FYI - Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are increasingly filtering through into every day lives of people throughout the world. However a lot of people are lagging behind regarding their access to these ICTs and the underlying infrastructure; and regarding their capacity to afford, maintain and use these ICTs. This is creating a digital divide which can have far-reaching consequences. For ICTs give access to information. This information can lead to knowledge. And knowledge is a prerequisite for development. Therefore ICTs are considered to be promising technologies that can be one of the tools to stop the ongoing underdevelopment of some regions in the world.
In the book 'The digital divide in developing countries: towards an information society in Africa' the editors have brought together a selection of articles centred around the changing communications landscape and the digital divide in Africa. Some authors point at the possibilities of ICTs for Africa to become part of the global information society. Others are warning for too optimistic scenarios and are arguing that the way to go is long, difficult and problematic. In general this book is presenting an overview of the different discourses and scenarios linked to the information society in Africa. The book is published by VUBPress, Free University Brussels in co-production with SMIT (Studies on Media Informationan and Telecommunication) and UN-ECA (United Nations - Economic Commission for Africa). ISBN 90 5487 310 8 (Europe) ISBN 92 1 125084 6 (Africa) Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Table of Contents: Introduction Gert Nulens, Nancy Hafkin, Leo Van Audenhove and Bart Cammaerts Part I: Scenarios towards an Information Society in Africa Telecommunication and Information Society Policy in Africa. The dominant scenario reassessed. Leo Van Audenhove, Gert Nulens, Jean Claude Burgelman and Bart Cammaerts Globalisation and the Information Age: Role of the African Information Society Initiative Karima Bounemra Ben Soltane Part II: Challenges and Opportunities of ICTs in Africa Globalization and the Information Economy: Challenges and Opportunities for Africa Catherine Nyaki Adeya and Derrick L. Cogburn Policies and Strategies for Accelerating Africa's Information Infrastructure Development Michael R. Jensen Democratizing Access to the Information Society Aida Opoku-Mensah Information and Communication Technologies for Improved Governance in Africa Bhavya Lal, Gary Gaumer and Salamao Manhica Part III: Case studies: Practises and Policies in Africa Using Information and Communication Technologies for development at centres in rural communities: lessons learned Pieter Conradie Information and Communication Technologies and African Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Aida Opoku-Mensah Foundations for an Information Society in Zimbabwe Eric Mazango The Information Society in Egypt Sherif Kamel Postface: The African Information Society Initiative: Origins and Assessment Nancy Hafkin Kind regards Gert Nulens --------------------------------------------------------- Gert Nulens Researcher SMIT Studies on Media, Information and Telecommunication Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Free University Brussels Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium Tel: ++32 2 6292413 - Fax: ++32 2 6292861 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.vub.ac.be/SCOM/smit/smit.html --------------------------------------------------------- ------------ ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: <http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/>
