a poor country in late 70s, Singapore enjoys today one of the highest per capita income level in the world, without any national debt.Governance is changing, as transparency and democracy are improving with networking. With the Internet, a lot more people potentially will get involved in decision making. Constituencies will have more to say to institutions they belong to, says Jerry BERMAN, Director of the Center for Information Technology and Democracy in Washington.Citizens from all nations are finding additional outlets for personal and political expression, using interactive forums on the Internet to voice their opinion and get the views of others.New models of commercial exchanges are developing as businesses and consumers participate in the electronic market place and reap the resulting benefits. Computer networks, particularly the Internet, have dramatically lowered costs, facilitating new types of commercial transactions in a flourishing Worldwide Electronic Commerce.This is to say how overdue the meeting on Information and Communication Technology was in Rwanda, for decisionmakers.Leaders in the New Rwanda need to understand what these new technologies are about in order to monitor change rather than watching it passively.Although they do not need to understand how the inside of a computer works (most of those who drive have not seen inside the bonnet), they need to conceptually understand where technology can take them, their governments and citizens in future. Yet very few officials have a basic understanding of ICT to play a leading role in this Information era.This is why the Workshop Organizing Team requests the cabinet to seriously consider the Workshop recommendations, to organize more seminars for executive and decision-makers in the public and private sectors. For that, the creation of a strong ICT coordinating body is crucial. The missions of such a structure have been outlined in this report.

8. Recommendations
The National Workshop on Information and Communication Technologies held at Windsor Umubano, Kigali, on November 30th - December 3rd, 1998 can be seen as the first step to have a systematic and methodological approach for ICT development in Rwanda.The main results from the Workshop are presented in the Overall Report. Following are the main recommendations, drawn from the Report. More information and arguments in support of the recommendations are to be found in the Report. I. Global Objectives The Workshop identified and recommended to the government the following objectives:

i. ii. iii. iv.

Promotion of the development and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for achieving the socioeconomic objectives of the country. Coordination for all ICT related activities, in order to realize a cost effective, coherent and integrated ICT development. Modernization of the Public Administration. More emphasis on ICT projects that affect a greater part of the population, (applications for education, literacy and health programs).

II. Recommended Overall Strategy Because of the countrys low investment capacity, the recommended strategy for ICT development in Rwanda is to be mainly a user of existing technologies and make efficient use of information for socioeconomic development.As for production, the recommendation is to emphasize on ICT related services, relying more on the human factor.This two-folded orientation requires some initial investment for infrastructures and human resource development, as well as a set of measures to promote initiatives in the private sector. III. Recommended General Guidelines Concrete steps and actions to achieve the identified objectives were recommended by the Workshop; they are briefly presented below with an indication of the page in the Overall Report where more explanation can be found:

1. 2.

Creation of a high-level National ICT Coordinating Structure, for defining the ICT policy and strategy and coordinating all ICT developments. Concrete efforts for human resource development, including ::

a. b.

Integration of ICT training at all levels of education. Promotion of formal and professional ICT training, by: Integrating ICT courses, at graduate and post-graduate levels, in all existing and future institutions of higher education. Increasing the number of Rwandan ICT students in foreign countries. Particularly emphasizing on the training of trainers. Uplifting the teaching profession in general, and for ICT in particular. This requires a review of the remuneration and motivation scheme. Implementing the Regional School on Information and Communication Technology for which Rwanda has been selected as the host country.

c.

A Strategic use of Information and Communication Technologies for human resource development in all fields of knowledge in general, with particular emphasis on ICT.

In this regard, it was recommended that concrete steps be taken for: Implementing of the Virtual University of Africa (World Bank funding) Promoting distant education using ICT, at national and international level; the national ICT Coordinating Structure would be the governments implementing organ Creation of Telecenters in urban and rural areas.

d.

promotion of informal training and continuing education through (p.10): Teleconferences Specially designed training programs for decision-makers. ICT conversion training programs, designed for people who, though initially trained in other fields, want to become ICT professionals (statisticians, mathematicians, electronic engineers, etc.) Creation of documentation centers and libraries with modern ICT equipment, including computers, CD-ROM, Video &TV, Radios, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), etc.

e.

Incentives and other motivating measures, including (p.11): A review of the current employment and wages benefits, and easier procedures for recruiting foreign ICT professionals The creation of a national database on ICT competence

3.

Modernization of the Public Administration)

In addition to the recommendations on ICT human resource development, implementation of which would contribute to the modernization of Public Management through ICT use, the ICT Workshop made the following recommendations: Coordination of ICT Projects in all Public Institutions Emphasis, in existing and future ICT related projects, on the need to connect, through computer networking, all Public Administration units. Definition and enforcement of a methodological approach for planning, designing and implementing ICT projects in Public Institutions. Selection of projects to be promoted on the availability of local personnel to maintain the implemented systems The creation of national databanks to provide various type of information to the public Promotion of private initiatives and liberalization

Considering the large amounts of investments that are required and the need for cost effective services in a fastevolving technological environment, the ICT Workshop recommended: The promotion of private investment for the development of the telecommunication infrastructures Liberalization and Competition in the ICT Market with the objective of improving services and reducing costs.\ The creation of a regulatory body to oversee and regulate the telecommunications sector Promotion, through a set of incentives to be defined, of ICT services industries in general and particularly those providing the services in rural areas A review of existing laws and regulation, in order to adapt them to the new technological environment

IV. Recommended For Immediate Implementation For the implementation of the above recommendations to be possible, the following should be implemented immediately:

1.

Creation of an ICT Coordinating Structure. The implementation of most of the recommendations presented in the report depends on the existence of an implementing organ.

2. 3.

Review of current ICT projects in Public Institutions; some of the problems that were observed in these projects may, if not dealt with in time, handicap future ICT development. Support of initiatives to solve the Year 2000 Problem; the approved National Steering Committee should be made operational without delay.