Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Program A vast majority of people and communities in West Africa do not have access to information, knowledge, and communications technology that could improve their lives. The OSIWA ICT Program provides grants that focus on lowering the regulatory, financial, and political barriers that prevent communities from accessing information and communications technology. OSIWA supports ICT initiatives with our regional and sub-regional partners, as well as projects and initiatives at the community level. Launched as a separate program area in February 2003, OSIWA has effectively engaged on ICT initiatives that impact the NGOs and civil society organizations that the foundation interacts with on the ground. OSIWA’s ICT initiatives concentrate on the following areas:

Access and Connectivity

Access to knowledge bases and information is one of the core impediments to social and economic development in West Africa. The ICT Program will evaluate and support projects that seek to identify alternative and innovative uses of ICTs for development and learning, as well as support initiatives that will provide low cost connectivity in rural and urban communities.

Deployment of ICT Toolsets

In more developed countries, a number of organizations are beginning to adopt functional, but low cost applications designed for the needs of non-profit organizations and civil society organizations. Some of these applications are usually based on open-source software technology are intended for different areas in the NGO sector. OSIWA plans to sponsor groups that are working on identifying cost-efficient and appropriate tools and applications (including Open Source solutions and applications) for NGOs, civil society groups and other OSIWA partners.

Enhancing localized Capacity

OSIWA supports groups that work to enhance civil society’s ability to develop local content that is specifically applicable to the communities that they serve. The model that OSIWA has used involves demonstrative training of the tools and techniques for developing local text content for websites, radio programming for community based media networks, community newsletters and digital media skills for film and video editing. Support has also been provided for basic training to marginalized citizens on information management, research modalities using a computer, and access to library content online. An important component for enhancing localized capacity is to explore and evaluate the deployment of ICTs in the indigenous languages, to ensure that there is a sense of inclusion in the communities that the foundation serves.

Providing sub-regional support on the promulgation of ICT Policy

OSIWA’s strategic objective is to develop localized sub-regional propensity to assess existing ICT policies in the various ECOWAS countries, evaluate how the policies that do exist were developed and support regional and sub-regional agencies on defining a roadmap to replicate these policies across member states that are in the infancy stages of policy development. This assessment and evaluation stage will eventually result in the creation of a homogeneous regulatory environment for all countries in the sub-region. It is expected that this initiative will be citizen focused, and will incorporate the needs of rural communities in the development of an ICT framework, policy and strategic plan. For more information on the ICT program, or to submit proposals for consideration, please email the ICT Program Officer at ICTProgram@osiwa.org or you may send email to osiwa-dakar@osiwa.org.