2014年-世界发展银行全球_ICT_Competitiveness_in_Africa_28页_1mb

ICT Competitiveness in Africa Summary

Core Content

This document is a summary of the full thematic study on ICT competitiveness in Africa, part of the eTransform Africa publication. It outlines the potential and current state of the ICT sector across the continent, identifies key opportunities and challenges, and provides strategic recommendations to enhance ICT growth and competitiveness.

Main Points

ICT's Potential and Impact

• ICT as a Transformative Force: Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have the potential to transform business and government in Africa, driving entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic growth.
• Key Sectors: The report explores the growing contribution of ICTs to Agriculture, Climate Change Adaptation, Education, Financial Services, Government Services, and Health.
• Regional Trade and Integration: ICTs are also highlighted as tools for enhancing African regional trade and integration, and for building a competitive ICT industry to promote innovation and job creation.

Current ICT Landscape

• ICT Growth: The ICT market in Africa is growing at a double-digit rate, and by 2016, expenditures in ICT could exceed US$150 billion.
• Access and Usage: While mobile penetration is high (around 45% of the population), internet penetration remains low. Voice services are competitive, but broadband costs are prohibitive.
• FDI Trends: Africa has improved its relative share of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) over the past two decades, although from a small base.

Challenges

• Infrastructure and Energy: Lack of reliable infrastructure and energy constraints are major barriers to ICT development and adoption.
• ICT Skills Gap: There is a significant gap in ICT skills compared to other parts of the world, limiting the ability of firms to compete globally.
• Digital Literacy: Low levels of digital literacy among the population hinder ICT adoption and innovation.
• Policy and Regulation: Unclear government policies and protectionist tendencies create an environment that is not conducive to international business and collaboration.

Key Recommendations

1. Reduce the Cost of Access for Mobile and Broadband

   • Improve regulatory and competitive environments for operators.
   • Encourage nimble billing approaches such as longer validity for pre-paid credit, per-second billing, and discounts for "friends and family" networks.
   • Regulators should lead these initiatives, with potential donor support for subsidies in high-cost areas.

2. Support Government/Private-Sector Collaboration

   • Create structured dialogue between government and private sector.
   • Use collaboration to jointly develop and manage infrastructure projects, such as broadband initiatives.
   • Governments should spotlight private sectors on joint priorities to attract donors and multinational corporations (MNCs).

3. Improve the eCommerce Environment

   • Governments, private sector, and donors should all support the development of an eCommerce environment.
   • Actions include embracing eCommerce in their operations, promoting online procurement, and creating incentives for companies to go online.
   • Communication campaigns and legal frameworks for eContracting, eSignature, and data protection are also recommended.

4. Improve ICT Worker Skill Levels

   • Invest in education to build a skilled workforce.
   • Customize tertiary education to reflect business needs and support technical skills development through incubators and private sector partnerships.
   • Examples include BPO Academies and training programs in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda.

5. Encourage Innovative Business Models, Such as Microwork

   • Microwork has the potential to drive employment and economic impact by breaking down complex tasks into smaller, manageable units that can be handled by a diverse range of skill levels.
   • This model can be leveraged to create new business opportunities and enhance the competitiveness of the ICT sector.

Case Studies

Kenya

• ICT Board (KICTB): Focuses on partnerships with MNCs and eGovernment initiatives.
• BPO Sector: Three major players (DDD Kenya, KenCall, Horizon) have emerged, showing potential for Kenya to become a global ICT hub.
• Challenges: High cost of broadband, lack of reliable data centres, and low internet penetration.
• Pathways: Enhancing digital literacy, increasing exposure to foreign innovations, and supporting young entrepreneurs.

Morocco

• Public Bodies and ICT Federation: The Government has created public bodies and an ICT federation to support development and research.
• ICT Sector Concentration: Strong in outsourcing, advisory, and infrastructure, with a growing number of technology and BPO companies.
• Challenges: Limited exposure to Sub-Saharan Africa and lack of R&D commercialization.
• Pathways: Hosting international ICT events, supporting research and development, and increasing digital literacy.

Nigeria

• IPPIS Initiative: Implemented to reduce payroll fraud and increase accountability.
• Mobile Payments: Growing interest in mobile payment solutions to address the high non-banked population.
• Challenges: Power shortages, low digital literacy, and high barriers to business development.
• Pathways: Improving digital literacy, supporting early-stage capital, and enhancing infrastructure and energy access.

Conclusion

Africa has the potential to become a competitive player in the global ICT landscape, but this requires addressing infrastructure, energy, and skills challenges. Strategic collaboration between government and private sector, along with targeted investments in education and innovation, can help unlock this potential. The case studies of Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria highlight the progress made and the opportunities that remain for further growth and development.