Digital Reach

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ATIONS

Millennium Declaration has made

access to information and communication technology (ICT)

for development one of the key themes of discussion in

international development policy forums. Finland’s policy for the

development of an Information Society gives expression to the

country’s support for the UN Millennium Development Goals

(MDGs) and the declarations adopted by the World Summit on the

Information Society in Geneva.

Lack of access to information has become a major problem in

a growing number of developing countries, including economies

in transition like South Africa. Developing countries do not have

the same opportunities to make use of digital information and

communications that industrial countries commonly enjoy. We

may speak of a digital divide between rich and poor countries,

but this challenge also concerns a wider gap – one relating to

overall access to information and to the opportunities for commu-

nication and knowledge sharing that are key to economic and

social progress in developing countries as well.

Narrowing this ‘knowledge divide’ demands the creation of a

favourable operating environment in developing countries. Special

attention needs to be paid to the availability of ICT and related

skills and knowledge, together with appropriate strategies, poli-

cies, regulatory frameworks, and private and public sector

partnerships in the production of key services. These principles

have been adopted as part of Finland’s partnership programmes

in South Africa.

The partnership between South Africa and Finland on ICT4D

Finland supports the development of an Information Society in

South Africa with funding of approximately EUR 15m between

2004 and 2008. The Higher Education Support Programme,

which is not described in this article, aims to improve the ICT

infrastructure and information systems of the merging higher

education institutions as well as building the capacity of the insti-

tutions on ICT integration. The Provincial Information Society

Strategies programme supports two of South Africa’s provinces

in defining strategies to improve access to information and

services, deliver enhanced opportunities for communication, and

improve business opportunities through ICT. The National

Innovation Framework programme, coordinated by the

Department of Science and Technology (DST), supports the devel-

opment of South African innovation policy and its structures both

on a national level and in three provinces. In addition, the insti-

tutional collaboration programme of the Embassy of Finland in

South Africa provides a platform for several institutions such as

science parks, research labs and universities to kick-start coop-

eration in the field of Information Society pilot projects.

Finland and South Africa have a mutual understanding that the

role of ICT is critical to regional development within South Africa.

The ability of South Africa to effectively integrate itself into the

global economy depends on how well it develops its capacity to

handle, absorb and utilize ICT. Improved access to information

also has an impact on the awareness, education, and social and

cultural development of the public. In South Africa there is a need

for technological development as well as for well-defined regional

ICT policies, capacity building and human resource development.

Background for the partnership

In June 2003, at the annual consultation between the governments

of Finland and South Africa, it was confirmed that Finland would

continue its bilateral development cooperation with South Africa

until 2010. The cooperation would focus on the education and

environmental sectors; job creation; small, medium and micro

enterprise (SMME) development; and human rights and democ-

racy. As the gradual phasing out of bilateral grant support

commences during the latter part of the decade, special focus will

be placed on strengthened trade relations and increased institu-

Finland: promoting Information

Society development in South Africa

Mari Kiviniemi, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Finland

ICT4D

. The Finnish framework for sustainable Information Society in

development cooperation is based on an understanding of ICT as a key

enabler in the attainment of social and economic development goals, a

perspective that has received wide support in international discussions

concerning ICT4D (Information and Communication Technologies for

Development) and the Information Society

Information and knowledge

• Access to information

• Basic education (literacy)

• Information society skills (ICT literacy)

• Technical knowledge

• Business knowledge

• R&D & Innovations

Integration

of ICT in MDG’s

Infrastructure and availability

of ICT

• General infrastructure (electricty, etc)

• ICT Infrastrucuture (lines & access)

• ICT applications available

Political strategies and

regulatory framework

• Supportive policy

• Telecom regulations

• Strategies (PRSP, ISS)

• Institutional strategies on IS

Knowledge economy

• Economic development based on

ICT sector and knowledge

• ICT service providing

• Innovative ICT companies

• Content production