Transcript PROGRAMME FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS …

EuropeAid
ACP Connect
Jérôme Lebouc
AIDCO C4 – Centralised operations for ACP Countries
Background
EuropeAid
• The ACP S&T (35 M€ EDF+RSA), the @CP ICT (20 M€) and
Edulink (35 M€) programmes have laid the foundations for
intra-ACP wide Science and ICT interventions
• The EU and the ACP Group of States recognise that the
“digital divide” hampers the role that HEI and R&D bodies
can play in poverty reduction / attainment of the MDGs
• The AU – EU Strategy for Africa includes a partnership (8) on
Science, Information Society and Space
• Within this framework, the AUC HRST department has
identified set of projects, with the support of the EC,
including some in the field of ICT
ACP Connect – Objectives
EuropeAid
• Overall objective:
o
Contribute to poverty reduction by harnessing the potential of
information and communication technologies for sustainable
development in the region
• Specific objective:
o
Facilitate the creation, development and use of regional education and
communication networks and internet connectivity in view of having a
more inclusive information society at ACP national and regional
levels
ACP Connect – Situation in ACP countries
EuropeAid
• Caribbean: C@ribnet is being supported by the Commission
(12 M€). It will benefit 20 countries
• Pacific: Only one NREN has been established so far, in Fiji
(USP-SUVA)
• Africa: Situation varies from one country to another, as
demonstrated by FEAST study, some Eastern and Southern
African countries are ready for interconnectivity
ACP Connect - Activities
EuropeAid
• African Component – “AfricaConnect” (12 M€ EDF+3 M€ Cofinancing)
o
Connectivity linking through one or several regional backbones of
countries that are technically (infrastructures) and legally (appropriate
regulatory environment) ready – sub-Saharan Africa
o
Promotion of the use of existing and planned networks
o
Implementing Partner: Dante
• Caribbean & Pacific Component – Technical studies (1 M€)
o
Support to the Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network (CKLN)
o
Assessment of needs and identification of options for interconnecting
local RENs in the Pacific region
o
Workshop with relevant authorities to validate findings and agree on
next steps
Implementation and next steps
EuropeAid
• A steering committee will be set-up by the ACP Secretariat
with African Union and European Commission
representatives to provide guidance on the implementation
of the project
• A grant contract will be negotiated with Dante
• The contract could be signed during the course of first
semester 2010
• The results of the AfricaConnect project will be important to
determine a possible extension of the approach to other
countries