ICTs and Development In Zambia: Challenges and Opportunities

This eight-page policy brief, published by Panos London, summarises a review of the successes and failures of Zambia's attempts to include information and communication technologies (ICTs) in their national development plans, and considers the next steps that are needed to meet the information and communication needs of the coming generation. According to the report, Zambia has experienced a tremendous upsurge in telephone ownership and use since the advent of mobile phones. In addition, despite the limited fixed line network proving to be a major constraint on internet access, the rapid growth of internet cafes and telecentres has lead to an increase in internet users. However, a major constraint on ICT development in Zambia has been the lack of adequate international communications infrastructure. Authors say the problem is particularly acute for Zambia because it is landlocked and has had to rely on satellite links or interconnection agreements with neighbouring countries.

The report states that the Zambian government began to develop a national ICT policy in 2001. This policy was adopted in 2006 and establishes a framework for the future direction of ICTs, and ICT for development (ICT4D) within Zambia. The policy highlights five priority areas - human capacity development, agriculture, education, health and the development of ICT services - as well as establishes 13 pillars of ICT activity, each with its own goals, implementation strategies and stakeholder commitments.

The report suggests that the main problem with this policy has been the length of time taken to put it into place. While the content and intentions of the policy were clear during consultation, a great deal of time has elapsed since they were agreed. Technology and markets have changed substantially in that time, and the policy now needs extensive review and change.

In reviewing the policy, the report suggests that policymakers should take note of non-governmental organisation (NGO) experiences with ICTs. In particular, NGOs have found that projects which have begun on a small scale, focused on community problems rather than technology, using local languages and local volunteers, and with multi-stakeholder participation, have proved to be more sustainable and have achieved greater impact.

The report mentions some success stories, and states that while positive results have been achieved, considerably more needs to be done to address the challenges of and weaknesses in policy design and implementation. The author recommends that the needs of communities be assessed and incorporated into ICT policy and roll-out plans for underserved areas, and that consultation should take place, allowing all stakeholders to contribute to policy design and implementation.

ICT infrastructure also needs to be built, primarily a national fibre optic cable, but also telecentres in rural areas. Zambia should look to the successes and failures in telecentre deployment elsewhere in Africa for appropriate models.

The report also recommends that the government undertake an ICT awareness campaign in collaboration with civil society organisations, using established media and delivered in local languages. Rural populations in particular should be persuaded of the economic benefits of using ICTs. Authors say this will require substantial ICT literacy training, but will be important in reducing the economic and knowledge gap between urban and rural communities. The Ministry of Education should also include ICT teaching in schools and address the shortage of ICT skills among teachers.