Transcript PowerPoint
WEF 11 September 2005
Influencing the Policy Debate The South African Challenges and Successes
Agenda
• South African priorities • Current policy framework • Public and private sector players • Influencing policy – Examples and effectiveness • Current recommendations References: SAITIS, DTI ICT Vision, Dti Review of Policies 2002,Foresight Project/ ICT RoadMap/ ICT Charter, Nedlac Sector Summit
South African priorities
• Key focus is economic and social development • Recognition of importance of the ICT sector
– to develop a knowledge based economy – its enabling role in other sectors
• Priorities influenced by
– Political and economic imperatives – Rapid development of technology
South African Priorities
• Transformation of the Economy – Effective participation of majority of South Africans in economy – Focus on the development of society • Industry Development – Economic Growth – Job creation – Skills development – Increasing competitiveness: Export development and investment • Service Delivery – Ubiquitous access – Increased use of ICT – Bridging digital divide – Keeping pace with technology driven changes
Current Policy Framework
• No overarching Government Policy – Range policy frameworks impact on the ICT sector – All reflect the different priorities of the various Government Departments – Limited intra governmental coordination • No provision for structured participation by private sector • Rapid development of technology means policy makers playing catch up • Existing laws barrier to ICT development • Sector has been dominated by quasi public enterprises – 5 year monopoly to Telkom • Growing awareness of need for need to create structures that will address overall needs
Government Players
Department of Science & Technology Department of Communications Research & Development Policies & Legislation & Regulation Department of Trade & Industry Department of Labour & Education Trade & Business Development Skills Development Across the ICT Sector The Advancement of Communications Technologies Development & Marketing of ICT Products Skilled Labour ICT Labour force across The ICT Sector
Current role of the National Government Departments within the ICT Sector
Other Players
• • • • • • Private sector Bodies – To date model has been ‘Need Specific’ – Over 40 industry related associations in ICT and electronics – Formed in response to a changes in the political, economic and technology arenas – Tend to address a particular issue/ focus area National economic Development & Labour Council (NEDLAC) – Issues of social and economic policy= social dialogue – Ministerial representation ICT Empowerment Charter Working Group – To address the legacy of economic exclusion – Labour, community, ICASA, Government and industry Formalised labour Chambers/ Business Unity SA (BUSA) Strong informal networks
• •
Influencing Policy Debate: Examples
Policy makers adopted based broad consultative process to address specific issues – Industry associations/ NGO’s/ Civil society/ Trade Unions/ Chambers invited to give input Government conducted research – private sector input • Department of Communications – ICT Charter 2004 • Ultimately will need to conform to the DTI’s Codes of Good Practice for Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment – Ongoing stakeholder engagement regarding telecommunications and e commerce – NEDLAC ICT Sector Summit 2002 • Department of Science and Technology – Foresight program/ICT Roadmap – Integrated R&D policy
Influencing Policy Debate: Examples
• Department of Trade and Industry – National Export Strategy – current – Customised sector programs - current – Business and innovation incubators (CSIR) - current – SAVANT - marketing campaign –current – Cluster initiatives – ICT Vision 2002 – SAITIS SA IT Industry Strategy Project 2000 • Department of Labour – SETA/ISETT : Skills assessment and funding for skills development • NEDLAC – Input to trade negotiations • President’s Councils – ICT Development Council (international) – Commission for ICT policy (national) – managed by DoC
Recommendations
• Need for strong leadership and vision in taking an ICT strategy forward • Establishment of an ICT governance law that establishes an inclusive governance structure to address the overall needs of the sector – Public-private partnership approach – Extensive intra-governmental co-ordination – Provide for effective implementation capacity – Not mutually exclusive to needs based approach – Rationalisation of industry bodies • South Africa accelerates legislation to remove barriers to growth – Convergence, e commerce, export development and investment