Linking ICTs to poverty eradication in Uganda: report from a Roundtable workshop, 22-24 November, 2005

From November 22-24, 2005 representatives of Ugandan government institutions discussed how to integrate ICTs into the Poverty Eradication Action Plan. The discussion took place during a Roundtable Workshop hosted by the National Planning Authority and facilitated by IICD.

"… [The issues] in this workshop are matters of crucial importance to national development, as well as socio-economic transformation, especially as we strive to pursue the vision of transforming our nation into a modern, industrialised and knowledge based society," said Dr. Frank Mabiriizi, Chairman of the National Planning Authority.

FIT Uganda Ltd drafted the reference report that was used as a baseline in the discussion in the workshop. The report described the ICT environment in Uganda and its relation with the Poverty Eradication Action Plan.

The workshop participants looked at the five pillars of the Poverty Eradication Action Plan and discussed the way in which ICT can assist in achieving each set of objectives. A list of possible actions was developed, with the recognition that not all stakeholders were present and that the activities identified are only a first inventory. The emphasis in the next phase will be to get other Ministries on board. A team was formed to safeguard and pull this process. All participants committed to taking appropriate actions within their own organisations to move the process forward. NPA for its part will continue to sensitise people, notably the Permanent Secretaries of all Ministries as well as development partners.

A Ministry of ICT is being established in the country which makes the issue of creating coherent policy links even more relevant. One participant noted: "We are at the threshold of seeing ICT move forward in this country, The president announced the Ministry for ICT on National television yesterday and there is a lot of energy with the participants of this workshop. We will see big change if we keep working together and maintain our focus!"

Contacts:

Constantine Bitwayiki, Director - Research, Innovation, Monitoring & Evaluation, Uganda National Planning Authority, bitwayiki@npa.or.ug

Elisha Wasukira, Coordinator, I-Network Uganda, wasukira@i-network.or.ug