Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships for Bridging the Digital Divide

Ahmad Farshid GhyasiUNDP/ICT Project

23-June 2005

WSIS Thematic Meeting on

UNDP/ICT ProjectAn Effort for Bridging Digital Divide

in Afghanistan

• UNDP’s ICT Initiatives in Afghanistan• Project components include

– Telekiosk Project– ICT Capacity Building Training Centers– Cisco Networking Academy Programs– Microsoft Localization Programme– Support to ICT Policy Development– Establishment and Support to

Afghanistan’s .AF top level domain– E-Government & Data Center

UNDP ICT Project : Background

• UNDP Afghanistan is implementing ICTproject in cooperation with:– Ministry of Communications, Afghanistan– Ministry of Women Affairs, Afghanistan– Kabul University– Cisco Systems Inc.– Microsoft– European Union– French Trust Fund, Government of France– USAID

Multi-Stakeholders Partnership

• Total Fixed telephones lines: ~100,000• Fixed Wireless telephones (WLL): ?• Total Mobile phone users: ~900,000• Teledensity of mobile phones: 4%• Teledensity of mobile phones (2001): 0%• Teledensity of fixed telephone: 0.5%• Total number of internet users: ~100,000

Afghanistan’s new ICT & TelecommunicationPolicy, a drive to foster economic and ICT growthin the country

ICT in Afghanistan

Source: Telecommunication Regulatory Body (TRB) Afghanistan, Ministry of Communicationshttp://www.trb.gov.af

Telekiosk Project

• Establishment of 12 telekiosks around Kabul City to provideInternet & Computer Training Services

• Partners in Project– Donor: French Trust Fund (US$ 300,000)– Implementing Agency: UNDP Afghanistan (US$ 45,000)– Implementing Partner: Postal Department, Afghanistan– Technology Provider: QuickLinks Communication

• Started on May 2003, handed over to MoC on Oct 2004

Telekiosk Project – Effort to increase ICT Access

• Increase ICT access to general public mainly– Women, School Children, Government

Employees• Provide training programmes on the use of ICTs• Facilitate the dissemination of information,

particularly government information through postoffices

• Provide a network for exchange of information andbest practices;

• Provide computer based training to facilitate theaccess to new technologies, especially for younggeneration, particularly female genders who arekeep on developing their skills

Telekiosk Objectives

Telekiosk - Achievements

• Established Telekiosks located in 8 PostOffices around Kabul City and 1 in KabulAirport

• Development of first web portal in Afghanistan• Total Visitors during June-Oct 2004: 70,000+• Percentage of Women: 40% (40% Children)• Percentage of Men: 60% (30% Children)

The participation of women and schoolchildren has been tremendous (publicawareness by project staff)

• Partnership between UNDP, Ministry ofCommunications and FTF unique

• Goal was to introduce internet and computertraining to public;– MOC Provided space & internet connection– UNDP Provided technical assistance and implementation of the project;– Leading to cheap ICT access and;– More citizens visiting

Problems– Insufficient logistic support of MoC to the project due to economic problem that hindered the expansion of the project and its sustainability

Telekiosk – Benefits of Partnership

To use new technologies, a need for properplanning is required

Rapid capacity building of government employeesto take over the project in short duration

Proper selection of technology. In order to make projects like Telekiosk

sustainable, fast revenue generating servicesshould be introduced such as Phone/Fax services,Video Camera, Color Printing, Photo Copying etc,in conclusion, a sound business plan is needed tokeep telekiosks running

Lessons Learnt & Conclusion

• Computer Networking• 3 Training centers, 1 being the regional

academy• High participation of women (more than 30%)• Partners

– UNDP/ICT Project, Cisco Systems Inc, Ministry ofCommunications, Ministry of Women Affairs,USAID, Kabul University

• 147 number of Cisco Certified graduates todate

• Future Plans– Expansion to other major provinces of Afghanistan

(based on criteria of 30% female participation)– Computer Essential Module

Cisco Networking Academy Programme (CNAP)

• 19 Training Centers• 7 provinces in Afghanistan• Partners

– UNDP/ICT Project– Ministry of Communications– Local NGOs– Private Companies

• 2,358 number people trained on basic ICT– 24% Femal, 74% Male

• Duration of project – 2002 to 2004• Handed over to Ministry of Communications

by end of 2004

ICT Training Centers

• Partnership between– UNDP– Ministry of Communications

• Total revenue from local domains registered:US$ 8,620

• Total revenue from international domainsregistered: US$ 92,661

• Total number of domains registered: 235• Future plans

– Localized domain names– Online registration of domain names

.AF Top Level Domain

• Microsoft Localization project (Dari & Pashto)• Multipurpose Telecenters Project (120)

• Advanced ICT Capacity Building Project• E-Governance & National Data Center• Afghanistan Computer Emergency Response Team

(AFCERT)• Afghanistan Internet Exchange Point (AIX)• National Internet Registry of Afghanistan (NIRA)• Internet Service Providers Association (ISPAA)

Other ICT Application Projects• Afghanistan Registry Authority (ARA)• Government Communication Network (GCN)• District Communication Network (DCN)

Ongoing and Future Planned Projects

Thank you very much

Ahmad Farshid GhyasiDeputy Project Manager

UNDP/ICT ProjectAfghanistan

Farshid.ghyasi@undp.orgPh: +93-79-22 2419Cell: +93-80-03 9933