ICT Policies

IST-Africa is compiling a repository of ICT and S&T Policies in Africa. If you would like the policy documents for your country to be added to this repository, please contact secretariat@IST-Africa.org

Guide to ICT Policy in IST-Africa Partner Countries

The IST-Africa Guide to National ICT Policies provides an overview of the current status of National ICT policies in Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. ISBN No: 978-1-905824-31-1

Botswana

The Science and Technology Policy for Botswana was initially approved by the Parliament of Botswana in 1998. Botswana undertook a review of their existing STI policy during 2011. A new Research, Science, Technology and Innovation Policy has been approved by Cabinet and is scheduled to be presented to Parliament in the current Parliamentary session (Q1 2012).

Burundi

The Department of Scientific Research, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research compiled an Inventory of the Scientific and Electronic Potential in Burundi in 2009. The National Policy for the Development of new Information and Communication Technologies was ratified by the Government of Burundi in February 2007 and it is effective from 2007 to 2011.

Cameroon

The National Policy for the Development of Information and Communication Technologies for Cameroon was published by the National Agency for Information and Communication Technologies in September 2007.

Egypt

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology published Egypt's ICT Strategy for 2007 - 2010 in May 2007. This strategy reflects MCIT's commitment to using ICT to further sustainable human development and build an information society capable of capitalizing on the emerging knowledge revolution. Egypt's current ICT Strategy (2007 - 2011) has been realised and in some areas target goals have been overachieved. The Government is currently drafting the ICT Strategy for the next five years, based on a public consultation during 2011.

Kenya

The Kenya ICT Policy was published by the Ministry of Information and Communications in January 2006 and the Kenya Information and Communications Bill was enacted in February 2006. The National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy and Strategy was published by the Ministry of Science and Technology in March 2008.

Lesotho

The Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology published the ICT Policy for Lesotho in March 2005. The Lesotho Science and Technology Policy 2006 - 2011 was prepared and published by UNESCO.

Mauritius

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications published the National ICT Policy for Mauritius for the period 2007 - 2011 in September 2007.

Mozambique

The Information and Communication Technology Policy for Mozambique was approved by the Council of Ministers' Resolution No. 28/2000, on 12 December 2000. The Information and Communication Technology Policy Implementation Strategy was approved by the Council of Ministers on 27 June 2002. The eGovernment Interoperability Framework for Mozambique was published by UTICT in October 2010.

Namibia

The Ministry of ICT published the Information Technology Policy for the Republic of Namibia in September 2008.

Rwanda

The ICT-2020 Policy was enacted by the Government of Rwanda in February 2000. It sets out the orientation of the Government's ICT Policy and Strategies within context of the GOR's broad socio-economic development objectives within the Vision of 2020. To ensure the implementation of the 2020 Vision for developing the Rwandan Information Society and Economy, the Government of Rwanda committed to implementing four 5 year National Information and Communications Infrastructure (NICI) Plans. The first NICI Plan (2001 - 2005) focused on supporting the development of an economic base and environment for accelerated growth and development towards transforming Rwanda into an information-rich knowledge-based society and economy. The current NICI Plan (2006 - 2010) is focused on strengthening the economic base and improving the economic environment to accelerate development and growth towards achieving an information-rich knowledge-based soc

Senegal

Senegal has an established National Policy for ICT and Policy for Science and Technology. A summary of the National Policy for ICT can be downloaded in English or French with a summary of the Policy for Science and Technology available in English or French

South Africa

The ICT R&D Strategy for South Africa was finalised in 2007 and is being implemented under the auspices of the Information Society and Development Plan (ISAD) Plan of South Africa. The National Research and Development Strategy was published in August 2002. The Department of Science and Technology published the Ten-Year Innovation Plan in 2007.

Tanzania

The ICT Policy for Tanzania was approved and published by the Ministry of Communications and Transport in March 2003. Tanzania is currently revising the 2003 ICT policy through the TANZICT project to ensure it is properly aligned with current national priorities focused on supporting poverty alleviation.

The National Science and Technology Policy for Tanzania was approved and published by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education in April 1996.

Uganda

The National Information and Communication Technology Policy was prepared by the Ministry of Works, Housing and Communications, The President's Office and the National Council for Science and Technology in July 2002. It was subsequently approved by Cabinet and published in October 2003.

The National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy was prepared by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in May 2007 and approved by Cabinet in September 2009.