Project to increase access to information on the Internet and other Global Information Infrastructure (GII) technologies in 20 sub-Saharan African countries. The project, which is the core element of USAID”s Leland Initiative (Empowering Africans in the Information Age) will: foster an enabling policy environment; provide equipment and software, and train Internet service providers; and help African societies use information to promote sustainable development. The Africa Bureau will manage implementation by several USAID units and others. Working first in countries which are closest to readiness for connectivity, the project will use targeted policy analysis and policy dialogue both in-country and in international fora to foster a market-driven approach to telematics, allocation of space on the communication spectrum to Internet operators, liberalization of licensing and connectivity requirements, and broad expansion of the Internet user base. This component will be implemented by the State Department (EB/CIP), which will obtain policy analysis expertise from assorted sources such as the FCC and private contractors. Upon diagnosis of a country”s specific equipment and software needs, the project will try to fill gaps, e.g., by stimulating local public or private sector investment or by developing financial resources from other donors and off-shore private sector interests, or by using its own resources. When project funding is used to provide hardware and software, it may be channeled through buy-ins to IRM”s Technology Transfer project or through an interagency agreement with NASA. Training of Internet service providers will be provided, probably by the Internet Society (ISOC). Trainees will be drawn from academic, government, and business communities. In addition, information management consultants from the private sector will be contracted to provide TA to potential service providers and Internet users. ISOC will sponsor establishment of an African Internet Society, to take responsibility for training and technical consultation. Lastly, the project will seek to ensure that Internet access is available broadly, not just to elites in capital cities, and is used to promote development. A major mechanism for supporting increase of the user base will be grants and agreements with PVOs for training and the initial costs of connection and use; Peace Corps volunteers could also be involved in such efforts. The Global Bureau will be the chief source on expertise on development applications: it will, inter alia, assist in training Internet librarians and help USAID Missions to propose and implement sector- and project-specific uses of Internet connectivity.
