NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency

The Internet and Economic Development- The

Case for ICT Infrastructure

Towela Nyirenda Jere, PhD

Africa Internet Summit- Tunis, 2015

Why ICT Infrastructure Matters • Internet economy - US$20 trillion and growing

– Africa’s share less than 2%

• 3billion users globally

– Africa – 167million (6% of global, 16% penetration)

• Broadband improves GDP

– 10% increase in broadband access => 1.35% increase in GDP growth

– 10% increase in mobile penetration => 4% increase in productivity

– doubling mobile broadband data use-=> 0.5 percent increase in GDP per capita growth rate

Where ICT Infrastructure Matters

Agriculture

• E-agriculture

Trade and Industry

• E-commerce

Education

• ICT4E

• MOOCs

Health

• E-health Mining Tourism

Science and Technology

Governance

• E-governance

• E-government

Socio-cultural

• Communication

• Social networking

ICT

The Internet of Things

Source: Article by OPINNO : The Internet of Things.

The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA)

• Common platform for infrastructure development in Africa

• Rationalisation of a plethora of regional/continental initiatives

• Harmonise donor intervention

• Fast tracking Africa development and integration

PIDA Drivers

Population Growth

Increase in Trade

Education Technology

Windfall

PIDA Components

PIDA Impacts

http://www.au-pida.org

The Abidjan-Lagos Corridor (ALC)

• SOURCE - ABIDJAN-LAGOS CORRIDOR ORGANIZATION, ABIDJAN-LAGOS TRADE AND TRANSPORT FACILITATION PROJECT

• IDA GRANT N° H549-TG , YEAR 4 REPORT: JULY 2013 – JUNE 2014

The ALC Corridor

• 1028 km coastal corridor

• 3 large cities - Lagos, Accra and Abidjan

• population catchment area - 35million people

• gateway for landlocked countries

Objectives

• Increase capacity of the Abidjan-Lagos corridor,

reduce transport time and further reduce

transport and logistics costs.

• Promote trade and economic development

• Enhance movement of persons, vehicles and

goods across land borders.

• Enhance the effectiveness of border controls

• Enhance food security & community

development

ALC Components

• One- stop border posts (OSBPs).

• 6-Lane (2x3) dual-carriage Highway from

Abidjan to Lagos

– rail link

– ICT infrastructure

• Transport/Trade facilitation & Corridor

Management

• Spatial Development Initiatives

• Food Security & related community development

ALC Expected Outcomes

• Increased regional trade and regional integration

among ECOWAS countries

• Average border crossing time reduced to 3

hours

• Clearance for buses and passengers halved

• Freight times reduced drastically.

• Pre-clearance possible through information &

equipment sharing

• Reduced cost of bandwidth and long distance

tariffs

ALC Current Status • Appraisal & Data Collection Mission completed

• Relevant structures have been identified

• Participating countries have signed a treaty for

the corridor

• An institution called the Corridor Development

Authority (CDA ) will be created.

• Seed Fund Contribution Agreed

• Feasibility and detailed engineering design

studies concluded

Conclusion

• Infrastructure is key to driving Africa’s economic

development – Good quality transport networks (road, rail, air and sea)

– Efficient and reliable network connectivity

– Power generation and transmission

• Holistic approach

– Maximised value and utilisation of infrastructure

– Cost effectiveness

– Fast tracking ICT development

– Promotes collaboration and standardisation

Thank you

Merci

Obrigada

Gracias

شكر

Towela Nyirenda-Jere, PhD.

Programmes Manager

NEPAD e-Africa Programme

Email: towelan@nepad.org

Tel: +27 11 256 3600

Web: http://www.nepad.org/regionalintegrationandinfrastructure/infrastructure/ict